Decoupling offers two bad years before a pick-up

IRISH suckler farmers who weather the shock of Franz Fischler’s CAP reform could be getting 8% more for their cattle by 2010.

However, three out of ten sucklers would have been culled by then, according to the study commissioned by Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh of the effects decoupling might have on Irish agriculture.

If the Fischler proposals were approved, the Irish suckler herd would decline by 30%. The total EU suckler herd would decline by 18%.