‘Army’ of inspectors alarms farmers
Well-known farming activist David Thompson, a former President of the Agricultural Science Association, relayed at a meeting of Limerick IFA how the part-time farmer first had to cope with four inspectors who all arrived on the same day at his farm to inspect for Single Payment compliance.
“My understanding is that he was informed that he would have four more inspectors on the farm later in the year. That is eight inspectors to carry out compliance inspection on a 48 acre farm of a part time farmer. That is a small army of inspectors coming on to a farm, how could any farmer cope with that?”
Mr Thompson said he was concerned that inspections not be used to antagonise farmers.
In the course of lively discussion of the issue by Limerick IFA delegates, there was unanimous agreement that clarification be provided for farmers on the level of inspectorate required, and there was a renewed demand for adequate notice of inspection.
It was demanded that 14 days notice be provided instead of the stipulated 48 hours. It was pointed out that the increasing proportion of part-time farmers would find it difficult to get free time from work to cater for inspections.
