Farmers focus on entitlements
They will be checking the details of their Euro entitlement assessments for the new single farm payment on one part of the site, and in another area they will be concentrating on the Tunnels for the cattle exhibition.
Special information kiosks will be staffed by Department of Agriculture and Food staff to facilitate queries by farmers about their entitlements, while the livestock area will feature some 30 exhibits including native and exotic cattle breeds, which will have a dedicated parade ring for the first time.
Calculators, however, will be used extensively as farmers discuss their single payment entitlements with officials in the department pavilion.
Earlier this month, some 122,000 entitlement notices were issued to farmers by the department with another 30,000 to follow. Eligible farmers will receive the payment in 2005 and subsequent years.
The new single payment, totalling €1.3 billion, replaces seven existing livestock and arable aid premia schemes as part of the radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Focusing on the market will be the main theme of the department’s exhibition, reflecting what it predicts will be the greater opportunities for farmers from the market following CAP reform.
The new Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) will also feature in the exhibit, while a wide range of information on the department’s schemes and services will also be available.
Teagasc will also focus on the dramatic changes in EU agri-policy. More than 100 specialists and advisers will be available over the three days to discuss with farmers the best strategies for beef, sheep, dairying and tillage.
