Decoupling variations attacked as ‘gravy train’ for rich land owners

DECOUPLED payments to individual farmers of up to €3,500 per hectare per year from January 1, 2005 have been criticised as an EU “gravy train” for the rich, at the expense of thousands of land owners who will receive nothing.

A huge variation is expected in the level of payments to individual land owners. They will peak at around €3,500 per hectare, but it is estimated that at least €30,000 land owners will be left with no entitlement to payment, initially at least.

Ireland has yet to exercise its options on payments, but there has been overwhelming demand here for full decoupling. Payments to all farmers in the new member states which join the EU next May will be made on a flat rate basis.