CAP reforms a boost for sheep farmers
ICSA Leinster vice-president John Deegan said there would be no more collapsing of the market with the end of retention, and lambs could be kept on cattle farms without affecting extensification.
Specialist sheep producers could also take on sucklers without having to buy expensive quota, and there would be more customers for store lambs, Mr Deegan said.
He said the critical issue was that 2002 was established as the base year for payments, and negotiations were needed immediately.
He said that with CAP reforms likely, it was critical that Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh started negotiating on behalf of sheep farmers to make this happen.
Mr Deegan said EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler had indicated that historic payments would be based on the full implementation of Agenda 2000.
“Farmer speculation as to what the base year will be is damaging to normal trade of livestock.”
