EU to change agri aid plan

FARMERS face the biggest shake-up in the 40-year history of EU Agriculture policy today as Agriculture Commissioner, Franz Fischler outlines full details of his plan to break the link between product production and grant aid to farmers.

Agriculture officials last night said the production of Irish beef and sheep meat is expected to dip by up to 12% because of the changes to the Common Agricultural Policy first framed in 1963.

However, officials also said they expect that prices will rise and production may stabilise after an initial decline. The new scheme follows on changes instituted by former Commissioner Ray MacSharry in 1992.