Farmers to reject treaty if they lose out in CAP reforms
Proposals to make changes to Common Agricultural Policy will be unveiled in Brussels tomorrow and discussed by EU agriculture ministers on Monday week. The Irish Farmers’ Association has warned that beef farmers in particular would lose up to 20% of their income over the next six years if the leaked proposals go ahead.
In a meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh, Mr Dillon said this was a difficult year for farmers, with farm incomes down by 15%, and he welcomed the Government’s commitment to defend the CAP. However, he said, despite the IFA’s support for a Yes vote on the Nice Treaty in the October referendum, farmers would be swayed by the response to their problems.
