Farmer reserve fund gets go-ahead

THOUSANDS of farmers were given the go-ahead yesterday to apply to a reserve fund set up for those in danger of losing their share of the €1.322 billion per year of EU subsidies which will be converted to a Single Farm Payment system in the New Year.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan announced four categories of farmers automatically entitled to make an application to the National Reserve.

They are the families of farmers who joined the Early Retirement Scheme before or during the 2000 to 2002 period and who leased out their land to a third party; farmers who invested in extra production capacity or land, or sold to the milk quota restructuring scheme and changed their farming system, in the 45 months to October, 2003; and active dairy farmers unable to supply milk this year.