A dispassionate view of farming

A MONTH before it happened, Professor Alan Matthews of Trinity College said the mid-term review of the CAP was the perfect opportunity to bring an end to what he called our 'Alice in Wonderland' agricultural policy.

Sixteen months on, his latest analysis of the outlook for agriculture is again worth consideration. Economists have been relatively silent on the CAP Reform, the greatest change facing the Irish agri-food sector for decades.

Like everyone else, they are waiting patiently for the full details. But Professor Matthews and his colleagues Ronnie O'Toole and Janine Jensen have had a preliminary look at the figures.