Compensation for beet growers announced
This compensation follows the reform of the EU sugar regime, and will benefit farmers who held contracts to grow sugar beet during one or more of the years, 2001, 2002 and 2004. The number of additional single payment entitlements (hectares) allocated to each farmer based on contracted sugar beet area grown had already been established, following correspondence with each contract holder. An additional sum is payable during 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Payments per tonne total €9.61 in 2006; €11.71 in 2007; €13.80 in 2008; €14.92 in 2009; and €13.63 in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
A reduction of 1.82% must be made to provide for the National Reserve. “In this regard, specific provision is being made for sugar beet growers under the 2006 National Reserve,” said Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan. Details of these arrangements will be announced in due course. Beet growers from the midlands made their reaction to the SFP announcement clear by heckling Ms Coughlan at last week’s Ploughing Championships. They asked her to immediately announce the timescale for all sugar beet compensation payments.
