Cut production costs to British levels for better competitiveness, demands ICMSA
It says rigorous negotiations at European level on behalf of the sector must also be a core objective of the new Government. It is necessary to focus the Single Farm Payment on active farmers, according to the dairy farmers’ association.
It lists the election issues as follows.
* Possible segmentation of the EU dairy market to the disadvantage of Ireland.
* EU deregulation of dairy market, inadequate safety net prices, long-term milk price instability.
* Funds for modernisation and expansion of processing, to meet Food Harvest 2020 targets.
* Greater assurances and verification on milk constituent testing.
* Rapid growth in the cost of inputs.
* WTO and other bilateral trade negotiations.
* Lower standard beef imports undermining EU prices.
* Lack of price transparency at processor level.
* Protection of the live export trade, re-opening live export markets for finished cattle.
* Slow progress on the TSE (BSE, scrapie) roadmap.
* The level of funding available to Ireland post-2013, and the mechanism for distribution.
* The level of cross compliance post-2013.
* Market support to support farm sectors during downturns.
* The void with regard to agri-environment initiatives, following closure of REPS 4.
* Renewed emphasis to conclude a WTO deal in 2011, which would enormously damage Irish farming, based on current proposals, dismantling key supports like import tariffs, domestic price supports and export refunds, with substandard imports replacing Irish produce.
* Bilateral trade deals — such as with Mercosur — also pose a serious threat to Irish agriculture.
* Cost and availability of credit for the farm sector, treatment of people who require loan restructuring.
* Irish overdraft rates are 1.5 percentage points higher than the euro area, other loans are half a percent higher.
* The taxation regime must facilitate herd expansion and on-farm investment.
* The taxation regime must facilitate herd expansion and on-farm investment.
* Significant investment is required on Irish farms.
* Current tax system is impeding farm restructuring.
* Impact of carbon tax on the export sector.
* Suspension of early retirement and installation aid schemes has hindered farm restructuring.
* Code of Practice will not resolve problems such as retail profits increasing at expense of primary producers.
* Unworkable inspections, no notice in some cases.
* Cash flow problems (no payment until December 1).
* 5% inspection rate.
* Tolerances changed without agreement.
* Costing €1,800 per inspection, taking over a day to complete, more than one inspector in some cases, more than one state agency carrying out farm inspections.
* Due to restricted availability and supply, significantly dearer than Northern Ireland.
LOCAL AUTHORITY/ENVIRONMENTAL CHARGES:
* Substantial new charges for farmers, such as water charges, problem with multiple farm water meters.
* Access to higher education for farm families.
* Failure to protect landowners’ property rights, and address access-to-land liability issues.
* Unsatisfactory job opportunities outside agriculture and construction, unbalanced regional development, social exclusion due to lack of services in remote areas.
* The rural road network, flooding.
* Rural dwellers’ fear of crime.
* Farmers treated as ordinary creditors in current law, suffered heavy Tralee Beef and Lamb losses.
* Farmers need clear policy direction, such as impact of climate change and nitrates on expansion.
* Very detailed, restrictive farm nitrate regulations.
* Certain regulations ignore science and fail to recognise Irish farming realities, reducing farm income, substantially increasing bureaucracy.
