Farmers may lose 50% of EU income

Farmers could lose up to 50% of their income if the CAP goes ahead as proposed, IFA members told EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos on his visit to the RDS last week.

IFA livestock chairman Michael Doran was among those criticising the move to a flat-rate payment by 2015.

Mr Doran said: “This move will devastate livestock farmers. The current proposal could see some farmers losing up to 50% of their income. There must be some measure that will allow farm income levels to be maintained in Ireland.”