Lack of planning in CAP reform a worry

A couple of weeks ago, I questioned the ability of our Department of Agriculture and farm organisations to deliver a clear vision of where the CAP reform might be going for Ireland.

I suggested if Roy Keane was a farmer, he would be getting seriously wound up by the apparent lack of planning. In the meantime, in conversations and correspondence on the subject, an email I received from a member of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association’s National Executive was quite revealing. The topic was their position, or lack of it, in relation to CAP reform.

Back in 2004, ICSA were well ahead of the curve in adopting the Fischler proposals which broadly mirrored their own long standing objective of decoupling premium payments.