’Green’ farmers will qualify for 30% payments allocation

Ireland proposes that farmers who are “green by definition” automatically qualify for the proposed 30% of single farm payments to be allocated to “greening”, in CAP reform.

“We are trying to play to Ireland’s strengths. Ireland farms in a sustainable manner by and large because we have so much permanent pasture and almost everything we do is based on grass. We are unusual in that regard and this needs to be reflected in greening by definition,” said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney during his recent presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Debate.

It is proposed by the European Commission that the 30% only be paid to farmers who practice crop diversity, protect permanent pasture, and set aside 7% of their land for ecological areas, including forests, wetlands and marshes.