North Cork farmers fined for rush cover

Farmers in the Duhallow area of North Cork who normally top their land two or three times a year have been fined this year because of rushes on ground they submitted for their single farm payment claim.

Due to bad weather, since mid-May, the land in question was unfit for farm work.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has been asked by local Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan to re-examine the decisions on the fines.

“As the satellite identified a rush cover on the land, the Department sent out inspectors who found rushes on the land and subsequently fined farmers 20%, 30% or 50%, depending on the payment they receive. One farmer, who has rheumatoid arthritis and has been in hospital almost at death’s door, was told of a fine last Friday,” said Deputy Moynihan in the Dáil.

He said the land could not be travelled over other than by helicopter or other aircraft, because it is saturated with water.

“For the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to inspect the ground and fine farmers on single farm payment or disadvantaged areas payment because the rush cover is not cut off is beyond ridiculous. I had discussions on this matter with Department officials in the past two weeks, and I am frustrated by the situation.

“The weather broke on April 7 and not since the middle of May was this land fit for travelling on. As anyone dealing with a farming community would know, it is during the summer months that this land would be cut,” said Deputy Moynihan, who is himself a farmer.

Replying in the Dáil on behalf of the Government, Minister of State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes said a mandatory range of inspections must be done to a standard which meets EU audit requirements — but every effort is made to take account of farming realities.

“To impose a penalty because the rush cover was not cut off the land bordered on criminality,” said Deputy Moynihan. “There are major issues for these people in terms of their mental health and their financial well-being, but to compound that by having on-the-spot checks and imposing fines of €1,000, €2,000 or €3,000, depending on the size of their single farm payment, for something that is out of their control is wrong. That is the only income they will have this year because of the weather.”