Lack of agricultural activity to blame for payment rejection

Farmers whose land with rushes is rejected for payments lost out because of the broader issue of insufficient agricultural activity being undertaken to keep the land in the good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) required for disadvantaged and single farm payments, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said.

Reacting to reports of ground being ruled out for payments because of rushes, he said land is excluded in the main due to inclusion of ineligible areas or features, and not being used for an agricultural purpose.

He said farmers can keep grassland in GAEC by conducting an agricultural activity such as grazing, harvesting forage crops, or topping.

“Where a farmer cuts rushes as part of his management, with the exception of certain designated lands, there are no restrictions on when this is done, enabling the task to be carried out at any time throughout the year once conditions are suitable.”

He said his department’s inspectors make appropriate allowances for the effect of prevailing weather conditions in individual cases.