Flexible SFP and 2012 reference year on the cards

Ireland will give significant consideration to using 2012 as a single farm payments (SFP) reference year, says Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

“But we will not sign off on that now,” he said.

Mr Coveney told the Dáil he has been telling farmers for the last two years they should not assume a 2014 reference year. “Now, we have the option to use 2012 as the reference year, should that be accepted in the negotiations with the parliament and the commission.