Somebody must pay for CAP

Give the most productive farmers the biggest EU payments, would be the first line of many of the submissions sought by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney in the consultation. But it would be a bad starting line.

Submissions can be made up to Sept 20 by those interested in taking part in the comprehensive consultation on CAP reform invited by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

August has been a holiday month for many of the major decision makers. But it has been a busy time for others, trying to get to grips with and predict the huge changes which the reform will bring.