MEP wants department to organise farmer workshops on CAP changes

Farmer-friendly workshops to explain the new Common Agricultural Policy requirements are being sought by European Parliament member Jim Higgins.

“Instead of overloading our farmers with documentation, inspections and fines, it would be more productive if our Department of Agriculture held information workshops where farmers could get personalised information on how the new CAP will affect them,” said Mr Higgins.

He said the reform is incredibly complicated. Even the current CAP is so complex that most farmers seek assistance filling their entitlement forms. They are also largely unsure what inspectors are looking for when they call.