CAP reforms will result in ‘little change to farm incomes’

Farm incomes will experience relatively little change as a result of EU reforms to the CAP budget, according to Teagasc economist Kevin Hanrahan.

A principal research officer with Teagasc in the Rural Economy Research Centre, Dr Hanrahan says most farmers will see a change of +/-10% on their prior farm payments. Only a very small number of upper-tier farmers with entitlements far in excess of the average will experience a marked fall in income.

“I think the biggest uncertainty will be in the impact upon production, but we’ll have to wait and see if there really is any major impact,” said Dr Hanrahan, at yesterday’s Agricultural Science Association seminar on CAP funding in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary.