Group urges extra €1,600 payment for farmers in Origin Green strategy

Suckler and sheep farmers participating in Bord Bia’s Origin Green strategy need an extra €1,600 payment under the GLAS scheme, according to ICSA president Patrick Kent.

Mr Kent said participants in the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme have extended their herds’ grazing season, improving weight gain and delivering better fertility. He made this plea yesterday, with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney due to unveil his Rural Development Plan funding this afternoon.

Mr Kent said the ICSA’s plans are all beneficial to the bottom line in agriculture, but are also undertaken by farmers to improve the carbon footprint of each kilogramme of meat they produce. The ICSA wants these efforts to be linked to GLAS agri-environment scheme payments.