Calls for scheme to open urgently to ensure full payment for farmers

ICMSA president John Comer has called for the GLAS agri-environmental scheme to be opened by the autumn to ensure farmers receive full payment in 2015.

The dairy farmer group leader has met with senior Department of Agriculture officials to underline the urgent need to submit amended farm scheme plans to the European Commission. He said farmers need a speedy rollout of GLAS, On-farm Capital Investment Grants, and the Knowledge Transfer Scheme.

“At this stage, we’re extremely concerned that farmers will not receive a full payment for 2015 with only a partial payment being made and we’re calling on [Agriculture Minister Simon] Coveney to ensure that a full year’s payment is made,” Mr Comer said.