Russian ban may hit farmers’ pockets

The Russian food import ban could cost EU farmers 2.45% of their payments from Brussels for this year and next year, warn sources in Brussels.

Irish co-ops and farmers called last week for special funding to compensate farming and food sectors hit by the ban.

They said the ban resulted from EU political decisions , and farmers shouldn’t be asked to pay for that. However, CAP experts predict a crisis fund collected by taking 2.45% from EU payments to farmers in the past year will be one of the first budgets to be spent on Russian ban compensation.