Stephen Cadogan: Clearer policies for farmers not too much to ask

Hemmed in by rules from Dublin and from Brussels, farmers often find themselves confused by conflicting dictats — not to mention the unpredictable markets on which their livelihoods depend.

The kind of dilemma rules poses for farmers was illustrated well by Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) Patrick Kent last week at the ICSA AGM.

Nowhere is policy more contradictory than for the farmers accused of claiming payments for ineligible land.