Brownie points for Phil Hogan's CAP simplification while pig and dairy farmers struggle

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan put himself in the farmer’s boots last week, sympathising with those filling out application forms for EU payments at kitchen tables late at night, or at the home computer — but followed for some of them by feelings of incomprehension and victimisation a couple of months later, when errors are found in the application, an inspector appears, and the farmer can be penalised, and direct payments cut.

Mr Hogan said the vast majority of farmers are honest, decent hardworking people, doing a tough job in difficult conditions, at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.

“It is a family effort, with partners, children, neighbours and relatives all pitching it at various times,” he said.