Macra wants to use EU aid to boost grassland

The EU Commission’s aid package should be used to fund a grassland improvement scheme rather than be given out as a flat rate payment, says Macra na Feirme president Sean Finan.

Macra wants the Government to match the EU’s contribution to create a total €22.5m fund.

The young farmer group says a flat payment or a loan would have minimal impact, whereas a strategic grassland scheme would have a long term benefit for Irish farmland.