IFA seeks commitment to funding of schemes

The IFA is seeking a €25m funding increase in today’s budget for farmers working in disadvantaged areas.

IFA budget priorities also include: A total €250m fund for Ireland’s 55,000 agri-environment scheme participants; €60m for the TAMS II programme to fund on-farm investment; a €25m sheep scheme; and a reopening of the Beef Data and Genomic Programme to allow new participants, with €25m extra funding to increase support for the suckler cow.

IFA president Joe Healy says increased funding for areas of natural constraint (ANC) would help ease the plight of struggling farmers in a very difficult year.