€150m loan fund surprise in budget

IFA president Joe Healy said the budget responded positively to IFA’s farm income campaign, with low-cost loans, increased funding for farm schemes, reversal of Farm Assist cuts, and flexibility on income averaging.

ICMSA president John Comer said farmers generally consider Tuesday’s budget as steady and solid, but he warned some measures could represent bad value.

The IFA president welcomed the €150m cash flow support loan fund for all farmers.