Know the pluses and minuses before trading of entitlements

FARMERS are advised to tread carefully, if they see entitlements trading as a once-off chance to boost the cheque-in-the-post.

They have until the 2014 single farm payment application date, in mid-May, to act — but they should use that time well, to research possible consequences.

Many smaller-scale farmers in the marginal land areas see a make-or-break opportunity, in the next few weeks, to get a better share of the €1.2bn per year of single farm payments that have bankrolled Irish farming since 2005.