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

Animal feed merchants have warned that their extension of credit to farmers has reached unsustainable levels. It’s one of the many financial consequences of a year of dreadful weather and a global grain shortage.

One man’s blessing is another man’s curse. Some might feel that owning a heritage structure can be a bit of thorn in the side, but it can actually give you your livelihood — if you’ve ever been to Powerscourt House in Wicklow on a sunny summer Sunday you can hardly get in the gate with the droves of people flocking to appreciate some of Ireland’s heritage.

AT least 94,000 farmers will be paid €444m of single farm payments in the week starting October 17 — €46m more than was paid at the same time last year, according to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney. (The payment window allowed under EU rules is October 16, 2011 to June, 2012).

HUNDREDS of irate farmers visited their local TDs’ clinics at the weekend to voice their anger at a 50% cut in funding for the environmental farm scheme AEOS.

IFA president John Bryan said there was mounting concern among farmers at the delay in opening the AEOS scheme, which has been committed for 10,000 farmers leaving REPS3.

SUFFICIENT EU funds must be made available to support key rural development measures, IFA National Rural Development chairman Tom Turley said at a special meeting of European farmer group COPA.

IT’S the stone walls patterning the landscape of the west of Ireland that leave a lasting first impression on many people visiting that part of the country.

FULL details have been issued for the Agri-Environment Options and Natura 2000 Scheme, which came into operation last week. Farmers in the organic farming scheme may participate in, and draw down, payment under these schemes – but farmers in REPS are ineligible.

APPLICANTS with commonage or Natura land (designated Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservations) will have a higher priority for acceptance into the Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS).

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has sharply criticised delays in Rural Environment Protection Scheme payments to farmers.

A total of €85 million in agricultural payments has been brought forward by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Brendan Smith to ease the cash flow difficulties being experienced by farm families.

THE second instalment of REPS 4 payments for 2008, amounting to some €12 million, will be paid in the coming week to over 11,000 farmers, Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith announced yesterday.

REPS was never intended to be purely an income support like the single payment or the disadvantaged areas schemes, said Justice Minister Dermot Ahern last week.

THE Government was warned yesterday that the number of farmers applying for Farm Assist will rocket due to funding cuts in various programmes including the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).

FARMERS are furious at the Government’s decision to close the Rural Environment Protection Scheme to new applicants and are demanding an immediate meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

THE Government was warned yesterday against any further cuts in the payment level for farmers in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

THE European Court of Auditors and the European Commission are putting increased emphasis on measuring what the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and other agri-environmental measures are delivering in terms of value for money.

FARM leaders have criticised European Commission changes to the payment system for the new Rural Environment Protection Scheme — REPS 4.

MORE than 3,000 Rural Environment Protection Scheme farmers can join REPS 4 when their existing contracts come to an end this year, Minister Mary Coughlan announced yesterday.

IT WAS always likely that some of the 15 white-tailed eagles reintroduced to Killarney’s National Park last August would not reach maturity.

IT is fortunate for REPS farmers that Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan has used her common sense, and extended the deadline for slurry spreading from August 31 to October 15, for this year.

FARMERS who participate in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) have been urged to factor forestry into their farm plan.

A NEW scheme to support organic farmers has been announced by Food and Horticulture Minister Trevor Sargent.

A record €3bn has today been pledged towards protecting the rural landscape and improving water quality.

A record €3bn has today been pledged towards protecting the rural landscape and improving water quality.

Donal Hickey on efforts to boost the domestic market

I’VE reached that stage in life where I have to take care not to get cranky.

DETAILS of a new Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) to encourage high-nature value forestry on Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) farms was announced yesterday by Forestry Minister Mary Wallace.

A MASSIVE investment by farmers in upgrading facilities, combined with a continuing increase in the number of participants in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), should be used as a marketing and promotional platform for food exports, according to the Agricultural Science Association (ASA).

REPS4 — the next Rural Environment Protection Scheme — must provide sufficient returns to support landowners to continue farming high value nature areas.

A GREATER synergy between the forestry grant aid scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) is being sought by Fine Gael.

THE EU nitrates directive is about to be implemented in Irish farming. All agree this had to happen.