Farmers set to do battle over unannounced inspections

A BITTER row between farmers and the Department of Agriculture and Food over the level of red tape surrounding EU schemes and directives is set to escalate today.

The 85,000-member Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has announced that farmers will refuse access to department officials for unannounced on-farm inspections relating to nitrates and cross compliance. They want at least 14 days’ notice of the inspections.

Farmers have been venting their fury at meetings around the country at the unannounced inspections and the levels of bureaucracy relating to various aspects of their work.