Farm scheme cuts ‘retrograde step’

THE Irish Farmers Association last night accused the Government of leaving farm schemes with a €400 million shortfall for next year.

Pádraig Walshe, president, said it was a retrograde step which would damage confidence. “Even in the difficult financial circumstances, the Government should have recognised that investment in agriculture was vital for Irish competitiveness.”

However, he welcomed the continuation of stock relief, stamp duty relief for young trained farmers and farm consolidation and farm pollution control relief.