Farming communities in danger of being ‘wiped out’

THE farming community is in danger of being “wiped out” at the hands of the Government after what it described as one of the worst days in recent memory for the vital sector.

Farmers were responding in particular to the Bord Snip Nua report, which has called for a string of cutbacks, coupled with a massive 1,140 job cuts and €305.1 million budget reduction at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Among the farming-related cuts proposed are the termination of the €44m suckler cow welfare scheme, a €5m increase in disease levies, closure of the rural environment protection schemes and a reduction in department and Teagasc centres from 150 to just 35.