Farmers face milk levy and REPS4 and DAS payment cuts

FARMERS in the REPS4 scheme will get a 10% cut in payments, while the qualifying criteria for those farming in disadvantaged areas will also change under measures announced in yesterday’s budget.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney also said a consultation process on plans to introduce a milk levy of one-tenth of one cent on a litre of milk would begin soon and appealed to farmers to “work with me” as his Department seeks to save money while not disrupting one of the best-performing sectors. Mr Coveney said agriculture could not be exempt from cost-saving measures when spending in his Department will fall by €168m.

Those in REPS4 [Rural Environment Protection Scheme] will see a 10% cut in rates in what the minister said was “the only blunt cut measure”. Farmers receiving payments under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS) will see a change in the qualifying criteria, doubling the stock rate from the current level of one sheep per hectare to two sheep per hectare, and a doubling of the time period when those animals must be maintained, from the current minimum limit of three months to six months. The minister stressed “active farmers” would not be affected, with the measures aimed at “hobby” farmers.