CAP reform - Farming changes are welcome

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was pleased with the fruits of the Irish team of negotiators in concluding the agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy. He enthusiastically welcomed the outcome of the tortuous negotiations which concluded yesterday.

A slowdown in farming and food production would have dealt a further serious blow to our struggling economy. Farmers had to cope with the recent fodder crisis on top of the uncertainty of the CAP reform.

The agri-food sector has been one of the more positive areas for economic investment during the current recession. There has, for instance, been a distinct growth in investment in agriculture, with a 46% rise in the number of new tractors registered in the past two years. This has been a potent expression of confidence.