NI: Decoupling debate hots up

By James Campbell

Differences of opinion are building up over the best system for decoupling of future farm support payments in Northern Ireland.

As indicated in the Journal last month the main debate is whether to have individual entitlements based on "historic" claims of livestock premia and arable aid in the years 2000 to 2002 or to operate a "flat rate" payment system across each hectare (with differing flat rates for lowland, disadvantaged area and severely disadvantaged area).

But Journal enquiries have also found that a "hybrid" system based on historic and flat rate payments may also be possible and this is likely to be examined very closely in the search for a compromise. Suggestions from local politicians and commentators that the preferred option could be decided by a vote among farmers have met with a cool reception in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

On direct enquiry by the Journal, a DARD spokesman said that stakeholders other than farmers will be affected by decoupling and it would be a decision for the Minister to make following consultation with representatives of all stakeholders. DARD proposes to hold a major conference on Wednesday 8 October as part of this consultation process.

The Ulster Farmers' Union also plans to hold a series of at least nine evening meetings during October for farmers to discuss the issues surrounding decoupling.

At that stage it is expected that the finer detail of the EU regulations to implement decoupling will be known. It is also expected that an economic analysis of different options will have been completed by DARD.

The Department is also considering requests to supply farmers with information on their likely entitlement if a flat rate system was to be introduced and details of their premium claims during 2000, 2001 and 2002 for comparative purposes.

Meanwhile a Farmers Journal survey in the Republic of Ireland indicates that Irish farmers want rid of quotas and regulation in a big way writes John Shirley. And, freed from the straitjacket of quota and stocking limits, the survey shows interest in expansion rather than contraction in beef. Fears of a mass exodus from suckling are not borne our in this survey of 300 farmers, carried out over the past weekend. One farmer in three is in favour of a 10% cut in entitlements to create a national envelope for suckler cows but over half of the survey are against this move.

Dairy farming too looks set for accelerated rationalisation with the survey showing a significant number preparing to exit but more than half looking for growth and expansion.

The survey shows a massive majority in favour of full decoupling across all enterprises. There is a hunger among farmers for freedom to farm.

Across the enterprises the majority in favour of decoupling premiums from production is over 90% among dairy farmers, 75% among calf to weanling/store producers and 77% among beef finishers.

Of the sheep farmers that have made up their minds the survey showed 90% support for decoupling and again more farmers interested in flock growth rather than contraction in an environment where sheep numbers will no longer impact on extensification payment.

Cereals farmers too favour full decoupling but this may be followed by some reduction in output. The survey also covered a proportion of mixed enterprise farmers. Here too the trend was strongly in favour of full decoupling of all cattle schemes by a ration of 5 to 1.

Among the mixed enterprise farmers there were equal numbers contemplating growth and contraction with more cattle being the favoured option.

Eighty three per cent of the farmers surveyed described themselves as full time. Forty seven per cent had a non-farming income in the household.