EU holds up €80 suckler scheme

By Pat O'Keeffe, Joanne Fox

The €80 per cow Suckler Cow Health and Welfare scheme is encountering significant opposition in Brussels with the EU Commission arguing that most of its elements are covered by Good Farming Practice.

While admitting that she is 'disappointed' at the delay in securing approval for her plans, Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan remains adamant that the scheme will eventually get the go-ahead.

The Department of Agriculture is expected to launch the new REPS, Early Retirement, Installation Aid and Farm Waste Management schemes without delay, while it continues to fight to secure the Suckler Cow Welfare scheme.

Department of Agriculture officials remain convinced that approval for the scheme will be secured. An estimated €250m of Irish Exchequer funding is committed to the scheme over the next five years.

Speaking at the launch of Fianna Fail's agricultural policy on Monday, the Minister said that she will, if necessary, meet Commissioner Fischer Boel to secure approval for her plans. She said that schemes involving Exchequer funding must now go through the State Aids approval process. "The Commission view is that much of the scheme is covered by existing Good Farming Practice, but we are arguing that there are additional animal welfare requirements'', the Minister said.

Minister Coughlan acknowledged that farmers are 'anxiously awaiting' the launch of the scheme.

What is certain is that some of the new farm schemes, included in the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which is still under consideration in Brussels, will be introduced in the coming two weeks in the run-up to the general election.

Expect launches of REPS 4, the New Farm Improvement Scheme, the Early Retirement Scheme and the new Installation Aid scheme.

These schemes will be launched in advance of the overall Rural Development Programme which is expected to receive full EU approval by mid-year. The Rural Development Programme is worth in the region of €1bn annually to Irish agriculture. High level meetings are taking place in Brussels tomorrow with Minister Coughlan, senior Department officials and the EU Commission about the schemes.

Farmers around the country are eagerly awaiting the launch of these schemes and the various farming organisations have been pushing hard for an immediate launch, citing farmer demand and lack of alternatives as primary reasons.