Climate measures

IFA’s environment chair Thomas Cooney has called on the Government to introduce a climate activation programme, including actions such as biomass development, reopening GLAS and scaling up emission reduction programmes. These measures have the potential to develop diversification of enterprises and to re-energise the rural economy, he said.

KT payments

The IFA has received confirmation that Knowledge Transfer payments will not be held up as a result of the extension to the deadline for farm improvement plans. Rural development chair Joe Brady said the IFA expect payments to farmers to start towards the end of October. Around 20,000 farmers will be paid €750 each with payments totalling €15m.

Forestry

Forestry chair Pat Collins has called on Minister of State for Forestry Andrew Doyle to honour commitments made by the Forest Service and remove restrictions on planting unenclosed land. The afforestation programme is falling to unsustainable levels, and unless all suitable lands are opened, the workforce will not be available to support increasing levels of timber.