The IFA continues to overhaul the levy collection system for its membership. An update on levies was provided at the executive council meeting on Tuesday.

Effectively, the IFA intends to “reform” levy collection, delivering on the commitment by president Joe Healy to “improve the transparency and introduce more formality” around the levy system.

The intention is to ensure all farmers who want to pay the levies do so.

To that end, all farmers will be included on the “opt-in” system as was the case heretofore, but now with a clear “opt-out” option available and easy to access for those farmers who do not want to pay.

This reboot is intended to correct any anomalies that may exist in the levy system.

Engagement process

Commenting on the new system, the IFA said: “The system has been improved to provide closer voluntary oversight and stronger assurances to members. An engagement process has been underway in recent months with the levy collection outlets to get agreement on the implementation of the new system.”

Levies are a key element of the IFA’s funding. In 2016, they accounted for €4.1m of the IFA’s overall income.

Levy revenue is determined by the volume and value of sales of milk, meat, and crops by members.

In 2016, low milk price and poor grain yields and prices would have curbed levy income. The dairy levy is also an important source of income for Macra and ICMSA

In relation to ABP and levy collection, it’s understood that the meeting was told that no discussions have occurred yet.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the IFA and ABP are in communication on a range of issues, but levies have not as yet been revisited.

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History of the EIF levy

Who pays the EIF levy?