At the end of this week, a DARD consultation on policy options around the introduction of a coupled payment closes to comment.

Introducing a coupled payment on, for example, suckler cows or breeding ewes was something ruled out by DARD in 2014, but to be kept under review. That review is happening now, and if NI is to introduce a coupled payment for 2017 to 2019, then a decision must be taken before 1 August 2016.

Probably the sector where there is most momentum for a coupled payment is suckler cows. In theory, a payment of up to £120 per head is possible. It is something advocated by the Agri-Food Strategy Board, redmeat processors, and some leading UFU figures. The argument they make is that the sector was responsible for bringing a significant proportion of the overall subsidy into NI and with a move towards flat-rate payments by 2021, many suckler producers are losing out. Also, across Europe, 24 member states provide support to their beef sector via some form of coupling, so how can NI compete against that?

But, on the other side of the argument, DARD contends that coupled payments just bring higher numbers, and ultimately lower prices.

It is also important to remember that a scheme would be funded by taking up to 13% off all payments, and using this money to fund the scheme. Given the current crisis across agriculture, it would be extremely difficult to justify doing that. The same goes for using money from direct payments to fund a future Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme or using the European crisis reserve (money that is paid back to farmers each year if it remains unused) to fund greater intervention in the EU dairy sector. Now is not the time to ‘‘rob Peter to pay Paul’’. Other sources of money must be found.