CAP 2020 was on the agenda of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee this week, where there was a huge range of views expressed.

It looks like there is a long road ahead and it will be a huge challenge to get it completed in European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan’s term in office.

The next CAP has to strongly support direct payments for livestock farmers, IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods said in Brussels this week.

Commissioner Hogan must push for an increased CAP budget that takes account of inflation, the IFA said, highlighting that the European Parliament has endorsed this.

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and the Irish Government need to back this position strongly to protect farm incomes, according to Woods.

“As a low-income sector, dependent on direct payments, convergence has seriously damaged incomes on livestock farms. This cannot be allowed continue in the Hogan reforms.”

Woods rubbished claims made in the recent European Court of Auditors report, saying it failed to understand the importance of direct payments to livestock farm incomes.