Farmers are facing cuts of 4% – almost €50m – in Basic Payments next year. A 15% cut in the Rural Development Programme (RDP), costing Irish farmers another €50m, is also being proposed in a draft European Commission document seen by the Irish Farmers Journal.

The cuts would see a farmer currently receiving the average payment of €9,385 in a Basic Payment losing €375 next year.

The cuts would hit every farmer, irrespective of the size of their farm or the scale of their entitlements.

It is harder to predict which rural development schemes would be hit, but a 15% cut would leave all programmes vulnerable.

IFA president Joe Healy has attacked what he called an “old rules – new budget” scenario.

“This proposed new budget has not been approved by member states or the European Parliament. The IFA is clear that if the rules are staying the same, the budget must stay the same,” he said.

Member states have the final say on the EU budget so the Irish Government can fight to reverse the proposed cuts. They can also choose to top up the RDP from the national coffers.

While the CAP programme will be rolled over for at least another year, the new budget rules will kick in.