Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has stated that he has a “glass half full” outlook on European Commission proposals to cut ringfenced farmer funds by 20%.
The minister is confident facing into negotiations that he hopes will push CAP’s dedicated funding upwards.
“Very significant” changes will be made to the ringfenced €300bn initially proposed for CAP funds over the next two years, and similar raids of the EU’s farm payment pot did not materialise in previous CAP reforms, Minister Heydon told the Irish Farmers Journal.
The minister voiced support for European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen by claiming that the 80% of the current CAP ring-fenced in Brussels’ plans represents the “best possible outcome” that the EU farm chief could wrangle from the largest overhaul of the EU budget in decades.
Minister Heydon slammed plans to axe CAP payments for farmers receiving a pension as “draconian” and stated that he firmly opposes proposals to stop payments to part-time farmers.
The proposal to set a new reference period for determining scheme payment rates from 2028 is one the minister will explore.
The cool-headed approach of Minister Heydon was not shared by farming organisations, as IFA president Francie Gorman labelled the proposed budget decrease a “hammer blow” for farmers and the INHFA warned that the funding drop will equate to 30% when accounting for inflation.
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SHARING OPTIONS