A deal struck between member states and the European Parliament on Monday took plans to cut the number of cross-compliance inspections farmers are subjected to per year closer to the finish line.

The agreement saw both groups find common ground on European Commission proposals that would seek to limit Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on-the-ground scheme inspections to a maximum of one check per farm per year.

The plans would also see young farmers granted a three-year amnesty on applying for grant aid on investments needed to bring a farm they take over up to regulatory standards, where no such allowance currently exists.

ADVERTISEMENT

If taken on board, this would see young farmers able to avail of TAMS III grant aid for works such as adding slurry storage space or investing in yards that are currently in breach of cross compliance and, as a result, ineligible for the scheme.

Scrap

The proposals would scrap crop diversification requirements for tillage farmers with below 30ha and declare organic farmers and those in transition to organics compliant with certain GAECs also.

While the proposals making their way through Brussels open the door to payment top-ups for farmers on peatlands and wetlands for adhering to GAEC 2 drainage rules that go beyond the standards set down in national law, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon had ruled this possibility out for Irish farmers earlier this year.

The plans must receive one final seal of approval from both member states and MEPs before taking effect.

An agreement on progressing them to the next stage of legislative approval was welcomed by European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen as a “big win for EU farmers and agri-food producers, helping them focus on feeding Europe with simpler policies”.