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Redistribution of payments, retirement and the definition of genuine farmer were the principal points from the floor at the west Cork IFA meeting to discuss CAP 2020 in Macroom on Thursday night.
"Everyone was bringing their own bullocks to the fair", was one farmer's neat summation of the pattern of suggestions from the floor. The organisation faces a challenge in trying to keep all members happy when formatting its final proposals.
The historical reference years of 2000 to 2002 still rankle with some farmers, particularly those on lower payments and this was made clear to president Joe Healy on the night. These farmers were wary over whether redistribution would happen and to what extent.
Retirement
Generational renewal and the need for linking payments to some form of retirement option was mentioned by a number of speakers and that subject could warrant a meeting of its own. At present, Brussels does not look favourably on a retirement scheme due to the long-term nature of it.
Active farmer
Defining an active farmer will be another challenge. There was an appetite for using information available from previous Single Farm Payment applications to determine the activity levels of a farmer.
The use of donkeys and equines for farm payments was not looked on favourably.
SHARING OPTIONS: