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The IFA has welcomed confirmation that farmers will receive advance notification ahead of a farm inspection from the Department of Agriculture.
According to IFA deputy president Brian Rushe, speaking following a Charter Rights meeting with the Department, the changes had been made to comply with coronavirus guidelines.
“Farmers will receive advance notice. The Department inspectors will adhere to HSE guidelines and social distancing and post the follow-up paperwork to the farmer,” Rushe said.
He also welcomed confirmation that farmers selected for an inspection would not be subjected to payment delays.
Frustration
Rushe said that in previous years farmers had been frustrated as their payments had been delayed, but said the Department had responded to IFA demands on the need for timely payments.
“The Department confirmed to [the] IFA that all inspections and schemes are on schedule to deliver payments on time,” he said.
IFA national livestock chair Brendan Golden also argued that the 5% stocking reduction in the BEAM scheme was “unnecessary” and said that Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed needs to renegotiate it.
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