This is a subscriber-only article
Tillage farmer, Moyvane, Co Kerry
“A group of us finished our Green Cert together in March 2007 and at the time there was talk of grants being pulled but we were told it was nonsense.
“By autumn of that year, the grants were suspended and we lost out on up to €15,000 tax-free installation aid.
“At this stage, I’m 38 years of age and I’ve been treated like a farmer who was over 60. Every entitlement I have I had to purchase myself.
“We’ve had big meetings about this over the years and we’ve been sold so many false promises. I would like to see “forgotten” farmers getting any top up that’s available in the next CAP – let it be a level playing field.
“It’s very simple to sort this out if the Government is serious about it and IFA president Tim Cullinan needs to be driving this home. If the will is there, it can be done.”
Dairy farmer, Ballinascarthy, Co Cork
“When I started milking I was bounds on my home place and I bought a secondhand parlour, feeder and tank.
“Then when we moved into the home place I priced a 14-unit parlour at the time but we couldn’t afford it because I wasn’t entitled to the young farmer 60% TAMS grant. I worked out that the secondhand parlour I ended up getting would have cost me the same as the brand new parlour if I’d got the grant.
“All we want is a level playing field. That secondhand parlour is out-dated now and I’ll need to put another one in, but I wouldn’t have to if I’d had access to the 60% grant and been able to get the new parlour.
“It’s not to get anything extra, it’s just to get the same as other young farmers. Not getting the grant or the top-up payment also made it hard to compete with other young farmers if you wanted to lease land or expand because you didn’t have the same cashflow as them.”
Beef and tillage farmer, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal
“The first thing I missed out on was installation aid. I’d started a contracting business in the years before I took over the farm from my father and the turnover restrictions saw me miss out.
“That was the start of it. I still wasn’t even 30 and because of how long I had the farm I fell foul of every set of the rules in every scheme that came after.
“I was under 40 but because I was farming in my own right for more than five years, I didn’t qualify for supports. At this stage, I’ll never be able to make up on what I’ve missed out on and the disadvantage we were at but I would like to see some acknowledgement for us ‘forgotten’ farmers. Whether that be an extra grant through TAMS, or maybe an additional measure in a scheme.
“Anything to help right the wrong that was done.”
Sheep farmer, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal
“When I took over the farm, installation was just stopped in 2008 and then because I was farming for the couple of years I missed out on the young farmer scheme too.
“Anything I’ve done on the farm has been on the basis of a loan from the bank and paying it back. Up until recently when we got a 40% TAMS grant for some sheep fencing, everything has been out of my own pocket.
“I’m not looking for a massive payout or a massive windfall. I’d just like to see something that can help me and other farmers in my situation get their head above water.
“Forgotten farmers have become a political football. People always say the right things about how they’ll sort the situation but then we’re just kicked down the road. The two-year gap to the next CAP leaves time to put this right.”
SHARING OPTIONS: