At Friday nights’ Irish Natura and Hill Farmer Association (INHFA) national rally in Westport, INHFA Chairman, Vincent Roddy told the crowd that the last redistribution of CAP saw minimal redistribution as farmers with larger and higher payments were protected. Roddy added that this was done under the guise of the need to protect productive farmers, yet their analysis showed this was a myth.

He outlined the INHFA proposals on CAP 2020 which have been sent to Brussels;

Pillar 1

  • Front loaded payment on the first 20ha with a digressive flat rate payment on the remainder.
  • A maximum payment of €60,000 per farmer with no allowance for labour units.
  • The Eco-Scheme (Greening replacement) should be mandatory for all farmers and be 30% of Pillar 1.
  • A flat rate of €75/ha paid from 2020.

    • Pillar 2

  • Calling on the government to make up the 15.3% budget cut under Pillar 2.
  • ANC fund to be increased to €336m to provide payments of up to €6,000.
  • A Natura payment reflecting the burden imposed by designation.
  • An Agri-Environmental Scheme that will pay €7,000 on average and up to €12,000 for those on designated land.
  • Department of Agriculture should cover the cost of Commonage plans and there should be no collective responsibility.

    • Tams

  • 50% grant aid for any farm safety measure.
  • Reduction of minimum spend to €500.
  • New measures such as re-roofing existing buildings.
  • Phased payments when projects reach certain milestones.
  • A scheme for farmers to get aid for replacing existing rotten posts.
  • Grant aid to cover cost of planning for those on designated lands.

    • Knowledge transfer

  • 80% of the budget to farmers and 20% to advisors and other professionals.
  • Farm safety module to be included in programme.

    • Farm retirement scheme

  • Scheme to pay €400/week and index linked.
  • Commence at 60 years of age.
  • Pay participants for the lifetime of the farmer and form part of a top up on the state pension.

    • Simplification and inspections

  • Charter of rights to be part of the terms and conditions of each scheme.
  • Farmers allowed the opportunity to rectify issues highlighted after inspections.
  • Sheep inspections on hills to be confined to shearing and mating.
  • Where small issues arise that farmers will receive payment for lands not in dispute.
  • Calling for a single bee hive to be recognised as a livestock unit.

    • Sold out

    Closing the meeting, Colm O’Donnell, INHFA president said that in the last CAP review farmers in Mayo were sold out in redistribution of the CAP. He added that this time the INHFA will be the voice of the small farmer and that they will be campaigning for a fairer distribution of the payments.