Low-cost finance

The huge demand for low-cost agri-cashflow loans has highlighted the gap in the market for working capital at a reasonable cost, according to farm business chair Martin Stapleton. He said the IFA will be engaging with the SBCI to build upon the success of the loans and put in place additional funds for lower-cost loans for both working capital and longer-term investment over the coming months.

Hen harrier scheme

IFA national hill chair Pat Dunne has urged Minister Michael Creed to ensure a significant amount of the allocation to the hen harrier locally led scheme benefits farmers. Welcoming the announcement that a project team has been appointed, Dunne said it is important that the team gets to work immediately with farmers, so that schemes can be devised which will help to address designation restrictions and their effect on farm income. Keep updated at www.ifa.ie.

Forestry advice

Farmers are advised not to afforest unless they are paid a premium on all land. Forestry chair Pat Collins said that, as a result of the new environmental requirements for afforestation, farmers are being forced to set aside land to meet environmental requirements but will not be paid a premium on land in excess of the 15% areas of biodiversity enhancement.

Nitrates review

As the review of the nitrates regulations began last week, environment chair Thomas Cooney called on Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed and Minister for Local Government Simon Coveney to use the review as an opportunity to support the agriculture sector to sustainably deliver the objectives of Food Wise 2025. The IFA recently met ministers Coveney and Creed and set out the importance of the continuation of the nitrates derogation.