Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has requested advance BPS payments for Irish farmers from the European Commission, the Irish Farmers Journal understands. Advance payments have been granted by the Commission over the last number of years, with farmers receiving up to 70% of their BPS in October.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Minister Creed said: “We’re engaged with the Commission on [advance payments].”
Toxicity between meat industry and farmers
In light of recent factory protests instigated by the Beef Plan Movement, Minister Creed told the crowd at Tullamore Show that the “toxicity” between the meat industry and farm community needed to be addressed.
“It has been a very difficult couple of weeks for the farm community,” Minister Creed said.
“The current toxicity of relationships between the meat industry and the farm community cannot last any longer.”
Talks between farm organisations, including Beef Plan, the minister and the meat industry will take place on Monday and Minister Creed said that “a new infrastructure needs to come out of that conversation”.
Sustainability
Minister Creed also criticised “keyboard warriors” who latched on to negative news reports regarding farming and climate change.
“We as a farming community are under relentless bombardment,” Creed said. “Give us a break. We do acknowledge that we have a role to play.”
He said that the “relentless negative commentary” was in danger of sparking a negative reaction from the farm community who were already on board with trying to help combat climate change.
Brexit
On the subject of Brexit, Minister Creed said that his Department and the Government were ready to step in and help the farm community in the event of hard Brexit. But he urged agricultural businesses to be prepared for a no-deal scenario.
“We are ready to support the industry in what may be a very substantial shock,” he said.
He added that businesses needed to make sure they “registered with all the authorities”.
Read more
Beef Plan protests wind down ahead of talks
Beef Plan receives solicitors’ letters from five factories
Creed calls on factories to ‘step back’ from legal action
Listen: failure not an option at beef talks – Creed
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has requested advance BPS payments for Irish farmers from the European Commission, the Irish Farmers Journal understands. Advance payments have been granted by the Commission over the last number of years, with farmers receiving up to 70% of their BPS in October.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Minister Creed said: “We’re engaged with the Commission on [advance payments].”
Toxicity between meat industry and farmers
In light of recent factory protests instigated by the Beef Plan Movement, Minister Creed told the crowd at Tullamore Show that the “toxicity” between the meat industry and farm community needed to be addressed.
“It has been a very difficult couple of weeks for the farm community,” Minister Creed said.
“The current toxicity of relationships between the meat industry and the farm community cannot last any longer.”
Talks between farm organisations, including Beef Plan, the minister and the meat industry will take place on Monday and Minister Creed said that “a new infrastructure needs to come out of that conversation”.
Sustainability
Minister Creed also criticised “keyboard warriors” who latched on to negative news reports regarding farming and climate change.
“We as a farming community are under relentless bombardment,” Creed said. “Give us a break. We do acknowledge that we have a role to play.”
He said that the “relentless negative commentary” was in danger of sparking a negative reaction from the farm community who were already on board with trying to help combat climate change.
Brexit
On the subject of Brexit, Minister Creed said that his Department and the Government were ready to step in and help the farm community in the event of hard Brexit. But he urged agricultural businesses to be prepared for a no-deal scenario.
“We are ready to support the industry in what may be a very substantial shock,” he said.
He added that businesses needed to make sure they “registered with all the authorities”.
Read more
Beef Plan protests wind down ahead of talks
Beef Plan receives solicitors’ letters from five factories
Creed calls on factories to ‘step back’ from legal action
Listen: failure not an option at beef talks – Creed
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