Farmer views: ‘CAP budget is a big issue'

James Crowley, west Cork

“I see there is a bit of an issue there, that if you rent land off a farmer, the payments go back to the farmer that is renting out the land.

"I think maybe they should be attached to the people producing food off that land. I know it’s a controversial thing to say, but if there are supports that can be put in place, for it to be phased out going forward.

“Obviously, the CAP budget is a big issue, within Europe it is reducing all the time. We need to produce food to feed the people of Europe, so it’s important the budget is kept up.

“In a bad year, it’s very beneficial to the business; in a good year, it is also a great top-up to income we get from milk and cows.

“I probably would like to see a succession/retirement scheme. Access to land is a problem. I am a derogation farmer, so having enough acres for the number of cows we have is a bit of a problem.

"Hopefully, we will be able to keep the derogation going forward and the cow numbers we have, if the derogation does go, I will lose 50 to 60 cows, which is a big problem."

Willie Sheehan, Carrignavar, Co Cork

“I think it’s wrong - wer'e going to lose out and there are going to be bigger fish looking for more of the pie.

"If we don’t battle enough, we won’t get even close to what we're getting at the moment. We have 27 countries trying to divvy it out, it’s just getting tougher and tougher. We have to be prepared that we will be taking less.

“I rely on the EU payments a bit, not massively, but at the same time, it’s a nice top-up for your income, it’s all wanted.

"I'd be worried with the new budgeting going forward that we are not going to get what we're used to getting. I think that could be an issue in encouraging young people to get into farming.

“Id be interested in a succession/retirement scheme, in a few years’ time. I think it’s very important that the Government encourages older farmers to have a life they can live after farming by supporting them.

"And at the other end, supporting younger farmers to come in at a younger age than they are at the moment. I think 35 is too old to be encouraging people, it should be 25 people are getting into farming at.”

Dermot O’Sullivan, Fermoy, Co Cork

“I think it is very unfair for people who want to progress, it is getting harder and harder to access land. Every farmer relies on it, but how much is hard to quantify as every year is different.

“I am not at that stage in life yet I like to think, but if a succession/retirement scheme is there, it’s important to bring on the young people.

“A lot of older farmers I know enjoy their farming, you can’t be penalising them for wanting to not retire, but there definitely should be some incentive to bring on the young people.”

Paula Hynes, Aherla, Co Cork

“The winter has been horrendous, but the cows are in good form and they are milking well, so that’s the main thing.

“They will do what they want anyway - they don’t take farmers' opinions into consideration. All these farm organisations seem to do stuff after, when the horse has bolted in my opinion.

"We wouldn’t get huge payments anyway, so it wouldn’t make a whole pile of difference to us anyway, our payments are very small.

“I would 100% apply for a succession/retirement scheme if it was available, for the next generation the amount of young people coming into farming is getting less and less.

"There is too much red tape, too many headaches and the price of milk is bad this year. The cost of inputs is absolutely sickening and for me at home, the biggest one is the [electricity bill], it’s absolutely horrendous and I don’t know how people are surviving.”