Proposals to support the removal of the two-crop rule and modify the three-crop rule have been welcomed by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).

The adoption of specific amendments by the European Parliament has the potential to make it significantly easier for many tillage farmers to comply with Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) crop diversification rules, IFA president Francie Gorman has said.

These amendments are on the back of European Commission proposals to simplify the CAP and boost farmer competitiveness.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The decision, if accepted, will increase flexibilities for many tillage farmers in terms of sowing decisions. It is now vital that these proposals are accepted by both agriculture ministers and the Commission to allow them to be fully implemented,” Gorman said.

Threshold

IFA grain chair Kieran McEvoy said the proposal would see the removal of the two-crop rule, which currently applies to tillage farmers growing between 10ha and 30ha, and increasing the threshold before which compliance with the thee-crop rule is required, from 30ha to 50ha.

“Effectively under the proposal, there would be no crop diversification requirements on tillage farmers growing fewer than 50ha. [The] IFA had written to all Irish MEPs in advance of this important vote seeking support for this amendment.

“Minister Heydon and his Department officials must use all their influence to make sure tillage farmers benefit from the crop diversification rule changes put forward by the [European] Parliament,” he said.