There have been many changes to funding models and the structure of schemes in recent CAP reforms, but one aspect which always remained constant was the Pillar I and Pillar II structure.

We are told that this is being removed under the next CAP, covering the period 2028 to 2034, with the two funding streams being merged.

The European Commission maintains that this will lead to “a CAP with simpler and more flexible rules: a single rulebook for the CAP, combined with new streamlined payments, will reduce the burden for both farmers and administrations”.

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As such, the schemes detailed in Table 1 and Table 2 below, which farmers have become accustomed to, are likely to be subject to significant change. The only real certainty seems to be dedicated funding for organic farming, with many EU documents highlighting that member states must continue to promote and fund this farming practice.

This is very apparent in an Irish context, with funding for organics increasing five-fold in the current CAP.

There is no mention in any documents about the future of vital sectoral schemes for sucklers, sheep and tillage. The writing could be on the wall for entitlements in their current format with some sources predicting a move to 100% convergence and a flat rate payment per hectare. The European Commission describes such a format as “a new approach setting minimum and maximum amounts per hectare making hectare-based payment more uniform among member states”.

There is also an insinuation that the eco scheme agri-environment initiative introduced in the current CAP could be merged with agri-environment schemes, ie ACRES in an Irish context, to form the basis of an environmental payment.

The future of the Areas of Natural Constraint would seem to be somewhat safe, with a mechanism mentioned to support farming in areas of constraint.

The biggest question is what constitutes an “area-based” payment of income support and what thresholds will be applied for maximum payments.