The Department of Agriculture is planning to design Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plan in the next eight to nine months in consultation with stakeholders, IFA economist Edel Kelly told a CAP/ANC meeting in Mullingar on Tuesday.

Although the EU budget will not be decided until October, it is understood the Department has already conducted an analysis of potential measures and will draft a strategic plan based on the current proposed cuts, with any additional funding coming as a bonus. Remarks from Brussels and any amendments to finalise Ireland’s plan would then take place in the first half of 2020.

Meanwhile, at an IFA CAP/ANC, meeting held in Sligo on Monday night suckler cows and Brexit were also to the fore at the meeting.

Farmers were reasonably happy with the ANC review, Sligo IFA chair JP Cowley told the Irish Farmers Journal. “There was nothing taken out of the maps from Sligo.”

However, the future with Brexit is leaving a lot of uncertainty. “If the Government and Europe can stand in behind us and support whatever money we’re going to lose through Brexit – [it] could be put on to the kilo of beef to take the sting out of it. This wasn’t our doing.”

Farmer view

Michael Dowd, Co Sligo

“We’re on death row here. There is no doubt about it. Most of the farmers in this room are over 40 and there isn’t much encouragement as to how things might be changed and brought around. It’s really serious what’s happening in this part of the country as regards farms being sold up, moving on and no one has any interest in them, because there’s no income to be made out of them in the first place. There are good farmers working for nothing in this part of the country. The money is going to the wrong people.”

Tom Clarke, Co Sligo

“In a no-deal situation there’s supposed to be money to support [farming] in this country. Is it going to be money to support factories or the farmers? How is it going to be played out? There are two years left in the present suckler scheme [BDGP]. Before there’s a total collapse in sucklers, what has the IFA in mind to support that scheme and keep it going and turn the corner? Every farmer I talk to is saying the minute the scheme is over we’re out.”

Paul Ross, Legan, Co Longford

“I’m in GLAS and I’m getting extra money to fence my rivers, etc. I’m worried that under the new eco-scheme in Pillar I, I’ll have to do the same just to get my BPS. I heard at tonight’s meeting that the eco-scheme will be more for things we already do, such as maintaining hedgerows. I would be happy with that. Then there will be an environmental scheme under Pillar 2. It should be like the old REPS, when most farmers did their work in year one and were able to make money for the rest of the scheme.”

Sean Murray, Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon

“My son is farming with me full-time and I would like to see a combination of generational renewal measures. A retirement scheme wouldn’t have to be a lot of money, but it should not force you to stop working entirely. You’re still young enough to assist on the farm. For my son, I would like to keep the existing young farmer top-ups and introduce an installation aid package. I want the IFA to keep pushing for this.”