‘’No retrospective penalties,’’ was the resounding voice of the massive crowd the attended a land eligibility meeting in Carrick on Shannon last week.

Farmers in attendance also questioned the audit of fields from satellite imagery and raised many issues of incorrect mapping. IFA executive secretary Gerry Gunning said the group is urging Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney not to enforce a retrospective penalty on farmers who have lost area due to ineligibility. Department representative Alan O’Brien said the Government is making a case to Brussels on the issue of retrospective penalties.

He said that on foot of an EU audit, the Department had to undertake a major review of land eligibility to avoid a substantial penalty. In total, 25,000 parcels had over-claims and so far 8,000-9,000 appeals have been lodged. He advised farmers to appeal the letters if they think they are incorrect. In terms of the appeal, Alan told the crowd that where farmers are arguing for a large increase in the claimable area of a parcel, then a ground inspection will occur. He warned farmers that where there are ground inspections, “it can go both ways’’.

He added that, in general, when a parcel is appealed, it is just that parcel that is ground-inspected unless the appeal relates to over 20% of the whole farm. One of the questions from the floor was: “What is an eligible hectare, is a field with rushes eligible?’’ In reply, Alan said that a field with rushes in it is eligible provided that it is managed correctly. It doesn’t have to be topped every year. He said scrub, houses, roadways and other items are ineligible.

Scrub

One farmer asked if he removes scrub now, will he avoid it being deemed as ineligible last year. Alan’s answer was: “No, the area will be eligible for 2014, but must be taken out for 2013 as it was there on the ground.’’

When questioned on ineligible areas on commonage, Alan replied that it would be more straightforward if all applicants on a commonage appealed together. Sligo IFA chairman Eddie Davitt said it is unacceptable for farmers to be penalised. He said that “when farmers were in REPS they couldn’t take out scrub, and now you are fining them for not taking it out’’.

IFA Longford chairman Andrew McHugh said: “They shouldn’t be penalising us on or Single Farm Payment. The payment was not based on the acre.’’ He added that this cannot happen again.