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Farmers attending the ICMSA AGM were shocked when they were told that satellite inspections take place up to three time a week on their farms.
European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan told the crowd: “The satellite passes your land three times a week."
He added that post-2020, the Commission intends to increase the use of satellite inspections.
“We’re going to reduce the level of inspections from 5% to 1%.
“Because of this new technology and because our error rate now in the European Union arising from the good work of the paying agencies and ministries is down to 2.2%.”
Hogan also said the move to make inspections almost 100% satellite based would eliminate the need for “bus-loads of inspectors”.
Listen to "Commissioner Hogan responds to inspector complaints" on Spreaker.
“I don’t think we should be investing a lot of money in terms of providing labour costs for ministries at a time when the error rate is that low. We should be using a more risk-based approach.”
However, news that the need for on-farm inspectors would be reduced was not welcomed by everyone in the audience, and a number of farmers urged the Commissioner to ensure that inspectors reading satellite imagery were given adequate training on farm specific maps.
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