Small- and medium-sized farmers are set to receive front-loaded payments in the next CAP, as negotiations go down to the wire in Brussels this week.

All farmers are facing a linear cut of between 7.5% and 12% to their direct payments in order to fund the front-loading scheme.

This would see between €90m and €144m of existing Irish payments redistributed as top-ups on a set number of hectares.

Speaking at the talks in Brussels, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue was strongly opposed to these payments being forced on member states.

Front-loading, combined with the ring-fencing of eco-scheme money, could see up to 40% of farmers’ direct payments redistributed within Ireland in the next CAP.

The rate of convergence of farm payments is also set to be increased from a proposed 75% to 85%.

Under the latest eco-scheme proposals, member states will be offered two choices.

In Ireland’s case, this will mean either 25% of farmers’ direct payments, some €300m, will be ring-fenced for eco-schemes, or 22% (€260m) will be set aside initially, before rising to 30% (€355m).

Negotiators expect a deal on the next CAP will be reached by Friday.

Payment for scrub

Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture proposals for Ireland’s schemes under the next CAP, seen by the Irish Farmers Journal, show that an extra 55,000ha of land, including scrub and habitats, could be eligible for farm payments.

The Department has detailed a range of schemes for farmers in the next CAP, chief among them being the next flagship agri-environment scheme.

The next TAMS II scheme, a sheep improvement scheme, a suckler carbon measure and dairy-beef welfare measure are also revealed, with farmers expected to carry out a wide range of actions.

The measures under eco-schemes could include extensive livestock production, catch crops and hedgerow management.