This is a subscriber-only article
The details
Following intense talks, the IFA and the Department of Agriculture finally reached an agreement on the fine print of the once-off compensation payment to tillage farmers, badly affected by the bad harvest of 2016.
That fine print being the maximum upper limit to the compensation payment now stands at €10,500 and not €5,000, which had previously been suggested.
Farmers who lost over 50% of their crop will be eligible for compensation of €300/ha up to 35ha – a total of €10,500.
Farmers who lost between 30% and 50% of their crop will receive €200/ha up to 35/ha, or €7,000.
The scheme criteria will allow up to 20% of crop to have been utilised on-farm.
Charlie Doherty, Donegal
“It is a year on and it has been a slow process. This compensation is slow coming and it is typical of the Department to be dragging their heels.
“But when it arrives it will be welcome at the same. The IFA must be complimented on taking a stand on this.”
John Daly, Galway
For the most part people are happy but there are some that are not too pleased
“In a case like this you can’t please everyone but on the whole we did all we could do to cater for those who lost the most.”
Jim O’Regan – Cork
“In our own county, we believe there is a maximum of 10 farmers with a loss of €40,000 to €70,000. To cap this at €10,000 is unfair.
“The maximum compensation under de minimis ruling of €15,000 should have been applied or else the IFA should have walked away.”
Kevin O’Keeffe, Cork, Fianna Fáil TD
I welcome it. Any help tillage farmers can get is badly needed after the last harvest
Michael Fitzmaurice, Roscommon, Independent TD
“It is disappointing that it wasn’t what it was supposed to be. It won’t solve the problem of the losses and it is a shame the way the Department have treated the farmers.
“It certainly doesn’t do much for the relationship between farmers and the Department.”
SHARING OPTIONS: