Editorial: important to get views across as deadline for CAP submissions looms

The public consultation on the CAP post-2027 regulations opened three weeks ago and closes on Friday 20 March at 5pm.

Farmers in general have been slow to make submissions in the past while non-governmental organisations and environmental groups have always been very good at getting a high number of submissions in to shape the direction of the next CAP.

In July 2025, the European Commission published its legislative proposals for the EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework or MFF and the CAP for the period 2028-2034. These proposals represent a significant change in both the structure and funding of the next CAP. As it stands, the proposed budget for the next CAP has been cut by over 20%.

In an Irish context, this translates into a cut of over €300m per annum in the next CAP, which will have severe consequences for many farms that rely heavily on support payments.

CAP funding

Many farmers have already seen huge cuts to their payments over the last two iterations of CAP funding, with convergence eroding the value of higher-value entitlements, and the proposed changes will see further cuts in supports to these farms.

The IFA president’s comments this week about supporting active farmers are welcome.

Aligning payments linked to a level of farming activity would be a sensible approach and see funding targeted at farmers who are calving cows, lambing ewes or tilling land.

Linking payments to a historic level of production regardless of what activity you have now is doing absolutely nothing for generational renewal and, if anything, is turning the next generation of young people away from farming.

If you have views it is important to get them across. You can download the questionnaire on the Department of Agriculture website at www.agriculture.gov.ie and email it to post2027capconsultation@agriculture.gov.ie.