This week we carry confirmation that farmers have yet again signed up to Government schemes, only to be told the payments would be lower than expected. This is becoming a pattern, and one that is unacceptable.
It is nothing short of disingenuous for political parties and Government ministers to promise farmers increased payment rates pre-election, only to retract those commitments after the fact.
As we highlighted at budget time, tillage farmers were promised €60m in funding, only to find that just half of that was new funding.
Sheep farmers were pledged €25/ewe in the Sheep Improvement Scheme and Sheep Welfare Scheme, but the payment for the latter was cut from €13 per ewe to €11.50 per ewe.
This week, farmers hear that the maximum number of calves eligible for payment in the Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme is being cut from 50 to 31 calves.
The National Beef Welfare Scheme payments are cut from €75 to €67 per calf as a result of strong demand.
There are only two reasons for this happening – either Minister Heydon and his predecessor Minister McConalogue were knowingly making empty promises, or he and his department officials are not budgeting based on accurate forecasts and available funds.
Either way, farmers are losing out financially, and their ability to plan for bank repayments, farm input costs and investment is being hit.
SHARING OPTIONS