Officials in the Department of Agriculture will seek the views of farm organisations and agricultural advisers before making any decision on whether off-farm income should be taken into account for farm payments.

The Department pledged to discuss the issue with the direct payments advisory committee before a decision is made.

The Department was responding to questioning by Macra na Feirme members in a recent webinar on the next CAP.

Ted Massey, an agricultural inspector with the Department and also a member of its CAP consultative committee, was asked if off-farm income would affect payments in the next CAP and also if there was any prospect of the €40,000 off-farm income limit being removed for national reserve applicants.

Examining the options

In response, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said it would be carefully examining the options that are available to Ireland on these issues.

“At this point, it is not clear exactly what will be set via implementing and delegated regulations at EU level and what can be catered for in the CAP strategic plan,” the spokesperson said.

“However, views on issues such as this will be sought and discussed with the the direct payments advisory committee before a decision is made.”

National reserve and Young Farmers Scheme

Earlier this week, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue reiterated that the transitional EU regulations from December 2020 provide for the extension of the Basic Payment Scheme national reserve and also the Young Farmers Scheme for the years 2021 and 2022.

He added that the draft EU regulations for the next reform of the CAP from 2023 includes provision for a national reserve for young farmers and new entrants, as well as a successor scheme to the Young Farmers Scheme.

“The outline of any schemes supported under the next CAP and details of the terms and conditions for eligibility under such schemes will be set out once the relevant EU regulations are agreed and finalised,” he said.