Connemara farmers intensify campaign over agri-scheme

Hill farmers in Connemara are intensifying their campaign for changes to a newly introduced agri-environment scheme. A rule which requires agreement between 50 per cent of farmers on a commonage before payment can be drawn is the main point of contention. Almost 100 farmers attended a meeting in Maam Cross last night and further action is planned. A new agri-environment scheme under the Common Agriculture Policy is called GLAS and it comes with a new rule – there has to be agreement on how the commonage is managed between half of the active farmers who have a share before the GLAS grants is paid. Farming leaders in Connemara have stated that getting such agreements is unworkable and that thousands of euro will be lost to local communities as a result. One hundred attended a meeting in Maam Cross last night and Dáil politicians and MEPS have been invited to a meeting in Westport next Wednesday evening in an effort to bring the message from the hills to Dublin and Brussels.