Suckler cow and REPS are top priorities
FARMERS across the western region are to be canvassed for their views on how to best support the sector over the coming years with both new Suckler Cow and REPS schemes top of the agenda.
Connacht IFA Chair, Pat Murphy, said that an extensive consultation process was planned with farmers across the province next month to see ‘what would work best’ in terms of supports over the coming years.
“I suppose the one message we got during recent IFA election campaigns is that many farmers felt that they weren’t being listened to and that their views weren’t being taken on board.
“We have a Connacht officers meeting scheduled for April 1 and after that we want all our county officers to engage in an extensive consultation campaign with farmers and IFA members on the ground,” Pat Murphy told the Farming Tribune.
He said that this entire process would then feed into a major regional meeting on May 7 next in Carrick-on-Shannon to be attended by IFA President, Tim Cullinan and Director General, Damien McDonald.
“We feel that if we can ‘get a handle’ on the schemes that can really work for farmers in the West of Ireland we will be in a far better position to put forward solid proposals that can help to secure the future of agriculture in the region,” said Pat Murphy.
He said that the first priority would be in the securing of a new Suckler Cow Scheme with a meaningful annual payment level that would help to restore viability to the sector.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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