The last straw!
A GALWAY farm representative has warned that farming as a way of life could be faced with a virtual ‘wipe out’ unless major changes occur in what’s proposed in the CAP Reform package.
Martin Murphy, Galway IFA National Council Representative, told the Farming Tribune that the Eco-Scheme element of the next CAP would be ‘an absolute disaster’ for farming in the region.
He said that in one fell swoop up to 25% of the current basic payment would be taken from the overall figure as a so-called successor to the greening measure.
“We are doing everything in our power to see what can be done to avoid this crash that’s coming down the tracks for Irish farming.
“Over the coming weeks, IFA is endeavouring to contact every TD and Senator in the country to see what can be done even at this late stage to try and avert what will be a real crisis for farming across the country,” said Martin Murphy.
He pointed out that the Eco-Scheme element to the new CAP would not be based on REPS type measures such as maintaining walls or hedgerows but would involve substantial investment by farmers.
“As far as I can see, what the new CAP will be, is a glorified environmental scheme that will decimate farm incomes between 2023 and 2027.
“While the current CAP will stay in operation for this year and for 2022, the crunch for farming will come in 2023 – up until 2027 – when the new conditions will be in play.
“To be honest, I don’t see at this stage what can be done, or how all this got through our MEPs in the European Parliament, but we have to try and stop it,” added Martin Murphy.
He also warned that many farmers would also see a major reduction in their entitlements payment per hectare under convergence but without a corresponding increase for farmers on lower rates of payment.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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