Irish farmers will increasingly receive EU payments based on environmental results under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) package, confirmed Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue.
Close to €10.8 billion has been earmarked over the next seven years for 120,000 Irish farm families under the CAP deal agreed this week.
A total of 25 per cent of payments to farmers under the new CAP package have been diverted into eco-schemes. These schemes include improving animal health and welfare; enhancing biodiversity, sustainable management of natural resources and carbon mitigation, including reduced chemical fertiliser use and changes in crop production.
Mr McConalogue said: “The CAP will continue to support our farmers to produce top-quality, safe and healthy food while also allowing us to increase our climate ambitions.
“Our farmers are true leaders and pioneers in this area and this deal allows Ireland to be a global leader in reducing carbon emissions, address biodiversity decline and improve water quality.”
However, IFA president Tim Cullinan has reiterated the CAP deal “will potentially devastate the incomes of a cohort of Irish farmers.”
“Now that the deal has been agreed in Europe, the Government needs to step up to the plate to support productive farmers through national co-financing, the €1.5 billion commitment on carbon tax and the Brexit adjustment reserve,” he added.
“The Government must support productive beef, sheep and tillage farmers.”
LSL News.