ICSA rural development chairman and president elect Gabriel Gilmartin has expressed extreme frustration that REPS 4 farmers still haven't received payment. "In some cases, farmers who have not even been told whether they have been accepted into REPS 4 are now being subjected to sudden on the spot inspections. It is not right to inspect [...]
There was a sense of relief among farm organisations yesterday in the aftermath of a draconian budget that did not hit farming as hard as recent efforts. In his post Budget press briefing, Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith was also in relatively upbeat mood. The fact that agriculture was spared harsh cuts was seen as [...]
Budget Recognition That Further Cuts to Farming Are Not Sustainable The president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) Malcolm Thompson has said that farmers will be relieved that the government has realised that further cuts to agriculture are not sustainable. “To date agriculture has taken an 18.5% cut in supports and any [...]
FARMERS claim that the axe will fall on more than 12,000 jobs if An Bord Snip cuts to agriculture go ahead. They also say that Irish food output will fall by €430m if the McCarthy report proposals are implemented. Farm payments will cost the Government more in social welfare than they will save, according to [...]
The Government must give the banks clear directions to provide credit as a matter of priority to farmers and other small businesses, the ICMSA has insisted. The farmer body urged the Government to adopt a proactive approach to tackle the growing crisis in farming and to ensure that the sector can work through its current [...]
The Irish Governments decision to allocate the modulated funds in the form of grants rather then direct payment is flawed, bizarre and unacceptable. It proved yet again how removed from reality the Minister and his Department actually are. Linking eligibility for the grants to yet more expenditure on the part of dairy farmers is both [...]
An initiative to assist farmers who are facing financial pressure over the next 12 months has been announced by Teagasc. A financial planning service will be offered to all farmer clients over the next seven weeks as advisers assist them in the completion of their Single Farm Payment application.
Pat Boyle, director of Advisory Services [...]
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith T.D., announced today that over141,000 Annual Payment Statements for the year 2008 will issue to farmers around the country over the next few days. The Minister said that the Statement gives details to each farmer of all payments made to him/her by the Department during the [...]
Commenting on the publication of the Finance Bill 2009, IFA President Padraig Walshe said there is huge anger in rural Ireland over the blatant discrimination against farmers in the implementation of the income levy.
He said "farmers are being forced to pay the income levy on money allocated to essential farm business investments on top of [...]
60,000 FARMERS HIT BY BUDGET 2008
40,000 disadvantage farmers lose up to €1,0055 per year due to cut from 45ha to 34ha
Suckler welfare scheme cut by €40/head from 2009 – 54,000 farmers lose out.
Suspension of €15,000 young farmer's installation aid.
Early retirement scheme suspended. Elderly farmer's retirement and pensions blocked.
Major shortfall in funding for farm waste management [...]
