Irish Farmers' Association Spring Newsletter

1. Farm incomes and new Charter of Rights
are Eddie Downey’s priorities as President
Dear Member,
I am greatly honoured to be elected the 14th
President of the IFA. Having spent the back-
end of last year meeting farmers and IFA
officers in every corner of the country, I am
acutely aware of the concerns being raised
by farm families. Top of the list are:
• Farm incomes must be improved by
securing strong prices for our quality
produce, maximising CAP payments and
reducing input costs, and
• A new Charter of Farmers’ Rights is
required to remove the stress and fear
surrounding inspections, and guarantee
farmers the respect and fair play they
deserve.
To these priorities, I want to add two more
that are crucial to our future in farming:
• Irish agriculture must not be
sacrificed in EU trade deals that turn a
blind eye to imports which fail to meet
European standards, and
• In the Government’s review of farm
taxation, we must hold what we have
and push for new measures on farm
investment, land mobility, income
volatility and succession.
Despite the serious challenges faced in
2013 - with bad weather until June, high
costs and the fodder crisis - Agriculture
continued to drive growth in exports, jobs
and economic recovery. We delivered
record exports of €10b and 25,000 extra
jobs were attributed to agriculture and food.
Incomes
However, farm incomes still compare
unfavourably with other sectors. The
average family farm income in 2013 was
just €21,400, compared to €32,200 for
average industrial earnings and €48,300 for
average public sector earnings.
My message to Government, processors and
retailers is that farmers must be properly
and fairly rewarded for the job they do in
producing high quality food.
IFA is continuing to push for higher product
prices across all commodities. Prices
must reflect the cost of production and
deliver a fair margin to reward hard work
and allow reinvestment. Farmers need to
see a real price and income dividend
from quality assurance and sustainability
programmes such as Origin Green.
Winter finishers
The price cuts and specification changes
imposed by the factories on bull beef
producers since December have inflicted
serious losses on winter finishers. IFA has
met the factories, both locally and
nationally and livestock farmers have
protested outside factories challenging
them to restore price stability and
confidence in the sector.
IFA has also protested over the beef losses
to Minister Coveney demanding that he
confronts the factories directly. I have
made it clear to the Minister that this is a
critical test of Food Harvest 2020 and he
must stand firm on the side of producers.
Input costs
Farmers are also being squeezed by high
input costs. Since 2005, the cost of
fertiliser is up by 62% and energy by
36%. The EU must take steps to tackle the
international price cartels openly operating
in the fertiliser sector. At home, the
Government must do more to cut the cost
of doing business.
IFA is challenging all providers of inputs and
services to become more efficient and
reduce their costs. We are expanding our
range of price surveys in order to maximise
price competition.
continued on page 2
IFA President Eddie Downey with
Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the
Government announcement of
€580m/year in national/EU funding
for the new CAP Rural Development
Programme 2014 - 2020
SPRING 2014
Member Newsletter
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:50 Page 1

2. 2
The fear and stress on farm families arising
from compliance and inspections is totally
unacceptable. I am demanding a new
Charter of Farmers’ Rights that does away
with the current Big Brother mentality and
ensures farmers are treated with respect.
I have opened negotiations with Minister
Coveney and the Department seeking
agreement on a new Charter with specific
commitments on:
• Realistic notice of all farm inspections
• A reduction in the number of inspections
and no duplication
• A yellow card system and proper
tolerances for minor infringements
before any penalties are imposed
• The elimination of unnecessary and
frustrating red tape
• Delivery of payments on time to all
farmers, and
• Tackling the unacceptable behaviour of
the SIU.
Deputy President Tim O’Leary now has
responsibility within IFA for dealing with all
ongoing issues relating to direct payments
due to farmers. The Deputy has met all IFA
Committee Chairmen and set out the IFA
agenda in negotiations with the
Department.
On the eligible land problems, IFA has
made it clear to Minister Coveney that he
must go back to Brussels. It is
unacceptable that farmers, who applied in
good faith, are being hit with retrospective
penalties.
Trade talks
IFA rejects the way the European
Commission is using agriculture as its main
bargaining chip in bilateral trade
negotiations with Canada, the US and
Brazil. As a major beef exporter, Ireland
stands to lose far more than any other EU
member state.
The potential damage from the recent EU-
Canada deal allowing 45,000t of steak
cuts onto the European market is very real.
A similar deal with the US and Brazil, given
their magnitude, would have a devastating
impact on our livestock sector.
I have called on the Government, Teagasc
and Bord Bia to undertake a full
assessment of the potential damage to our
beef sector focusing on cattle prices, farm
incomes, jobs and exports. This must also
include the impact on the dairy and white
Newly elected IFA Executive Board: (l-r) Munster Regional Chairman James
McCarthy, National Treasurer/Returning Officer Jer Bergin, Deputy President Tim
O’Leary, President Eddie Downey, Ulster/North Leinster Chairman Bert Stewart,
Connacht Chairman Tom Turley and South Leinster Chairman James Murphy.
Milk prices can be held for most of 2014
meat sectors.
IFA has also made it clear to the EU
Commission that Brazil’s lack of reliable
food safety, animal movement and
traceability standards mean it should be
excluded from access to the EU market, as
it is from the US.
The US and Canada must be subject to
import quotas and end-use controls to
Negotiations on new Charter of Rights
get underway
minimise damage to the European market,
as well as strict equivalence of standards.
I give you a firm commitment, as President,
that I will work hard with our new team to
deliver results for all farm families.
Thank you
Eddie Downey
Eddie Downey reports that co-ops have
responded to IFA’s milk price campaign of late
2013 by finding different ways of passing back
some of the additional market buoyancy we had
highlighted: through top ups and other means,
such as volatility funds, and feed and fertiliser
rebates.
Dairy Chairman Sean O’Leary says that with
robust demand keeping well up despite rising
global output, there are strong indications that
milk prices can be held for most of 2014.
Meanwhile IFA continues lobbying in Brussels on
superlevy, but there is more support in Europe
for production management after 2015 than for
any relief before that date.
Both Eddie Downey and Sean O’Leary have met with co-ops to press for a
review of their development plans to identify opportunities for joint investment.
IFA has urged all the co-ops involved and the Irish Dairy Board to re-engage
urgently and find a solution to the centralised Kerrygold packaging project.
IFA negotiation has helped shape a QA & Sustainability Scheme which the
vast majority of dairy farmers should have no difficulty complying with. As the
scheme is voluntary, farmers will decide when they are ready to engage, and
IFA is calling on co-ops to incentivise farmers’ participation. Already, a number
of audits have taken place, and reports from farmers are positive.
Sean O’Leary
(continued from page 1)
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:50 Page 2

3. Downey puts IFA’s priorities in Tax
Review to Minister Noonan
President Eddie Downey addresses Minister for Finance Michael Noonan at the
Association' Executive Council.
3
- ‘Pay & file’ date - disposed to treating
farming as an exception because of
end-year direct payments, so that the
dates for filing returns and paying tax
could be separated
- Income volatility - will look at
international examples of tax tools that
might benefit Ireland
- Simplification of tax returns – can be
looked at as part of the review
- Mandatory purchase of co-op shares
- EU state aid rules are the main
difficulty in allowing tax relief
- Land leasing tax exemption – will look
at how it can be refined to increase
uptake and land mobility
- Farm Forestry – is looking at new
ideas to address the ‘high income
earner restriction’.
Eddie Downey identified the Association’s
priorities to Minister for Finance Michael
Noonan in the current review of farm
taxation, when the Minister attended a
recent meeting of the IFA Executive
Council:
- That valuable existing tax reliefs,
critical to the development and growth
of the sector, are maintained
- To secure new tax incentives to drive
structural improvements by incentivising
land transfer, mobility and investment,
and
- To develop new taxation tools to help
deal with volatility in farm incomes.
IFA is also pressing for the simplification
of tax returns and use of technology to
drive down compliance costs for small
and medium size farmers.
Responding to Council members’
questions, Minister Noonan said the
review was about making the system more
effective for the sector and not about
increasing the tax take:
- 90% agricultural relief - no plans to
change it
Eddie Downey has warned that the attack on bull beef prices by the factories has seriously eroded
confidence, inflicted severe losses on winter finishers and undermined important export markets.
Feeders are very frustrated and angry at the way the factories are changing the specification and using
dual pricing, weight and age limits to undermine the beef price. Bull beef finishers have been hit with cuts
of €200 to €300 per head. The factories and their supermarket clients cannot move the goalposts by
imposing a new spec in the middle of the production season.
Two years ago, factories pleaded with farmers not to export dairy calves live and promised positive market
returns for bull beef. With the planned dairy expansion and more calves, livestock farmers need to be very careful.
IFA Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said farmers
have learned an expensive lesson. In order to drive
price competition, the sector will shift its focus to the
live export options for calves to Spain and Holland,
weanlings to continental EU markets and forward stores
to North Africa.
IFA has secured a new direct ferry route to Britain
through Stena and Minister Coveney must now remove
the artificial barriers, including labelling, preventing this
live trade from realising its full potential for Irish farmers.
With UK prices at the equivalent of €4.60 - €4.70/kg for
steers and a very large price gap with Ireland, the
factories cannot justify the price cuts on prime in-spec
steers and heifers.
Henry Burns said pressure is mounting on Minister
Coveney. “He must reject the factories’ tactics and
stand up for farmers.”
Over 1,500 farmers in factory protests against beef price cuts: IFA
President Eddie Downey addresses protesters at Kepak in Clonee, Co Meath.
Other protests were held at Dawn Meats, Grannagh, Co Waterford and ABP
Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Minister must reject factories’ tactics
Henry Burns
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:50 Page 3

4. 4
IFA President Eddie Downey has described
the changes secured in the review of the
nitrates regulations as “necessary
improvements to support the development
of the farming sector.”
“Two-thirds of soils in the country are
currently nutrient hungry because the
existing regulations are inadequate. The
additional phosphorous allowances on
grassland, and nitrogen on tillage ground,
will begin to address this problem and
support the sustainable growth of crops
and of the sector”.
“The decision by the EU Commission to
approve the continuation of the nitrates
derogation for higher stocked farms is an
essential requirement for the dairy and
livestock farmers who will drive growth in
the agri-food sector in line with the
potential identified in Food Harvest 2020.”
National Environment and Rural Affairs
Chairman Harold Kingston said the change
to the definition of soiled water, to
include light fouling, better reflects the
reality that soiled water is not the same as
slurry.
However, IFA sees the failure to provide
flexibility in the rigid calendar farming
regime as a missed opportunity to restore
the right of farmers to farm based on best
farming conditions.
IFA has called on the Department of
Agriculture and Teagasc to immediately
develop proposals to maximise the use of
pig and poultry manures on neighbouring
farms, in order to encourage the full
utilisation of these manures as part of the
regulations.
Undergrounding study
must examine full impact
of electricity infrastructure
Eddie Downey has insisted that a
comprehensive analysis of the overall
impact on farm families and rural
communities must be completed, as part of
the Government appointed expert review
panel study of EirGrid’s electricity
infrastructure proposals.
IFA has requested that the panel be
expanded to included representatives with
agricultural expertise and that the
concerns of everybody impacted by the
proposed development must be taken into
account.
IFA tackles Minister Hogan on Nitrates regulations, Climate Change
legislation, water charges and rural littering: Environment and Local Government
Minister Phil Hogan in discussion with Eddie Downey.
IFA remains firm in its position that
undergrounding must be part of route
design and the national planning board An
Bord Pleanala must be the final arbiter and
not EirGrid.
Smart Farming cost-saving
studies begin in April
IFA’s cross sector on-farm cost saving
initiative is kicking off this year in April.
Members of over thirty discussion groups
across the country will have a free on-farm
cost saving study completed, with the aim
of identifying savings of at least €5,000
on each farm. Log onto www.ifarm.ie or
www.smartfarming.ie to keep up-to-date
with how the farmers are getting on.
IFA launches suicide helpline with Pieta House – Freephone 1890 13 00 22: (l-r)
Joan Freeman CEO Pieta House, Helen McEntee TD, and President Eddie Downey.
Nitrates review provides scope for
expansion but further changes are required
To Download
1. Text ifarm and your name to 51000
2. Click on the link in the return text.
:: i :: ID2013 New requested font inplace
Join over 35,000 farmers and
download the ifarm app today.
Access National and
International farming news,
Weather Now, Smart Farming,
Market commentary and
much more on your smartphone
today.
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:51 Page 4

5. New CAP Programme 2014 - 2020
IFA Committee Chairmen get down to work with Minister Coveney on CAP
implementation, opening of Farm Schemes and Cattle Prices: (l-r) IFA Sheep
Chairman John Lynskey, Livestock Chairman Henry Burns, Minister Simon Coveney, IFA
President Eddie Downey, Rural Development Chairman Flor McCarthy, Dairy Chairman
Seán O’Leary and Grain Chairman Liam Dunne.
5
Eddie Downey raises farmers’ concerns over EU trade negotiations with
Catherine Day: Irish woman Ms Day is the top civil servant in the European
Commission holding the position of Secretary General.
National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns
said “the national suckler herd is under
real pressure and the €80 per cow/calf
payment under the new beef genomic
scheme from 2015 is positive support. It is
essential that the cost to farmers is kept to
a minimum and the level of genotyping does
not exceed 15%.”
National Dairy Chairman Sean O’Leary said
“effective market supports” on the dairy
side are essential to protect dairy farm
incomes from excessive market volatility.
National Sheep Chairman John Lynskey said
Minister Coveney has agreed to re-examine
the proposal to incorporate the Sheep
Grassland payment into the SFP of flock
owners. He insisted that the original €18m
value of the grassland scheme must be fully
protected for sheep farmers, so as to
maintain the national ewe flock and ensure
that payments to flock-owners are not
diluted over time through convergence.
IFA Grain Chairman Liam Dunne said the
Minister must provide clarity on leased
entitlements so farmers can plan their
businesses and production. He also raised
the greening issues and said Irish tillage
farmers must have maximum flexibility to
ease the burden and costs associated with
impractical crop rotation and ecological
focus area rules.
President Eddie Downey told Minister
Coveney “with the right approach to CAP
implementation, the farming and food
sector can play a central role in our
economy recovery and deliver the targets
for jobs and export growth in Food
Harvest 2020.”
IFA’s CAP campaign was one of the most
intensive ever undertaken. Over a two year
period, IFA officers in every county lobbied
rural TDs, particularly Government
politicians, on several occasions as the
negotiations progressed.
The 20,000-strong farmer protest in Dublin
was crucial to a positive outcome in the CAP
Budget negotiations, while the huge
attendance at the Mullingar Rally late last
year sent a powerful message to Government
on the need for strong Rural Development
funding.
The Single Farm Payment (SFP) of €1.2bn
and Rural Development funding of €580m
per annum will provide a major support to
farm incomes up to 2010.
Key elements of new CAP
• Single Farm Payment to be based on the
Ireland’s internal convergence model with
variable Greening, which limits SFP re-
distribution over the period 2015 to 2019
• Flat rate payments and Regionalisation
are avoided
• Farmers on low payments to see
increases to minimum of 60% of national
average, estimated at €149/ha
• Young Farmers to receive a 25% SFP
top-up from a 2% deduction
• €25m National Reserve to assist new
entrants and young farmers from a 3%
SFP deduction
• 2013 Reference year and SFP based on
entitlements
• Max. payment of €700/ha with SFP cap
of €150,000
• No transfers from PI (SFP) to P2 (RDP)
• New €80/cow Suckler payment (beef
data and genomics scheme) worth €52m
per year for 650,000 cows
• €195m DAs funding, to be known as
Areas of Natural Constraint (ANCs)
• New €250m GLAS scheme - agri-
environment payment of €5,000 per year
for 50,000 farmers
• On-Farm Investment Programme for all
sectors
• Protein crops - coupled payment
• Sheep Grassland Payment proposed to
be incorporated into sheep farmers’ SFP.
IFA President Eddie Downey called on
Minister Coveney to ensure a smooth
transition to the new CAP system. “The
Department must clarify the issues around
leased entitlements and provide each farmer
with a detailed payment profile showing
how all these changes will impact on their
SFP over the next seven years.”
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:51 Page 5

6. CAP Reform
- CAP Budget successfully defended
against 30% cut
- Total budget of €1.8b per year in
EU/national funding achieved for
Pillar I (SFP) & Pillar II (RDP) until
2020
SFP
- €1.214b per year secured
- Flat payments and Regionalisation
rejected. Flexibility achieved on
Greening
- SFP focused on active, productive
farmers
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
- €580m per year secured for vital
farm schemes
- Agri-environment scheme of
€5,000/year for 50,000 farmers,
with GLAS+ top-ups
- Fully-funded Disadvantaged Areas
scheme
- Programme for on-farm investment
across all sectors
PRODUCT PRICES
- IFA market intelligence and
pressure on purchasers maximise
prices in all sectors
- Retailer legislation promised for
early 2014
DIRECT PAYMENTS
- Strong IFA pressure ensured over
€1.8bn paid out to farmers last year
and Minister Coveney has opened
negotiations on an improved Charter
of Rights
NITRATES
- Derogation secured to support
sustainable growth
- Extra P to address nutrient
deficiency in soils
- Re-definition of soiled water
- Increased nitrogen allowances for
crops
DAIRY
MILK PRICES: IFA helped secure price
increases of 7c/l to up to 39c/l incl VAT,
end year top-ups in some co-ops and
volatility funds in others
LIQUID PRICES: We’re going broke
supplying milk campaign helped producer
groups achieve prices close to 40c/l
breakeven identified by IFA
QUOTA ABOLITION: Lobbying in Brussels
prevented superlevy by the back door after
2015
QA & SUSTAINABILITY: Hard negotiation
delivered a scheme the vast majority of
farmers should have no difficulty complying
with
LIVESTOCK
SUCKLER SCHEME: Secured €52m funding
for beef genomic scheme, delivering €80
per cow to maintain national herd
LIVE EXPORTS: Re-opened live trade to
Libya, driving price competition in the beef
and livestock sector and increasing
numbers shipped by 50,000 to 210,000
head
BTAP: €5m aid to beef discussion groups
for livestock farmers
REPUTATION: Protected good reputation
of Irish beef in horsemeat scandal
LAND MOBILITY
Retention of 90% Agricultural Relief and
introduction of capital acquisitions tax
relief for disposals for farm restructuring
Extension of long-term land leasing
incentives to encourage land mobility
FARM BUSINESS
THIRD LEVEL MAINTENANCE GRANTS:
Strong IFA campaign resisted inclusion of
farmland in income assessment
PAY & FILE DATES: Existing dates for
self-assessment retained avoiding
cashflow problems on farms
VAT REFUND: Flat-rate refund increased
from 4.8% to 5.0% from January 2014,
an increase worth €10m per year to
farmers
Meeting Minister Howlin to secure Rural Development funding: (l-r) Wicklow Co
Chairman Tom Short, Wexford Chairman Pat Murray, Minister for Public Expenditure
and Reform Brendan Howlin, IFA General Secretary Pat Smith and Wexford Sheep
Chairman James Kehoe.
IFA Delivery - Working
6
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar exempted hay and straw from load height
regulations following representations from IFA: (l-r) Minister Varadkar, President
Eddie Downey and IFA Environment Committee Chairman Harold Kingston.
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:51 Page 6

7. PIGS
DNA TRACEBACK: Exposed imports and
highlighted labelling deficiencies by
processors and retailers
IFA/TEAGASC JOINT PROGRAMME
designed to support Irish pig producers by
providing advice, research and education
across a range of important issues in the
sector
PRRS: Strategy agreed to compensate
affected farmers
GRAIN
Focus on farm-to-farm trading and
developing niche markets in malting and
milling
POULTRY
Ongoing negotiations to secure viable prices
for broiler producers
ANIMAL HEALTH
TB: Herd incidence down to 3.85% in 2013
from 4.21% in 2012 and APT (animals per
’000 tested) dropped to 1.84 from 2.17
BVD: Programme significantly reduced risk
to farmers of unknowingly purchasing PI
animals. Eradication estimated to be worth
over €100m annually to farmers.
JOHNES: Pilot programme established, with
Department and co-op supports for
participants, to quantify actual costs
involved for farmers
SHEEP
LAMB PRICES: Through strong price
information and re-opening of live exports,
IFA secured an increase in mid-season
lamb prices and a doubling of live export
numbers
STAP: €3m secured for sheep discussion
groups, worth over €800 per farmer
SHEEP GRASSLAND: Rollover of €15m
funding secured for 2014 scheme
ENVIRONMENT & RURAL AFFAIRS
LOAD HEIGHTS: Exemption for hay and
straw will reduce transport costs
CLIMATE CHANGE: Recognition at EU level
that policy cannot damage Ireland’s
sustainable growth plans for agriculture
SMART FARMING: IFA-led initiative to
deliver on-farm cost savings and improved
returns through better resource
IFA’s Retail Protests highlight need for statutory code of conduct: IFA took
retailers to task for selling vegetables at 5c per kilo and demanded a ban on below
cost selling.
Meeting with EU Commission Head of Agriculture and Rural Development: (l-r)
President Eddie Downey, Jerzy Bogdan Plewa Director-General for Agriculture and Rural
Development, IFA General Secretary Pat Smith and European Director Michael Treacy.
Hard for Farmers
7
management
PYLONS: Government agrees to examine
undergrounding of pylons as part of Grid25
plans
COMMUNITY TEXT ALERT: IFA - An Garda
Síochana partnership links Gardaí with key
IFA officers to reduce criminality in rural
areas
FARM FAMILY
Established Freephone suicide helpline
1890 13 00 22 with Pieta House
Ongoing Farm Safety campaigns
INPUTS & SERVICES
Ongoing campaigns to reduce input costs
for farmers across a wide range of products
and services
Helping individual members with
payment delays, inspection issues,
credit legal and other problems
OTHER
FARM FORESTRY: €114.8m funding
secured for 2014
2013 FODDER CRISIS: IFA fund
sourced and imported 30,000t of feed
from Britain, France and the
Netherlands
BOGS: Reduction in the number of
designated bogs
HORTICULTURE: €4.2m grant aid for
investment
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:52 Page 7

8. Negotiating with OPW Minister Brian Hayes for flood relief measures: President
Eddie Downey with Minister Brian Hayes.
IFA sets targets for Minister Coveney to
deliver in new Farm Schemes
IFA Rural Development Chairman Flor
McCarthy said the IFA campaign, which
secured €580m per year in EU/national
funding for the Pillar II Rural Development
Programme 2014 – 2020, is now focussed on
ensuring effective implementation of the new
farm schemes.
Rural Development payments make up a
significant part of farm income, particularly
for the Cattle and Sheep sectors. The
agreement on the financial envelope for RD
Programme forms the basis for a wide range
of measures, which is expected to be
submitted to the EU Commission by Easter for
approval, and IFA is calling for the opening of
all measures to applications by this autumn.
IFA has set important targets for Minister
Coveney for the new agri-environment
scheme GLAS, which must pay an average of
€5,000/year to include 50,000 farmers over
the next number of years, with a significant
number qualifying for the GLAS Plus €2,000
top-up mainly in SAC and Commonage areas.
The retention of funding for the
Disadvantaged Areas (to be renamed Areas
of Natural Constraint ANCs) is welcome, but
the Government must set out a plan to restore
payments to their pre-cut levels in the lifetime
of the programme.
On the new farm investment programme,
Flor McCarthy said IFA is looking for a broad
scheme with 40% grant aid up to an
investment limit of €72,000 across all farming
sectors. Standard costs must be increased
particularly in areas where costs are high
such as mountain and island areas.
Other measures which form part of the Rural
Development Programme will be discussion
groups, the Leader programme, and support
for partnerships.
Hill Areas
New IFA Hill Farming Chairman Pat Dunne
said the Department proposal that 80% of
commonage holders must agree on a
stocking regime before entry into the new
GLAS scheme is totally unworkable and
unacceptable. He said this must change and
he called on Minister Coveney to immediately
establish a working group on commonage
stocking levels, which has been promised
for some time.
Pat Dunne insisted that an Upland
Environmental Management Scheme must
be a key measure in GLAS and that the
payment for commonages and Natura areas
must be increased from the current AEOS
level of €75 to €150 per ha.
TAMs Funding
Flor McCarthy reports that all farmers who
applied for the TAMs Dairy Equipment and
Sheep Handling and Fencing schemes at end
December 2013 must be eligible for grant
aid. IFA has insisted that all TAMs funding is
fully utilised and that any underspends in
other schemes are transferred to the dairy
and sheep schemes. IFA is calling for
Department approvals to be issued
immediately.
Flood alleviation measures
Floods Project Chairman Tom Turley said that
the priority for OPW Minister Brian Hayes must
be to ensure that a proper river maintenance
scheme is put in place. Following the recent
flooding, it is clear that the mismanagement of
our waterways and flood defences has led to
thousands of hectares of land being flooded
including many farmyards. Following a visit to
coastal damaged areas in Co Mayo, Tom
Turley said no farmer must be penalised
under farm payment schemes where rock and
debris have been strewn across productive
land as a result of storms.
8
Nobody works harder for farmers
Compiled by:
Bryan Barry
Assistant General Secretary
IFA, The Irish Farm Centre
Bluebell, Dublin 12
Telephone: 01 450 0266
Email: bryan.barry@ifa.ie
IFA.ie
iFarm.ie
@IFAmedia
IFA Member Services Nobody works harder for farmers
Web
App
IFA surveys Shannon flooding damage: (l-r), Bertie Roche, Connacht Chairman Tom
Turley who also has responsibility for flood and water management, President Eddie
Downey, Michael Ryder and Galway Co Chairman Michael Flynn.
12,109 spring news_.qxd_IFA Forestry News FINAL 03/03/2014 17:52 Page 8