ICSA Rural Development chair Tim Farrell has said it is hugely disappointing that vast swathes of the country have been excluded from the co-operation measure of the new Agri-Environmental Climate Measure (AECM). “Eligible areas fall predominantly in counties along the western seaboard – while the midlands, north-west, most of Leinster and as well as Munster have been left out. Farmers in these areas can only hope to get a maximum payment of €7,000, as opposed to the €10,000 that would otherwise be on offer.”

Mr Farrell said despite the fact most farmers should see a modest increase in payments through the new Agri-Environment Scheme, massive inflation in input costs could potentially erase any gains. “This is why during the CAP negotiations ICSA argued very strongly for an Agri Environment Scheme that would deliver a maximum payment of €15,000. This would have afforded farmers the means to deliver on ambitious targets and reward them for their contribution, in a way that a likely average payment of just €5,000 cannot.”

Mr Farrell said it must also be remembered that farmers losing out on AECM are also the ones who lost out on convergence. “The penny must drop that farmers cannot be continuously expected to do more on climate change and biodiversity without adequate levels of financial support and reward.”

ENDS