Public meeting in Donegal to inform on new CAP and further designations

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) are hosting a meeting this Friday night, February 25, in the Parish Hall Donegal Town at 8pm which has been opened up to the public.

INHFA Council Rep for Donegal and native of Townawully Sean Martin outlined details of the meeting.

With the new CAP Programme commencing in 2023 we are, he stated, “running a number of meetings to inform farmers on details relating to this Programme.”

For many farmers across Donegal the new CAP will stated Martin “provide increased income across Pillar 1 through further convergence, a flat rate payment in the eco-scheme and the introduction of a front-loaded payment model which will be paid on up to 30ha.”

Through the introduction of these payment models farmers across Donegal can he added “expect to see an overall increase in Pillar 1 payments of over €10m annually.”

At farm gate level interest is focusing on how the individual schemes will operate. Here he stated “we are seeing a keen interest in details around the proposed Eco-scheme and the new Agri-environment and Climate Measure (AECM) which will succeed GLAS.”

In addition to this, farmers are he continued “anxious to know how entitlements will be calculated in the new CAP, what will happen their existing entitlements and how these new proposals will impact their payments.”

All of these questions and other issues relating to CAP will be addressed at Fridays meeting Martian explained.

With regard to proposals on new designations the INHFA Rep outlined how demands from Europe could see the land area of Ireland that is designated SAC or SPA increase from 13 to 30%. This he stressed “will be a major issue for farmers across the county on all land types as it will reduce farming output and income.”

“Details on this will also be outlined at Fridays meeting,” concluded Martin.