Tag Archives: Agriculture Minister

There is good news for Clare farmers today (Tuesday) as Agriculture Minister Michael Creed unveiled the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme. The Scheme was developed in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), which has confirmed that AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank will distribute the loans, making €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at low-cost interest rate of 2.95%. This is supported by €25 million being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, including €11 million in EU exceptional adjustment aid. “One of my priorities is to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some sectors which have caused cash flow difficulties for farmers. “This innovative loan scheme will provide farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital. This will allow them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, such as merchant credit or overdrafts, contributing to the ongoing …

IFA Hill Committee chairman Pat Dunne has urged the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to open up the process for planners to submit Commonage Management Plans. IFA will not accept any delays in payments to the 7,000 commonage farmers, who have applied for GLAS and whose Commonage Management Plan must be submitted by the end of October. Currently, planners are assessing commonages but do not have the facility to make the online application for the plan. Mr Dunne said that the minimum stocking level for the individual farmer must be in place by the end of the year but IFA is insisting that once a Commonage Management Plan is lodged, this triggers full payment to the commonage farmers involved. With the third phase of GLAS due to open shortly, it is expected that another 3,000 commonage farmers will join the scheme with a commencement date of January 1, 2017. In relation to commonages, where difficulties may arise, IFA is insisting …

THE online system for preparing applications for the €120m Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme is now open. The system can be accessed directly through the Department of Agriculture’s website by farmers who are registered for online services via the department’s agfood facility. Alternatively, farmers may opt to use an approved agricultural advisor to prepare applications on their behalf. “This is another milestone, and I want to encourage as many young farmers as possible to avail of the very extensive list of investment opportunities that are available under this new scheme,” commented Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney. The new online system is accompanied by detailed information on the department website. The closing date for the current tranche of applications is Friday, September 18. “This is just the first tranche of applications, however,” the Minister said. “These tranches will be organised regularly and it is important for farmers to remember that, particularly when they need time to organise planning-permission for any new construction.” …

Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney has confirmed details of a series of regional information meetings on CAP reform implementation that his department has lined up for March. The minister reminded farmers that this is an important opportunity for them to inform themselves on how the key elements of the new CAP reform arrangements will operate. The meeting to cover the Mid-West will be held on Friday, March 20 at the South Court Hotel, Raheen, Limerick. The purpose of these meetings is to provide information to farmers on future requirements in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme under Pillar I and the GLAS scheme under Pillar II of the CAP. Minister Coveney said, “Farmers will have an opportunity to obtain information and advice in relation to the new Basic Payment Scheme, National Reserve, Greening and the new GLAS agri-environmental scheme.

Farmers have been advised to move quickly to take full advantage of the new Farm Safety Scheme announced by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney on Wednesday. “The window for action on this is quite narrow, as the closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, January 9, 2015 and all work must be completed and a payment claim lodged with the Department by Monday, August 31, 2015,” explained ICSA Connacht/Ulster vice-president, John Flynn. “ICSA welcomes the minister’s constructive use of funds available under the old 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme,” continued Mr Flynn, who represents ICSA on the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (FSPAC). “Given the number of slurry -related accidents and deaths, it’s good to see that safety fencing and covers for external slurry and effluent stores are covered by the scheme, and from a drystock perspective, the inclusion of sheep and cattle handling facilities is very welcome. ICSA has already lobbied for the targeting of TAMS funding for such facilities.” …

Thousands of suckler farmers in Clare are facing an “income crisis” unless urgent action is taken to address serious issues in the beef industry, local farm leaders have warned. It has been claimed that weanling bull prices could drop by over €300 when sales commence next month. Farming representatives are fearful that weanling prices may be down by as much as 25% on 2013 prices, which would reflect an overall drop of 80 to 85 cent per kilo in the average beef price. With an estimated 5,000 suckler producers in the Banner County, the next few months will determine if this enterprise is viable. Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas, said the Single Farm Payment was effectively subsidising operators in a lot of cases, which couldn’t continue. He confirmed the IFA is organising a meeting with the Northern Minister for Agriculture, Michelle O’Neill, to try and address the absence of Northern Ireland buyers in local marts and other issues. If live …