Farmers in dark over CAP

Clare farmers are still in the dark about the exact level of direct payments that will be introduced over the coming years once the CAP reform negotiations are fully completed.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has described as a watershed moment the agreement by European agriculture ministers of a council position on the reform of the CAP.
Following marathon talks in Brussels, ministers accepted a package of proposals on Tuesday evening tabled by the Irish presidency and successfully concluded what is known as a general approach on the CAP reform package. The agreement allows the negotiation process to move to the final trilogue stage of the negotiations, where the Irish presidency will represent the council in discussions with the European Parliament and with the commission.
The successful completion of the council’s deliberations means the Irish presidency’s target of an inter-institutional political agreement by the end of June remains very much on target.
Clare farming representatives have outlined different approaches to the reform of direct payments to farmers, which still remain undetermined as a result of the ministers’ meeting.
Reacting to the outcome of CAP talks in Brussels, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Gabriel Gilmartin noted all options, including gradual convergence and front loading, are still on the table.
“This means that there is still potential to minimise cuts to farmers with above-average payments while leaving the door open for increased payments to active farmers who are currently below the average.
“It is positive that options are still open for minimising the impact on active producers, particularly in the small to medium cattle and sheep sector. The fact that there was no minimum per hectare payment set as a result of the talks means that Minister Coveney’s approximation approach is still in the game but the final outcome will be decided by trilogue talks involving the commission, parliament and council.”
Mr Gilmartin noted that the minister’s position offered an option of a maximum 7% coupled payment, which means that coupled payments from Pillar 1 look increasingly unrealistic.
“On the question of the reference year for the new round of CAP, member states have the option of choosing from 2012, 2013 or 2014. This potentially means that farmers will be limited to getting payments on hectares declared in their 2012 SFP application.
“Hopefully, this will force farmers to think carefully before paying outlandish prices for rented land,” Mr Gilmartin added. 
“The minister has done a good job in getting agreement while keeping options open but more difficult talks lie ahead,” he concluded.