The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has announced a series of regional Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) information meetings, set to begin from early September.

IFA president Francie Gorman said the next three months will be critical in the campaign to secure a CAP budget that will underpin the future viability of Irish agriculture.

He said: “IFA will hold regional meetings in September, to inform farmers of the damaging impact of the current proposed CAP budget cuts.

"This is the next step in our ongoing CAP campaign, following on from the launch of the online CAP Hub at the Tullamore Show earlier this month.

The IFA president stressed that farmers must be made aware of the economic impact on their family farms, and also to their rural communities.

He added: "CAP payments are a crucial part of what makes Irish agriculture and rural Ireland tick, and any cuts to CAP would seriously jeopardise the future viability of family farms and rural economies.

“Restoring the CAP budget must be a priority for the Irish government, as it currently holds the EU Presidency during this crucial period.

"Our government must use this opportunity to steer the debate and achieve an outcome that will provide farmers and the wider rural economy with the resilience needed to tackle the challenges ahead.”

IFA will be working through political channels here and via our office in Brussels to highlight the importance of a realistic level of support for our largest indigenous sector.

See the regional meeting dates and venues below. All meetings will start at 8:00p.m.