Tillage group pushes for €120/ha payment under new CAP measures
The Irish Grain Growers Group (IGGG) has requested a meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon to discuss the impact of Budget 2027 on the tillage sector.
IGGG secretary Clive Carter said: “Getting the minister’s assessment of the developments that have taking place within the CAP reform negotiations will also be a priority.
“We would like the meeting to take place over the coming weeks.”
Significantly, IGGG members are strongly of the view the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform negotiations are at a critical juncture, specifically where tillage is concerned.
Carter said: “We believe there is now scope to introduce a new and additional coupled payment within the crops’ sector.
“At the moment this is only catered for in the context of the Protein Aid Scheme.
“But under the new measures envisaged beyond 2028, there is no reason why a coupled environmental scheme, targeting cereal crops and oilseed rape, could not be introduced.
“Our calculations point to an annual payment of €120/ha being made available under thr auspices of such an approach."
According to Carter, this payment would be in addition to the direct income support payment made available to all farmers under the CAP scheme and the Straw Incorporation Measure.
The IGGG representative acknowledged the additional support that has been provided by the Irish government in the last two annual budgets.
He said: “We are looking towards a future that will see more scope for individual governments providing national funding support for agriculture.”
CAP reform
But the bigger picture remains that of getting the ongoing CAP reform discussions over the line.
“All of this is happening at a time when pressure is building within a number of member states to cut the levels of funding they provide to the EU.
“However, the bottom line remains that of securing the highest possible levels of CAP funding into the future," Carter said.
All of this adds up to a significant degree of complexity, with a large number of issues of direct import to tillage yet to be decided.
Carter added: “Getting an effective CAP budget for tillage is important as is the development of support schemes that fully recognise the needs of the industry.
“Ireland’s presidency of the EU is crucial in this regard, which is why IGGD would like to sit down with Minister Heydon as soon as possible and certainly before Christmas.”
