A Farm Retirement Scheme and the encouragement of young people into farming were key discussion points at the national Annual General Meeting of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), held in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo, on Thursday, 24th September.
A panel discussion on Generational Renewal generated massive engagement from the 100 delegates who attended the event. Of particular interest were proposals on farm partnerships, the tax implications of transferring land, and the need for a Farm Retirement Scheme to financially support those leaving farming.
CAP support was also discussed, particularly the EU Commission proposal not to make CAP payments to those receiving a national pension. This proposal was roundly criticised at the meeting and by INHFA President Pheilim Molloy in his address that evening. In his address, Molloy also focused heavily on the new CAP proposals, detailing the need for a “fair and equitable CAP that supports all farmers.”
On the definition of a farmer, the INHFA President stressed the need for “a single clear definition of a farmer across the entire EU that meets the principles of the EU, where all farmers are treated fairly and in a non-discriminatory manner.”
With proposals to cut the overall CAP budget, he stressed that “we need a stand-alone budget of at least €400 billion.” He also stated that “we must ensure there is uniform payment per hectare,” adding that “farmers are expected to meet the same standards when it comes to conditionality around the regulations, so it’s entirely reasonable that the payment rate reflects this.”
On coupled payments, the farm leader stated that the INHFA is “against this proposal as it will increase compliance requirements, distort the market and undermine current suckler and sheep supports, such as the Sheep Improvement Scheme and National Beef Welfare Scheme.” Returning to generational renewal, Molloy also backed the need for a Farm Retirement Scheme.
Beyond CAP, the INHFA President focused heavily on the Nature Restoration Law, stating that “the INHFA has, since the very beginning, expressed serious misgivings around the possible impact of this law.”
He also added that this law will be applied to Annex I habitats and lands that are currently subject to land designations, stating that “there is a disproportionate environmental burden being placed on farmers that farm these lands.” He also detailed concerns the INHFA has highlighted about possible funding that, despite promises made in both Ireland and Brussels, never materialised. He stated that we are “now looking at a law being introduced that has no clearly defined budget in a similar manner to the introduction of land designations, and we all know how that has turned out.”
In conclusion, Molloy thanked everyone who attended, including the panellists for the discussion on generational renewal, as well as Deputy Martin Kenny and Luke Ming Flanagan MEP.
