Cost of land designations must be catered for in budget - INHFA

THE Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called for the costs imposed through restrictions applied under the Natura 2000 designations to be addressed in this year’s budget.

President Vincent Roddy outlined how an estimated 30,000 landowners, with over 800,000ha of lands designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Areas (SPA), have for over 20 years dealt with restrictions that have undermined the income potential on these lands.

These restrictions have reduced farming income, devalued the property price of these lands and prevented the opportunity to generate income from other sources such as windmills.

“At the time of the initial designations these facts were recognised and a payment of €242/ha was made to farmers through REPS,” said Roddy.

“From next year we will see no direct payment for designated lands as the new agri-environment scheme ACRES requires specific actions on designated lands before any payment is made. As these actions and payment rates are also available on non-designated lands then farmers with SAC and SPA lands are effectively left without a specific payment.”

This, he stressed, is not acceptable and runs contrary to the Natura Directives that require member states to ensure economic requirements are taken into account when measures are being imposed to protect these habitats.

In their proposals, the INHFA have sought a budget of €200m to address the cost of compliance.

They have also called for additional support of €50m for farmers under a fodder aid measure paid through a top-up to the ANC. On this, Mr. Roddy maintained there are many farmers, especially on our hills, that were unable to avail of the current fodder support scheme.

Other supports include:

A €20/ewe payment in the new Sheep Improvement Programme which would include a payment for shearing and dipping and an environmental payment for habitat management.

A budget of €1m towards the development of an Irish woollen industry.

An additional standalone suckler welfare scheme similar to BEEP with a budget of €85m.

Additional funding of €4m annually to support the marketing of naturally reared suckler beef.