IFA rally the troops for budget battle ahead

The IFA is preparing its members for battle in advance of the forthcoming budget in which they fear the agricultural sector could have public funding slashed by as much as 18 per cent. Members were briefed on the significance of proposed cuts to schemes including AEOS and REPs at a meeting of the Cavan County Executive last Monday in the Hotel Kilmore, by chief economist Rowena Dwyer. They will now tackle the same issue at a regional meeting to take place in the Errigal Hotel, Cootehill on Thursday, September 15 at 8.30pm. IFA general secretary, Pat Smith, and president John Bryan will attend the event. "If you look at agriculture over the last year," IFA county development officer Anthony Clinton told The Anglo-Celt, "it is performing over and above the other sectors. To ensure those exports increase, we need the schemes that are there, they are essential to providing a facility whereby people can expand." He identifies schemes such as the Disadvantaged Area Scheme payments, REPs, AEOS, and forestry grants as pivotal for the farming success, such as a 20 per cent increase in agricultural exports, to continue. They also aim to retain all tax reliefs to assist farm consolidation, transfer and restructuring, and further aim to reduce bureaucracy and costs for farmers. "It would look like the agricultural budget is going to be hit severely hard in comparison to the other sectors," said Mr Clinton. "It is going to have an effect on farmers because it has been a huge percentage of their income over the last number of years. "If you reduce their capacity or income, you reduce their ability to expand. And if you look at the 2020 report where they [the government] are talking about agriculture being a factor in improving the economy, it wouldn't be a sensible thing to cut an agricultural budget that is actually a growth area. "If they are serious about 2020 farmers need the ability and incentive to expand. While it is good to hear them [Fine Gael and Labour] say they are going to support us in 2020, there are simple things that need to be done to make it easier for farmers to expand. "The talk is very good but it has to be underpinned and it can only be underpinned by government incentives and decisions." For more farm news or to see the latest mart reports locally, see this week's Anglo-Celt.