Ulster Farmers’ Union, deputy president, Ivor Ferguson, has said DARD consultations on Areas of Natural Constraint (ANCs) and a review of CAP coupled supports in Northern Ireland raise a number of important issues for farmers about the future of the CAP.
“The consultations pose questions that will interest all farmers in Northern Ireland,” said Mr Ferguson. “There is a fundamental issue with continued or new support schemes, in that new sources of finance will have to be identified if a case is made,” he said.
In their consultations, DARD says there are only two finance options. These are to seek further funding from the NI Executive or introduce direct payment deductions across all farms to help fund new schemes. “Information has been presented by DARD around the economics of making continued ANC or new coupled support available. The industry will have to decide which is in the best interests of the majority of farmers,” added Mr Ferguson.
The UFU says consultation on the designation of an Area of Natural Constraint, to replace areas now deemed severely disadvantaged, will trigger significant debate with Brussels saying that ANCs must be designated before 2018. It is also warning of difficulties as a result of the approach adopted by the European Commission.
“We are not impressed with the blunt tools the Commission has made available to member states to help identify an ANC. As with the Basic Payment Scheme they have opted for a one size fits all mechanism for all of Europe”, said Mr Ferguson. He added this does not leave a great deal of flexibility for member states or regions. “It will inevitably bring about some difficult outcomes for farmers currently in severely disadvantaged areas,” he warned.
The UFU will now consider each of the three consultations to finalise a formal response before the April 29 deadline.
