Monday 30 September 2013

IFA Hill Farming Conference

Strong cash support from the Government for hill areas in the 2014–2020 Rural Development Plan is crucial, according to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

This support must come through a meaningful Upland Agri-Environment Scheme and increased support under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS), according to IFA president John Bryan.

Speaking at the IFA Hill Forum in Tuam, Co Galway at the weekend, the IFA president said that farm incomes in hill areas are in a very difficult position as a result of cutbacks to environmental schemes, reductions in the DAS payments and low market returns for hill lamb.

He referred to one sheep farmer he met at the National Ploughing Championships last week whose income has dropped by up to 60 per cent as a consequence of losing REPS and cuts to the DAS.

"This farmer's situation is reflective of hill farmers in every part of the country," said Bryan. "On top of this farmers in hill areas have been under severe environmental restriction as a result of Commonage Framework Plans, which were introduced over 10 years ago. These plans curtailed production and have added to the income crisis." It would be discriminatory against hill farmers and Minister Coveney must take this into account, as well as not introducing regionalisation in the implementation of the new CAP regime.

At the IFA Hill Forum, speakers from the Department of Agriculture, National Parks and Wildlife Service outlined the issues that are relevant particularly with regard to cross compliance, stocking regime and management plans necessary for these areas.

Also IT Sligo and the Wicklow Upland Council presented options for consideration of a new Upland Management Environmental scheme that would go a long way to replacing the loss of REPS in hill areas.

Lisa Deeney , first published in AGRILAND

www.agriland.ie

Saturday 28 September 2013

Commonage Conference

A conference on commonage issues was held in team yesterday. The well attended meeting heard from representatives of the Dept of Agriculture and the NPWS. The importance  of maintaining uplands in GAEC was emphasised by the Dept of Agriculture and the range of environmental services provided by agriculture in upland areas was highlighted.

Details of a proposed new uplands scheme were presented and while there are a lot of points yet to be worked out, the positives are that it appears that it will be objective based rather than prescription led. The proposals made are very much in line with those suggested by the Oireachtas committee on Agriculture. There does not appear to be any firm commitment from the Dept of Agriculture yet but the time for decision is getting very close.  I would expect some clarity by the time the draft Rural Development Plan is published.

The Dept of Agriculture will be keen to make any scheme as simple to administer as possible. While this is important, administrative convenience must not dictate a one size fits all solution.

It is encouraging that the Dept. of Agriculture have engaged with farmers at this stage. It is to be hoped that they continue to develop a workable scheme in an open manner and with input from farmers and other stakeholders.

Friday 27 September 2013

Minister Coveneys response to the Oireachtas Committee's Report on Commonages.

Sean O Fearghail (Fianna Fail TD for Kildare South) asked the Minister for Agriculture for his reaction to the recently published report of the joint Committee in Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the commonage issue. The full text of the both Mr O Fearghail question and the Ministers response are shown below.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he is taking on foot of the report of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine in relation to commonages; if he intends adopting the recommendations in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Simon Coveney (Minister, Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food; Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the issues surrounding commonage lands, the views of the various stakeholders having being sought and considered by the Committee. As I have indicated previously, while it is generally accepted that this is a very complex matter and requires a very detailed action plan to cover the various issues, I intend in the near future to set out proposals on how these matters will be progressed. My firm intention is that the process will be fully inclusive and that all stakeholders, particularly farmers and their representatives, will be central to the process. It is only by adopting this approach that the desired result can be achieved.

With regard to the specific recommendations of the Committee contained in their Report, I can confirm that these will be included among the range of issues to be addressed in the process that will shortly be commenced by my Department - it very clear that matters to be resolved are very wide ranging and complex; it is self-evident that the process required to adequately address these must be fully inclusive and focused. To this end, I am determined, as indicated, to convene a broad group of all relevant stakeholders, charged with comprehensively addressing the range of issues.
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem. Under-grazing leads to an increase in ineligible land under Direct Aid and Agri-Environment Schemes and leads to risk of financial corrections being imposed by EU Commission. It is vital, therefore, to maintain the commonages in GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition), or where there is under-grazing, to return the habitat to GAEC.

Following the successful completion of the negotiations on CAP reform under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013, I launched a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation. The final date for submissions on the Consultative Paper is 20th September. The agreement provides that where there is marginal land the applicant or applicants must graze that land if he or she is to satisfy the eligibility criteria to be deemed an active farmer for the purposes of benefiting from payment under the Direct Payment Scheme. As most of the commonage land declared in Ireland can only be maintained by grazing, this matter will also have to be dealt with in the context of maintaining commonages in Ireland.
Taking all of these matters into account, it is my stated aim is to ensure that a practical solution is reached, which will ensure that the current farmers actively farming these lands are protected; that the land is maintained or returned to GAEC and that the requirements of the governing EU Regulations are met. In my view, this can best be achieved by working with the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant State Agencies, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders. I have no doubt that work undertaken by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture will greatly assist in this matter.

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Disadvantaged Area Payments to begin.

The Minister for Agriculture has announced that payments under the DAS scheme will begin tomorrow. 60,000 farmers have been already been cleared for payment. Additional payment runs will be made every fortnight to pay farmers as their cases are cleared.

No New Agri Environmental Scheme in 2014.

No new agri environmental scheme for 2014.There will be no new environmental scheme for 2014. The Minister for Agriculture has ruled out any new package until the CAP comes into effect from January 2105. While this is a disappointment it is not a big surprise. Aside from any financial considerations the Dept. of Agriculture would have been reluctant to get involved with any multi annual scheme at this stage in the CAP cycle.

What is needed now is an assurance that the rules of any new scheme are published as soon as is practical after the Rural Development Plan is approved in Brussels. And that an application period for the new agri-environmental scheme opens in the second half of 2014, even if contracts are not to begin until January 2015. The danger is that this will not happen and that the application window will be short and will not open until spring 2015. This would repeat the mistakes of AEOS 1 and 2 and would ensure that farmers would not get a full years agri-environment payment until late 2016 at the earliest and possibly as late as 2017. This would defeat the whole point of the Pillar II measures within the CAP and would leave many commonage farmers without a meaningful agri-environment payment for more than 3 years.

Monday 23 September 2013

Statement by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan gave the following response to Fine Gael T.D. Andrew Doyle to a question he raised in the Dail yesterday. Like his cabinet colleague Simon Coveney the Minister is not giving much away but it would appear that his Department remains committed to having some input into the commonage review process.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
737. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the July 2013 report entitled "Review of Commonage Lands and Framework Management Plans", produced by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; his views on the ten recommendations contained in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37247/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Minister, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael).
I welcome the Joint Committee report and I believe that it reflects the many complex issues that were discussed over numerous sittings, and that its recommendations are useful. I should, however, clarify that while my Department has had a substantial advisory role in relation to commonages, it is not responsible for the implementation or regulation of the commonage review process, which is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I believe that further engagement between the relevant parties is necessary so that commonage land is managed appropriately and sustainably. I have, therefore, ensured that my officials will continue to engage with farmers, staff of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and other interests in terms of the future implementation of the commonage review process, insofar as it relates to the functions of my Department

Statements by the Minister for Agriculture.

The Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney gave the following responses to Andrew Doyle T.D., Michael Healy Rae T.D. and Joe McHugh T.D. to questions that they raised in the Dail yesterday. There is nothing very new in any of the responses but they do give some indication of Department of Agriculture policy on the commonage issue.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
1170. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the July 2013 report that was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas entitled Review of Commonage Lands and Framework Management Plans produced by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; his views on the ten recommendations contained in this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37246/13]
Simon Coveney (Minister, Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food; Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
The report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the issues surrounding commonage lands, the views of the various stakeholders having being sought and considered by the Committee. As I have indicated previously, while it is generally accepted that this is a very complex matter and requires a very detailed action plan to cover the various issues, I intend in the near future to set out proposals on how these matters will be progressed. My firm intention is that the process will be fully inclusive and that all stakeholders, particularly farmers and their representatives will be central to the process. It is only by adopting this approach that the desired result can be achieved.
With regard to the specific recommendations of the Committee contained in their Report, I can confirm that these will be included among the range of issues to be addressed in the process that will shortly be commenced by my Department - it very clear that matters to be resolved are very wide ranging and complex; it is self-evident that the process required to adequately address these must be fully inclusive and focused. To this end, I am determined, as indicated, to convene a broad group of all relevant stakeholders, charged with comprehensively addressing the range of issues.
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem.
Under-grazing leads to an increase in ineligible land under Direct Aid and Agri-Environment Schemes and leads to risk of financial corrections being imposed by EU Commission. It is vital, therefore, to maintain the commonages in GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition), or where there is under-grazing, to return the habitat to GAEC. It is my stated aim that this will be achieved by working with the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant State Agencies, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders


Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
1168. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the EU policies that have resulted in the de-stocking of many hills over the past number of years which has resulted in areas becoming overgrown (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37186/13]
Simon Coveney (Minister, Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food; Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem.
Under-grazing leads to an increase in ineligible land under Direct Aid and Agri-Environment Schemes and leads to risk of financial corrections being imposed by EU Commission. It is vital, therefore, to maintain the commonages in GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition), or where there is under-grazing, to return the habitat to GAEC. It is my stated aim that this will be achieved by working with the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant State Agencies, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders.
In terms of support for those farming commonage lands, it should not be lost sight of that support is already provided through a range of Schemes, including the Single Farm Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme, among others, including environmental support measures. The Grassland Sheep Scheme and the related Sheep Technology Adoption Programme are particularly supportive of farmers with commonage lands, albeit that neither is specifically confined to those farming commonage lands only.
The Grassland Sheep Scheme, as originally implemented, was to run for three years: 2010, 2011 and 2012, with an annual budget of €18 million. However, as the Deputy will be aware, I was in a position to secure funding which allows the Scheme continue for a fourth year, notwithstanding continued adverse budgetary conditions, albeit with adjusted funding of €14 million.
I also decided to make funding of €3 million available for a new Sheep Technology Adoption Programme, which concept has already proven very successful in both the dairy and beef sectors, with a maximum payment of €1,000 per participant. It is important that sheep farmers take action to increase and maximise their income from their enterprises. This can be achieved by improving breeding, animal health/welfare and grazing regimes. The dairy sector has demonstrated that the discussion group concept to achieve such improvements. Notwithstanding the financial adjustment made to the overall funding to the Grassland Sheep Scheme, hill sheep farmers, who join a Sheep Discussion Group will find that the aid they will receive in 2013 will increase by almost €590.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
1165. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of commonages in County Donegal and his views on those properties in view of the report on the review of commonage lands and framework management plans. [37044/13]
Simon Coveney (Minister, Department of Agriculture, the Marine and Food; Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem.
Under-grazing leads to an increase in ineligible land under Direct Aid and Agri-Environment Schemes and leads to risk of financial corrections being imposed by EU Commission. It is vital, therefore, to maintain the commonages in GAEC (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition), or where there is under-grazing, to return the habitat to GAEC. It is my stated aim that this will be achieved by working with the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant State Agencies, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders.
I readily acknowledge that it will not be an easy task, but it is achievable if all stakeholders work in a co-operative basis. If action is not taken now, the areas will continue to deteriorate and will lead to more land abandonment. If this is allowed to happen, Ireland will lose a valuable resource from the point of view of farming, rural economy, bio-diversity and wildlife. While grazing is the only method of managing these lands, the task facing us is how to ensure that these grazing levels are appropriate to the individual commonages.
In order to ensure that the achievement of this objective, as already stated, we need the input of individual shareholders. Grazing plans, at the level of each commonage, will allow for greater flexibility for shareholders and will enable the active farmers to increase their stock to cater for dormant and inactive persons. It will be matter for agreement between the shareholders – as was always the case – to decide how best to reach the stocking levels. Professional assistance will be required, in particular where the commonage has been damaged by under-grazing.
The Grazing Plan will have to cater the traditional farming methods for the area, with provision made for sheep and other animals, such as cattle, providing that they are appropriate to the habitat. An appropriate time-scale will have to be put in place but the Plan should include the incremental steps to achieve GAEC. The whole concept will be output driven, in that the assessment of the Plans will be based on whether the commonage is in GAEC or not or whether the appropriate progress has been achieved.
Apart from ensuring that the Grazing Plan is valid, there are a number of other complications, including:
- Dormant shareholders – in the majority of cases, these persons are no longer farming;
- Current claimants on the commonages, who do not farm or manage the lands. The issue of whether the latter claimants will continue to be eligible for payment will have to be examined.
There are other issues that will need to be considered. These include the fact that many commonage habitats have been significantly damaged by under-grazing, with resulting problems that must be addressed including land abandonment, spread of scrub and invasive species.
The report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the issues surrounding commonage lands, the views of the various stakeholders having being sought and considered by the Committee. As I have indicated previously, while it is generally accepted that this is a very complex matter and requires a very detailed action plan to cover the various issues, I intend to set out proposals on how these matters will be progressed in the near future. My firm intention is that the process will be fully inclusive and that all stakeholders, particularly farmers and their representatives will be central to the process. It is only by adopting this approach that the desired result can be achieved.