Farmers need united voice on Brexit and CAP — Hogan

Why have farm inspections become so stressful for so many farmers? And Commissioner rules out special aid package for beef but says current supports will be maintained

EU AGRICULTURE Commissioner Phil Hogan has warned that a united farm front is vital for lobbying in Brussels as the Brexit deadline approaches and debate intensifies over the 2020 CAP reform package.

Mr Hogan said a “strong voice” for Irish farming was key at a time when the focus of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budgets must continue to favour the “family farm model” and the next generation of farmers.

“A strong representational voice for Irish farmers remains very important. It is very important that when farmers engage in lobbying, they do so from a position of strength,” he said, backing MEP Sean Kelly’s warning that the large number of farm lobby groups here is undermining their effectiveness when dealing with officials in Brussels.

And while Mr Hogan appeared to rule out any special EU aid package for the beleaguered Irish beef sector, he stressed that current supports for small farmers would be maintained.

“It is only to be expected that certain sectors in farming will experience difficulties from time to time (but) everything we do in the EU is geared to helping the basic family farm unit,” he said.

Mr Hogan added that the next CAP budget must prioritise young farmers.

Farmers under 40 will be the focus of additional supports, including low-interest loans.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has stressed to his fellow EU Agriculture Min- isters that securing an adequate budget is critical to the future of CAP.

The EU’s farming budget for 202127 is projected to drop €30bn from the current seven-year budget of €232bn.

Minster Creed has been actively engaging with counterparts from France, Spain, Finland, Portugal and Greece, who have all called for the retention of current CAP spending.

Up to 20 Member States have joined this alliance, and Minister Creed has said the group will continue to work together in an effort to build consensus on the CAP budget.

The last EU budget negotiations went down to the wire, taking two and a half years of haggling.

Germany and France, the biggest paymasters putting in 19pc and 17pc of the budget respectively, have indicated that they are ready to plug some of the €12bn post-Brexit gap if the budget suits their new priorities.

‘Milk backstop’

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns about the impact of a no-deal Brexit for the agri-food industry.

Dairy processors have warned that a ‘ milk backstop’ will be required to guarantee continued free movement of milk across the Border.

They are seeking assurances from the Government that no impediments will be placed on milk imports from Northern Ireland to the South after the UK leaves the EU.

But some industry sources maintain that the retention of an all-island milk market in Ireland would necessitate restrictions on milk movements from Britain to the North.

This would prompt political difficulties, since the DUP has strenuously opposed the imposition of any new Brexit-related barriers to trade between Northern Ireland and Britain.

“If the UK leaves the EU and the customs union, then the only way we can continue to have free movement of milk on the island of Ireland is if Northern Irish milk is deemed Irish and complies with EU single market rules,” a senior dair y sector executive said.

A no-deal Brexit would also threaten the export of thousands of tonnes of poultry and pig manure sent from the North to fuel anaerobic digestion plants south of the border.