Farmers have their say on the future of CAP
THE succession and transfer of farms from one generation to another was one of the main talking points at the Irish Farmers Journal/ Macra na Feirme CAP 2020 consultation meeting in the Radisson Hotel, Sligo last Wednesday night.
Macra na Feirme are the first organisation to hold public meetings on the new CAP. Promoting generational renewal has been identified as a challenge and will be a key EU Commission priority for the new CAP post 2020 and part of the upcoming EU Commission consultation.
Almost one hundred farmers turned out on the night to have their say and the other main talking points focused on agriculture finance for young farmers such as low interest loans and crop failure insurance as well as how an active farmer should be defined by the EU.
Speaking afterwards Deirdre Kennedy Sligo Macra na Feirme Country Chair said: “Tonight was a very important event for our young farmers so their voice will be heard in Europe in negotiations.
Young people want a future in rural Ireland and the distribution of the CAP payments post 2020 is vital to ensure that rural Ireland remains vibrant with young people.”
Macra na Feirme President Sean Finan said: “Macra na Feirme is the first organisation to engage in a consultation process and it was great to hear the views of young farmers and what they would like to see in CAP post 2020.”