FARMERS WILL receive almost €800 million in EU payments from today as part of an advance on their Single Farm Payment.
The payout will be 70 per cent of what farmers are due every December. The payment was brought forward this year because of bad weather and poor product prices.
Last week, Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith confirmed work had begun on organising the advance payment to almost 114,000 farmers.
This followed the payment to date of €200 million to some 92,000 farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, he said, and was further welcome news for farmers and for the rural economy.
He said that during negotiations in Brussels for an early payout, he had been acutely aware of the difficulties experienced by farmers and had argued for the highest possible advance payment.
The Minister described the outcome as “very satisfactory, with advance payments being made a full six weeks earlier than provided for under the rules of the scheme and the level of advance payment set at an unprecedented 70 per cent”.
The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Pádraig Walshe, said the cashflow crisis on farms around the country was the worst in 30 years.
Poor product prices across all commodities, dreadful weather during the summer and lack of credit had all put huge strain on farm families in meeting their costs and paying household bills.
“It is critically important that all farmers receive their 70 per cent advance payment, including those who have queries in relation to land parcels,” he said.
“Any problems should be sorted out between now and December, when the remaining 30 per cent of the Single Farm payment is due,” he concluded.