THE EXPANSION of Irish agriculture that produces the best products in the most traceable way could be endangered by changes in the Common Agricultural Policy (Cap), visitors to Tullamore Show heard yesterday.
While Minister of State for Agriculture Shane McEntee, who formally opened the event, said the targets set in the Food Harvest 2020 report were achievable, the president of the Irish Farmers Association John Bryan disagreed.
Mr Bryan said changes signalled in a leaked document on Cap reform from Brussels last week would cut agricultural production by up to 30 per cent and lead to a collapse in economic output of €1.25 billion per annum and the loss of thousands of jobs.
The proposal to impose a flat-rate system of payment based on farm size, he said, would inflict massive damage on Irish farming, agricultural production, the food sector, jobs and economic recovery.
“In addition, the proposals in their current format are so damaging that they would strangle the Food Harvest 2020 plans for much of the sector,” Mr Bryan said.
“Under the proposals some farmers would be facing single farm payment cuts ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent in year one, rising to over 50 per cent in 2019.
“This would decimate the most productive farmers, severely hitting their incomes and result in major destocking, particularly in livestock and sheep, and a significant fall-off in tillage hectares,” he added.
“This would have a hugely negative knock-on effect from the agri-food sector to economic activity in the overall rural economy, in particular to export earnings. Agriculture is growing and has the potential to contribute significantly to Ireland’s economic recovery,” Mr Bryan said.
With farming and the agrifood sector underpinning output of €9.25 billion, the implications of a 30 per cent hit on agricultural production would lead to an output loss in the economy of €1.25 billion, he argued.
“Any proposal to distribute the single farm payment on a flat rate per hectare basis, either regionally or nationally, is totally unacceptable, as it takes no account of differences in the productive capacity of farmers or land within member states or regions,” he said
The event, which was attended by over 60,000 people, was described by Mr McEntee as “the show of all shows” and illustrated the quality of stock and product that Ireland could produce.
The renewed confidence in the agricultural sector was very visible around the grounds at Butterfield Estate, Blueball, Tullamore, yesterday.
Nearly 1,900 cattle and sheep and over 1,000 horses were entered in competitions and exhibitions at the show.
With over 650 trade stands and over 20,000 parking spaces, the show reinforced itself as the foremost in the country, with over €165,000 in prize money.
Over 40 national livestock titles are decided in the top breeds of animals at the event, which was revived 20 years ago.
The event was a spectacular triumph for the show committee and the public voted with their feet by supporting the show in great numbers.
John O’Hara, chairman of the Irish Shows Society, described the show’s place in the Irish agricultural calendar very succinctly at the event’s opening ceremony, when he described Tullamore as the show every show in the country wanted to become, “the show of all shows”.
The event is so successful the organisers are now considering stretching it over two days, but many of the exhibitors are happy with a single-day outing and they believe it would put a strain on the 500 volunteers who are the backbone of the show.