Budget 2022 – Westmeath IFA lobby for a fair, sustainable agri-food sector

Discussing the launch of IFA’s pre-Budget submission, the IFA Westmeath county chair, Bernie McCarthy, said her organisation would be lobbying TDs and senators from the county to ensure they understand the scale of the challenges farmers face and the supports needed from government.

She said: “Now is the time for government to step up and put action and money behind the rhetoric.

The IFA are seeking co-financing to ensure that Pillar II schemes such as Areas of Natural Constraint (ANCs); Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS); Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS); Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP – suckler cows); the Sheep Welfare Scheme and Organic Farming Scheme; are properly funded. We are seeking €300 per suckler cow, €30 per ewe and €300m for ANCs.

“In addition, we need a new scheme for tillage farmers to stop the exodus from this sector.”

Ms McCarthy said that the government gave a clear commitment that it would make €1.5bn of carbon tax receipts available for an agri-environment scheme, referred to in the Programme for Government as ‘REPS-2’.

“We are still waiting for this commitment to be honoured,” she said.

The IFA Farm Business Committee chair, Rose Mary McDonagh, added: “In June, the IFA held a nationwide day of action to highlight the contribution of farming to the rural economy. In Westmeath, Mullingar was selected as the location for farmers to demonstrate, and our message to government has not changed.

“The sustainable growth of our sector needs policies that encourage investment at farm level, and recognise the role of agriculture in achieving balanced regional development and viable farm incomes.”