Green Pages Feed Trade Topics from the Island of Ireland


NO ONE WAS EVER GOING TO GET ALL THEY WANTED FROM THE CAP NEGOTIATIONS Ireland’s farm Minister Charlie McConalogue TD believes that he brought the best possible Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) deal back home from Brussels, given the constraints that confronted him during the final negotiation process. “No country was going to get everything it wanted out from the


discussions: it was always going to be a question of compromise,” McConalogue explained. “Three EU institutions were involved in the final deliberations: the Commission, the European Parliament and representatives from 27 EU member states. “There were also a number of core issues within CAP that could


not be fundamentally changed: convergence, the implementation of the new ECO scheme and redistribution. “My overall objective was to secure a final deal that gave Ireland as


much flexibility as possible in determining its own affairs moving forward. I believe strongly that such an outcome has been achieved.” McConalogue confirmed that the CAP funding now available to Ireland represents a small increase on what was previously in place. “The agreed figure is €10.77 billion, which will be drawn down over


the next seven years,” he continued. “At one stage in the negotiations, it looked as if Ireland would be facing into the prospect of a cut in CAP funding. It took the personal intervention of the Taoiseach to turn this matter around.” McConalogue also confirmed that enhanced opportunities now exist


for Ireland to co-fund a number of Pillar 2 measures at national level. While not committing to an actual figure, the minister said that he would be pushing to ensure that the maximum level of co-funding is made available to Irish agriculture. He also flagged up the envisaged use of monies secured by way of the Carbon Tax as an additional funding stream for Irish agriculture. Minister McConalogue refuted the suggestion that the new CAP


measures would result in significant basic payment cuts, with family farms taking the brunt of these reductions. “In the first instance, the actual CAP budget has been increased,” he


said. “In addition, the maximum basic payment per farm will be decreased from €150,000 to €66,000 over the coming years.” The Minister inferred that such changes would preferentially benefit


smaller, family farms. “Ireland is very lucky, given the fact that family farms constitute the


backbone of the agricultural industry,” he added. “The average support drawn down from CAP, covering both pillars, is currently in the region of €17,000 per business: we are a nation of small farms.” The minister also made it very clear that he wants CAP monies to go


to those farmers actually producing the food and managing the land. While not wishing to get drawn into a discussion on what constitutes


an ‘active farmer’ or a ‘genuine farmer’ he confirmed that there continues to be sensitivity around the issue of entitlement leasing in this country.


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But the minister also made it clear that change is coming in the way that the CAP will be implemented over the coming years. Given this reality, he wants to secure maximum buy-in from all farm


industry stakeholder groups as Ireland’s national CAP implementation plan is developed over the coming months. He believes that the flexibility, which can be built into this process,


is at the very heart of the agreement that he brought back from Brussels last week. The full details of the national plan must be agreed on before the end of this year. Commenting on the overarching impact of the new CAP deal,


Minister McConalgue said that it would secure Irish farm incomes over the next seven years. He specifically highlighted the procurement of additional core funding from Brussels as a key driver in this regard. Minister McConalogue’s sole objective is to use the new CAP


package as a means of securing a sustainable future for Irish agriculture in every sense of the term.


RECORD MAIZE HARVEST ON THE CARDS IN NORTHERN IRELAND Assuming that weather conditions hold over the coming weeks, maize growers in Northern Ireland can look forward to both a bumper and early harvest. “Crops are looking tremendously well at the present time,” explains


Maizetech’s Robert Duncan. “We are currently are looking at a harvest date of around the first week of October. This is seven to ten days earlier than would normally be the case. “The yield potential of most crops is also excellent. Averages of


around 18 to 20 t/acre are a real possibility this year. This should convert to dry matter outputs in the range of 6 to 7 t per acre. “Crop quality should also be high with starch values coming in at plus 30% values.” Robert explained that dry matter intakes are key when it comes


to determining the impact of forage maize on dairy cow diets and the performance of anaerobic digesters. “Maize acreages have grown consistently in Northern Ireland over


the past five years,” Robert continued. “This trend reflects the availability of new varieties that can deliver mature yields, year-in, year-out. “Crop maturity is the factor that determines the sustainability of


maize production under local conditions. Getting crops through to full maturity means that dry matters and starch values can be maximised.” According to the Maizetech representative, the vast majority of


maize crops grown in Northern Ireland are established under plastic film.


“The film helps to ensure that optimal growth rates are achieved


from the get-go,” he commented. “The current growing season is a case in point. “The cold spell that characterised the weather in Northern Ireland during late April and early May stunted the growth of many crops.


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