Farms are ‘under threat’

The SDA group, representing the interests of farmers in regions designated Severely Disadvantaged Areas, says a traditional model of family farms and smallholdings is being threatened by proposals for a two-region system of payments under CAP funding.

Peter Gallagher, SDA chairman, said: “Putting forward models for CAP Reform different to and in contradiction of DARD’s thoroughly researched consultation (tried and tested by noted economic and research institutes) with promises of money presently not available and by dividing the region will leave some areas worse off than others. Farmers are not getting the information they need in an environment of hysteria, which is being whipped up by those protesting, with a protectionist rather than a progressive agenda.”