There is still an air of confusion about the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy. And that’s even after a meeting today between the new Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary and a delegation from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association.
There is a strong feeling among farmers that there’s little point in getting more funds under the Covid-19 pandemic heading to be distributed among large commercial businesses if the same or a greater amount is lost under a CAP heading that would have been distributed among farm families and, through them, into the wider rural community.
After the meeting with Minister Calleary this morning, Harry Keaney spoke to Pat McCormack, president of the ICMSA, and began by asking him about this fear that Covid money is being allocated at the expense of CAP money.
