Macra na Feirme welcomes the accommodation of the ‘forgotten farmers’ for payments under the new CAP

Macra na Feirme welcomes the accommodation of the ‘forgotten farmers’ for payments under the new CAP

Macra na Feirme welcome Minister McConalogue’s recent commitment to accommodate the ‘forgotten farmers’ for payments under the new CAP.

“We are delighted with the news and we welcome Minister McConalogue’s commitment to resolving the matter for the affected young farmers in the new CAP arrangements. This has been a long time coming as these young farmers have been left out in the cold for far too long”, said Macra na Feirme National President Thomas Duffy.

Macra na Feirme have been lobbying for this for a number of years with previous Agriculture Ministers and have raised the matter with the EU Commission in the past too. There are approximately 4,000 farmers in this category, who have not been previously accommodated for.  

“All young farmers deserve equal treatment, Macra want assurances that this does not happen again to any young farmer”, stated President Duffy.

Young farmers should have access to all supports available to them, especially in the early years of their career when they are most likely to be under pressure. Young farmers are the key component for the future of agriculture and everything possible should be done to help them along their journeys.