An opportunity for Westmeath farmers to get the latest, most up-to-date position on the detail of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy ) changes and other issues will take place today (Friday January 24 ) when MEP Mairead McGuinness will be guest speaker at an open forum.
Hosted by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, the forum will be held at the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan at 8pm tonight.
“It is important in 2014, the international year of family farming, that we focus on how the CAP supports family farming,” she said.
According to Ms McGuinness the new rural development programme will inject over €4 billion into the rural economy between 2015 and 2020.
“This important fund is made up of hard-won funding from the EU budget of €2.2 billion and an additional €1.9 billion from the Exchequer. It will provide support to suckler production, agri-environment schemes, and on-farm investment,” she explained.
“Now that the dust is settling on CAP reform we also need to turn our attention to markets and on-farm efficiencies,” she said.
