Agriculture and the agri-food sectors have been successful areas in the otherwise struggling economy, and the Budget contains measures to help consolidate that work during 2011.
This is the view of Fianna Fáil Galway East TD Michael Kitt, who said many of the measures announced should have a positive influence on farms, farmers, and their families in places like Galway.
Under Budget 2011, farmers have been promised an increase in spending on the agri-environment scheme’s Rural Environment Protection Scheme and Agri-Environment Options Scheme from €330 million to €337 million.
Spending on the Disadvantaged Area Scheme will be maintained at €220 million for the year while the final instalment of the Farm Waste Management Scheme will be brought forward from early next year to this month.
“Bringing forward the final instalment of the Farm Waste Management Scheme will come as a boost to farmers and their families facing into the expensive Christmas period,” said Dep Kitt,” and I am calling for a minimum delay in the processing of those payments.”
The 25 per cent stock relief for farmers and the special incentive stock relief of 100 per cent for young trained farmers are to be extended for a further two years from January 1 2011.
The Government is also bringing forward a measure to provide €32 million for the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme in 2011 to ensure that the Department can make the 2010 and 2011 payments under the scheme in 2011. Previously the practice had been to pay a year in arrears.
