John McGuinness

For the implementation of a more robust policy to protect meat workers from COVID-19 including unannounced inspections

Changes to Forestry policy and programmes

The Irish Government must invest in agriculture and support farm incomes/viability by providing the maximum permissible level of national co-financing.::The objective of the Government must be to ensure that CAP payments across all schemes, including both Pillar I Basic Payment…

CONVERGENCE - IFA supports the EU Commission's objective of increasing the payments per hectare for genuine farmers with payments below the national average. This must be funded through an increase in the CAP budget and/ or from the implementation of the EU genuine farmer…

Independent Food Retail Regulator - • As provided for in the EU Directive, the Government must immediately create an Independent Food Retail Regulator to tackle the imbalance in the food chain.::• The Regulator's remit must be extended to tackle other UTPs in food chain…

Cattle Prices • An immediate increase in cattle prices to reflect higher market returns • Delivery of real and tangible results for farmers from the Beef Task Force. • Contract prices from factories and retailers.• Removal of any specifications not required in the market•…

• A targeted direct payment of €30 per ewe for sheep farmers, from a combination of CAP and national funding. This would include a roll-over and increase in the Sheep Welfare Scheme to €15 per ewe and CAP Pillar II funding.::• The option of targeted coupled payments and…

• Retention of the nitrates derogation is essential to allow the industry to realise its natural advantage.::• Farmers engaging with climate mitigation measures must be supported to offset their cost.::• Government must ensure fair and proportional environmental measures in the…

• Nitrates The current nitrates derogation must be retained. The Government needs to promote and reward farmers who use organic manure in place of chemical fertilisers in the next nitrates review with the EU. • EPA The Government must direct the EPA to refrain from seeking…

TB Eradication & 30-Day Pre/Post Movement Test - • The EU delegated regulation proposing a 30-day pre/ post-movement test for TB for all animals from herds that are over six months tested must be amended to facilitate trade without pre-movement testing from all herds within 12…

• Greater flexibility is required in farm schemes so that tillage farmers can qualify for higher grant rate payments, particularly in relation to TAMS and GLAS. • Measures must be introduced to address the issue of quality assured Irish grain being undermined by imported…

To highlight that there is a severe income crisis across most of the main farming sectors, driven by unviable prices below the cost of production, high input costs and reducing direct payments. Tackling the farm income crisis and spreading economic recovery to rural Ireland must…

That the Department of Agriculture would suspend the 5% production reduction requirement under the BEAM scheme as a result of the restrictions placed on farmers from COVID-19::To demonstrate that with marts closed and not operating normally, the movement and value of stock is…

To oppose the position of Fianna Fail on convergence::To point out that it will cost farmers money with reductions in their direct payments::That farmers, particularily in County Wexford, who have relatively high per hectare entitlements, but may not have a high number of…

The inclusion of a properly devised retirement scheme that provides important economic stability to older farmers.::The inclusion of low interest loans must be aimed at young farmers::To incluse a result based environmental scheme open to all farms which pays for carbon…