Henry Walsh: Farmers need government support more than ever
Simon Harris has to back up his words with action as weather puts squeeze on farmers’ finances
Henry Walsh (second right) hosted and Minister of State for Agriculture Martin Heydon (centre), MEP candidate Nina Carbery and local election candidate Eoghan Gallagher (left) on their farm last week, as well as former IFA president Joe Healy (right)
Last Friday we hosted Minister of State for Agriculture Martin Heydon and MEP candidate Nina Carberry for a discussion with a group of local farmers as they stopped off on route to NUI Galway for the Fine Gael Ard Fheis.
Topics covered included water quality and our rivers, payment delays caused by the Department IT system (which badly disrupted cash flow on farms and resulted in farmers missing repayment deadlines), the TAMS costings and some of the ridiculous rules that can leave you ineligible to apply for more storage, as well as the planning process and the added delays, costs and frustration caused by objections.
