I have a passionate interest in agriculture, it being a cornerstone of my childhood. My parents were dairy and sheep farmers, and I spent a considerable part of my youth working on the land.  I now look after a suckler cow/beef enterprise, and as a result I have a very good understanding and appreciation of farm life and the importance of farming to the future of rural Ireland and the national economy.

As a nation I think we must protect the family farm and ensure that the next CAP reform will not lead to a further flight from the land and the weakening of the fabric of rural communities. Because of my first hand knowledge of farming,  I think I am uniquely qualified to contribute to the debate on CAP Reform post 2013 -  the phasing out of milk quotas by April 2015 will have major implications for Munster farmers

Below is a summary of recent policy passed at European level that will directly influence you in the farming sector.
Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy

On 20 November 2008 the EU agriculture ministers reached a political agreement on the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Health Check will modernise, simplify and streamline the CAP and remove restrictions on farmers, thus helping them to respond better to signals from the market and to face new challenges.
Among a range of measures

• the agreement abolishes arable set-aside

• increases milk quotas gradually leading up to their abolition in 2015

• converts market intervention into a genuine safety net.

• Ministers also agreed to increase modulation, whereby direct payments to farmers are reduced and the money transferred to the Rural Development Fund.

• This will allow a better response to the new challenges and opportunities faced by European agriculture, including climate change, the need for better water management, the protection of biodiversity, and the production of green energy.

• Member States will also be able to assist dairy farmers in sensitive regions adjust to the new market situation