Support Structure Needed For Hill Farmers

Written by Cian MacSweeny
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
IFA Hill Committee Chairman, Mr Nellie O’Leary said that support for hill farmers must be improved in order to sustain farming in marginal areas. Mr O’Leary was speaking at a meeting with the Ulster Farmers Union in Castlewellan, County Down where issues of common concern to hill farmers north and south were discussed. Both organisations agreed that supports such as the Disadvantaged Area payments, the Agri-Environmental programme and the Single Farm Payment are vital for the survival of up to 25,000 hill farmers. Additionally, a support structure to help sustain sheep numbers in hill areas must be put in place, as it is the only enterprise that is possible to undertake in these difficult farming areas.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 April 2008 )