Longford farmers received over €25 million in 2014 – Bannon

Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath TD, James Bannon, has said that beef and sheep farmers in Longford are to receive payments this week, bringing to €25.1 million the total amount of funding received by Longford farmers this year.

“Longford beef and sheep farmers are to receive payments this week under the Beef Genomics Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme. Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, has announced €590,520 for beef farmers and €136,297 for Longford sheep farmers.

“This funding will no doubt be welcome in what has been a difficult year for beef farmers in particular.

“The payments going out this week bring to €25 million the total amount of funding going to Longford farmers this year. This includes Single Farm Payments, the Agri-Environment Options Scheme I and II (AEOS), the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and the Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS).

“Agriculture is the lifeblood of the Longford economy and this Government is committed to supporting our farmers. We will continue to provide these crucial supports for farmers and incentivise increased productivity.

“2015 is set to be a really promising year for farmers with the abolition of milk quotas in April and the opening up of new markets for Irish beef including the United States. There is also great potential in the future for Irish famers in China, following a really successful Irish trade mission there this year.”