Pictured at the IFA’s national pre-budget lobby day in the Mansion House, Dublin, were, from left: Pat Egan, Mayo IFA rural development committee, John E. Dolan, IFA Future leader, John Lynskey, Mayo IFA county chairman, Deputy Paul Lawless, Martin Gilvarry, Mayo IFA farm business committee, Brendan Golden, Connaught IFA chairman, and Deputy Keira Keogh. Photo: Finbarr O'Rourke

Mayo IFA join talks as pre-budget campaign kicks off

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THE IFA’s pre-budget campaign ahead of Budget ’27 in October began in Dublin with the presentation of the association’s submission to members of the Oireachtas.

The campaign will run in tandem with their work at European level, where the focus is on the overall EU budget and what it means for CAP.

TDs and senators were briefed by IFA officers from the 29 county executives, including Mayo IFA, on the priorities for farmers in the next budget.

Pictured, from left: Pat Egan, Mayo IFA rural development committee, John E. Dolan, IFA Future leader, Fintan Bourke, IFA Future leader, John Lynskey, Mayo IFA chairman, Minister Alan Dillon, Martin Gilvarry, Mayo IFA farm business committee, and Brendan Golden, Connaught IFA chairman. Photo by Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke

IFA president Francie Gorman said the three main pillars of the IFA submission are: supports to mitigate the escalating costs of production, the retention of farm schemes, and the extension of the tax reliefs that underpin the sector.

He explained: “Within the schemes, we have identified ANC as one that is a critical part of farm income. We also reinforced to the politicians who attended that linear cuts to any scheme will not be tolerated by farmers.

“We know over 500 new applications for the National Sheep Welfare Scheme have been received this year, and no doubt there will be new applications for the National Beef Welfare Scheme later in the autumn too.

“These have to be budgeted for, and not paid for by existing applicants, like what happened last year.

“Additional funding to ensure full payment to all applicants for the Straw Incorporation Scheme (SIM) must be found, for a tillage sector that needs additional supports, not cuts. Farmers who apply to any farm scheme and comply with the terms and conditions should not find themselves out of pocket at a later date.”

Mr. Gorman said the European Commission has established a fund to offset the increases in the price of fertiliser that farmers will be facing. There is an opportunity for government to put co-financing in place and this must be maximised. The support itself needs to be simply administered and hit the farmers pocket directly to have full impact.

“More broadly,” he continued, “it must be acknowledged that while the government have some supports to help with escalating costs, they aren’t enough and more will be needed. The ongoing uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict has the potential to have a severe impact on costs for farmers, so any measure that mitigates this must be considered.”

There was also a strong emphasis at the briefing on the role of TAMS in farm investment and the need for an increased budget.

“On the agri taxation side, we need key reliefs around generational renewal, farm succession, etc., to remain; an income volatility scheme for all famers; VAT for farmers selling animals in marts addressed; and a permanent solution for farmers on the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) once and for all, with active farmland permanently removed from its scope.”

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