The Minister for Agriculture has welcomed an EU decision authorising farmers in Ireland affected by drought to use land set aside earlier than scheduled.
The EU Management Committee for Direct Payments stipulated that this land must not be used for lucrative purposes and that no fodder produced on this land be sold.
Usually, set-aside land would remain so until at least August 31st. "The earlier commencement will greatly help the farmers involved to address some of the fodder problems brought on by the dry weather in June and July," Mary Coughlan said.
