One of the main lobbying groups for Irish farmers warned that farmers “cannot do more with less.”

Such a warning was made in response to the planned budget cuts of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union (CAP).

Pat McCormack, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), said the reality is that current CAP reform proposals designed to cut the budget should be considered and rejected.

“The budget is falling in real terms, and we just can’t do more with less,” said McCormack.

The president of Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers ’Association said this on May 29 after the first official meeting of the CAP Advisory Committee, chaired by Michael Creed, Irish Minister of Agriculture.

Following this meeting, McCormack noted that creating sustainable income for farmers “should be central” to the CAP after 2020, and that the emphasis should shift to supporting farmers.

“It is clear that the first task of the government should be to ensure that the proposed budget cuts are rejected by Member States and that the budget is at least maintained at the current level,” the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association said.