THE EU HAS DECIDED TO BRING forward its subsidy payments to Irish farmers in light of the financial crisis and adverse weather conditions earlier this year.

Ten member states were given approval to pay their farmers up to 50% of direct payments for 2010 any time after 16 October, instead of from 1 December. The criteria for eligibility for the payments hasn’t changed.

A statement from the European Commission said that the decision was influenced by the financial crisis and stricter conditions for accessing credit in the agri sector, as well as fluctuating prices for certain agricultural products.

The other nine countries are: Greece, Spain, Belgium, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Italy.

Today, the government said that half of the payment would be paid to farmers from 18 October, and the other half on 1 December.

Separately, the Irish Farmers’ Association President John Bryan said today that the government has not helped to reduce costs for the sector, according to RTÉ.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Bryan said called for government initiatives to improve productivity and support employment in farming.