Current TB compensation ceilings are "hopelessly out of date" and should be removed altogether, farmers have urged.

These are among the key issues to be raised with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon this afternoon (Tuesday, January 13) at the Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) annual general meeting (AGM).

IFA president Francie Gorman said that "market valuation should mean market valuation".

He said if farmers are "to have confidence in what is being done" to tackle TB, the valuation ceilings "should be removed".

Gorman stressed that farmers want to see a "greater level of efficiency" in how TB schemes are administered.

On bluetongue also, if it is to strike Irish farms, Gorman added that farmers must be "properly compensated" for culling animals.

'Regulated out of business'

Gorman said there are "three big ticket items" being raised at the AGM today.

These are: the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement; the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP and the cost of doing business and how farmers are being "regulated out of business".

The cost of doing business for farmers "is an issue that must be tackled", according to the IFA president.

While some costs are out of the government's control, he said "there is plenty of policy that is adding to our costs".

The association met with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke on Monday and urged him to have a "laser-like focus" on farm costs.

Gorman highlighted today that carbon tax, along with excise, is having a big impact on the price of fuel.

"Farmers have no alternative. As one of the key inputs for farmers, it has to be addressed," he explained.

CAP

Gorman also called for the retention of the two-pillar structure of CAP.

He added: "We want to be able to design a CAP that looks after everybody and that focuses on producing food."

He has stressed that CAP funding should be "directed at farmers who are farming the land sustainably and producing food; tending to livestock; and harvesting the crops".

"Active farmers, irrespective of where you are or what scale you're farming to or what intensity you're farming to, the money should be directed towards them," he continued.

This is the 71st IFA AGM. In attendance along with Minister Heydon will be Ministers of State Timmy Dooley, Michael Healy-Rae and Noel Grealish.

Tonight, Taoiseach Micheál Martin will address farmers at the AGM dinner.