Farmers fear the new Programme for Government will see funding "recycled" from current farm payments to pay for new measures.
The drought is continuing to bite across the midlands, south and east, despite heavy rainfall in many areas over the last few days, writes Declan O'Brien.
Looking up from the paperwork presented to her by the farmer two places in front of me in the queue, the women behind the counter at Kilkenny Mart rises and spreads her arms wide indicating distance.
The promise of a chicken in every pot, or its vegetarian equivalent for Green supporters, makes the Programme for Government a suspiciously optimistic looking document given the scale of the Covid-19 crash.
Up to 1.7 million people are now wearing face masks - but 66pc of adults are still not covering up.
A number of valuable tax reliefs fall under what is termed EU State Aid.
The shops are back open and you fancy a quick browse, gazing in display windows, gently nudging fellow shoppers out of the way at the sale rail and trying on a few bits at the makeup counter.
