Brian Rushe, Kildare

The tillage crisis fund is a massive issue for farmers in Kildare.

In west Wicklow, there is a TB issue that is not being dealt with at the moment. The incidence of TB in that area is way above the national average and there are a lot of deer carrying TB. We need a deer cull along the lines of the badger cull.

I hope that Damian McDonald will move the association forward now. We have dealt with the Con Lucey reforms, now the IFA needs to deal with the major issue for farmers, which is farm incomes.

Aidan Gleeson, Limerick

In Limerick, it’s all about farm incomes. Dairy and beef farmers have taken a hammering and while things are looking slightly more positive on dairying, we are by no means out of the woods. Given the challenge of Brexit, we can’t be complacent about securing new market access. I know Damian McDonald since his Macra days and he is very effective. As CEO of Macra, he rose to the challenge of increasing membership and reinvigorating the organisation. He will need to win the trust of members but he has the skills to do the job with the support of the council.

Harold Kingston, Cork central

The most immediate challenge is securing the tillage crisis fund, which would be important for farmers in my area.

We need support for farmers for unforeseen circumstances, such as one-off weather events like the 2016 grain harvest, and for when political decisions affect farmers directly, like Brexit.

Damian McDonald’s first challenge will be to get to know everyone but he has a track record in bringing people together. It is critical in IFA for all sectors to stand together.

James Spears, Cavan

Milk price is a big challenge. It’s gone up a bit but with costs so high, farmers need every bit of it.

Costs and bureaucracy are a big burden on farmers. There is also a lot of concern about the charter of rights and payments. Once a payment date is set, it must be met. GLAS was a prime example, payments were made at the 12th hour.

The new director general must make sure the IFA is more proactive than reactive, so that issues don’t get into legislation that we have to then try and change, like the hedgecutting changes.

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