The IFA's marathon presidential election tour of Ireland came to a close on a high note, with perhaps the biggest crowd of all filling out the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Well over 400 people had gathered by the time Joe healy, Flor McCarthy and Henry Burns took to the stage on Monday night. Despite the gruelling schedle, the threemen were fresh and energetic as questions rained in until midnight. While the atmosphere was not as charged as it had been in Meath last week, nevertheless a palpable sense of urgency was felt.

Farm incomes and how to improve them were the dominate theme. Familiar topics such as Bord Bia quality assurance inspections, the beef grid, encouragement for young farmers, governance and pay levels going forward within IFA, commoddity prices and sches like TAMS were aired one last time. With the meeting taking place within a dozen miles of Henry Burns home, the Laoisman commanded significant support, but all three men gained the respect of the room for their knowledge and commitment to representing farmers.

Earlier, Pat Farrell, Richard Kennedy and Nigel Renaghan had launched proceedings, as they always do, with the deputy presidential debate. Again, one could only admire the stamina and belief of the three candidates, pursuing a position described by one contributor from the floor as a "dud of a job".

With voting commencing even as the six men were on their feet, it's now time for the membership to have their say, in this most unique election. An estimated 8,000 have attended one debate or another.

For one final chance to see the three candidates, tune into "Around the Editor's Table" here on www.farmersjournal.ie on Friday evening. The three presidential candidates will join Irish Farmers Journal editor Justin McCarthy to engage with the issues and each other one final time. The event is free to air, and commences at 8pm.

Follow our blog of the night's proceedings below.

11.55pm

The last contribution comes from Aidan Larkin, a former county chair. He appeals for the room to support whoever becomes president, and says that the bickering has to stop.

He gives the Irish Farmers Journal a sideswipe, saying we need to row back a little. We have to be able to take constructive criticism, is why I'm carrying that comment. The criticism may not always be warranted but we’re not too proud.

IFA has to be able to take constructive criticism as well, so the Irish Farmers Journal will continue to carry all shades of opinion on where IFA is, how it got there, and where it needs to go.

As we go into the closing speeches, it seems an appropriate time to wish all six candidates the best of luck. We have followed them around the country for the last two months. It's been a tough slog, and I have nothing but respect for all six candidates.

The Irish Farmers Journal was the only outlet to bring every single one of the IFA hustings straight to your phone, laptop, paper and living room. Thanks for inviting us in.

Voting began tonight, and the 75,000 members will give their verdict over the next fortnight.

Over and out.

11.52pm

"I was born ready for this" says Henry. It's his shortest answer of the entire eight-week campaign, and it turns out to be one of the most popular, getting a huge round of applause.

11.44pm

"The next president of IFA has to put some plan in place on costs, they are crippling farm incomes" says a former county chairman. He is followed by Pat Walshe who says he has never felt compromised by paying the levy. "The factories want a weak IFA" he says.

11.39pm

Henry says that the two things that catch farmers on specification are age and weight "we have to address those issues". On splinters, he cites his record of bringing people along with him. Flor says that there are different types of farmers, and that they have different perspectives. He straddles a lot of those divides because of the range of land he is farming.

11.35pm

James Bennett says that the grid has been criticised, but it is necessary to pay for quality cattle. James is the livestock chair in Offaly. He also wants to know what the candidates would do about the splinter groups. "The grid needs to be reviewed" says Joe. I haven't said it should be scrapped, but by God, it needs to be reviewed".

Joe says that the hill farmers who left IFA have been getting 800 people at their meetings recently. He infers that they weren't happy with the representation they were getting in IFA. That sounds like a dig at Flor, who chairs the Rural Development committee.

11.32pm

Joe says that to encourage young farmers to attend meetings, they should be brisk, no longer than two hours long. It would be hard to keep a meeting that short if every contributor was to speak for as long as Joe and Henry frequently do. In fairness, Flor keeps his answers brisk and to the point.

11.22pm

A young farmer comes in next. He says there are eighteen farmers under thirty years old in a discussion group, but says young farmers do not feel that IFA is working for them. Flor says that land access is the key issue, that land leasing has "driven prices wild" but he would support a policy that favours young farmers.

He says his own son at seventeen is already proposing changes to the home farm. Flor adds that the only way to create a national reserve is to take it from other farmers, as for the first time ever, CAP reform was working with a reduced budget. Henry cautions that any scheme needs limits "so it doesn't blow the land market out of the water".

He says that young farmers can change IFA policy "it's not easy to find the time, but it's important for the young farmer. He says that he as a young farmer benefited from the early retirement Scheme, and that government need to look at such a scheme again even though "the department hated that scheme for every day it operated".

Joe says that every branch should have a young farmer representing them at the county executive. Access to finance is a key issue, with the average interest rate for small businesses is over 6%, whereas in France and Germany it's not much higher than 3%. He gives credit to Glanbia for their Mlk-flex scheme.

11.15pm

Inevitably, Henry is now talking about the levy. The crowd like the answer he gives, with a commitment to deliver a review of funding and the levy within his first year as president. Joe says that due to the perception surrounding the levy, and the role of processors in its collection, it is affecting the organisation negatively. He adds that he thinks farmers would be happy to pay a pro-rata increase in membership. He adds that Macra, who depend on their share of the levy for funding, must not be hit by whatever change occurs.

11.11pm

Responding to a question on funding and pay levels, Flor pays tribute to the IFA's staff. Insisting they need to be paid well, he warns they could otherwise be poached by other organisations.

11.06pm

The Fair Deal scheme is the next subject for discussion. "How would you support Maura canning in her efforts". All three praise Maura, Flor in particular as he point out her excellent work on farm safety as well as the Fair Deal scheme. Joe points out that Maura and Ann Mitchell are the two Galway representatives on the Family Farm Committee- Maura as chair. Both are actually in the room, as Ann Mitchell is Joe's campaign manager.

11.02pm

A question follows on what boards the candidates are on, and who appointed them. They give full answers, with all this information in the public domain, at least back to when the Farmers Journal interviewed the three candidates at the start of the campaign. Flor is on no board. Joe is on the commonage review committee (he chairs it) and is on FBD, getting a little over €3,000. Henry is on the animal welfare council, and Bord Bia.

10.55pm

We lost power for a while there. The sheer number of people in the room using their phones is affecting the Wi-Fi link. I’m suspecting the hard-working campaign teams of the candidates, whose attention may be straying, as they've heard all this before.

The current question is in relation to climate change and its potential effect on the beef herd. The questioner, environment chair Joe Deverall says that IFA have not supported traditional breeds. He quotes a prominent IFA person describing a Hereford as a “a Morris Minor”. The replies are varied. Henry says that farmers need the option of achieving high weights to make money. Flor says that breeds go in and out of fashion.

He says the maximum age forces farmers to sell cattle in ones and twos rather than in loads because of impending age limits. He says that weakens their selling power. Joe praises the traditional breeds, but says that if they become more common as beef sires for dairy cows with the advent of a sexed semen, they may lose any bonus payments that currently are in place.

10.40pm

Ronan Feighery wants to know how we intend to restore the credibility of IFA as a lobbying organisation, and what we pay a new CEO/general secreatry. . Flor speaks of the need to get the right CEO on a short-term contract, five years at most, but we must pay well to get the right person, Henry says the lobby power of IFA resides in the membership engaging with their local TD's and that remains.

10.33pm

Driving the issues of the day, particularly commodity price, in addition to full transparency, is Flor's response. Henry speaks of the need for remuneration to be fully known to the membership.

10.29pm

James Kane is next on his feet. James succeeded Eddie Downey as chairman of the Farm Business Committee. He wants to know how the candidates would restore trust in the organisation. Joe says better access and better transparency, more use of the commodity committees

.

10.29pm

The second question is in relation to tillage, specifically the difficulty chemical manufacturers are having in getting approval and renewal of agrochemical products. All three candidates deplore the European parliament's move to bring use of glyphosate (Round-up and its imitators) use to an end.

10.22pm

The first question wants to know what knowledge and experience of the European Parliament they have. Joe is first up, and says as vice-president of CEJA, the young farmers’ umbrella organisation, he has walked the corridors of power. Henry speaks of getting support for a sheep payment, getting Liam Aylward MEP to carry out a report on the sheep sector for the parliament. He says he is now chairman of the sheep, beef, and other animal products Flor adds that for his part he has been a Brussels regular, meeting Commissioner Ciolos and now Phil Hogan and his team.

10.16pm

“It’s wrong that we as farmers have to carry the can for a geopolitical decision. “Joe says in relation to the Russian trade ban and its effect on dairy price.

10.14pm

Joe has used the same speech most nights that I have been present. It's well constructed and well presented. Tonight he adds the issue of flooding and management of the Shannon. He then moves onto beef. "Total confusion in the beef sector" he says, with the grid "totally stacked in favour of the factories.” The genomic scheme should be both farmer friendly and funded to the tune of €250m he adds.

10.11pm

Joe Healy echoes the comments of the chairman in welcoming Macra members to the meeting, including recent young farmer of the year Kevin Heavin. Joe was a judge in 20100 when Kevin won, "not judging him, but learning from him" he says.

10.05pm

Critical of the "land grab" of banks selling on loans, Flor says the government are "asleep at the wheel". He will hold Phil Hogan to account if elected, and make him deliver a yellow card system. "I am made of steel" Flor says.

10.01pm

Flor is next up. He says he is much like the people in the room, with his family utterly dependant on farming for their income. He says that IFA must re-engage the branches, even if it's through groups of branches meeting regionally to feed into the county executive.

9.59pm

"Lest there be any misunderstanding, let's be clear about one thing. I'm not happy with the current beef price". What do you do? Henry asks. "You work to make it better". He cites the cost of money as an issue, having run through the well-hashed issues with processors.

9.56pm

Henry Burns is first to his feet. He lives just across the border, barely ten miles away. He says that IFA must return to the roots and founding principles espoused by John Keena. He lists them as hard work and the coherence of a unified organisation representing all family farmers. The IFA was founded by bringing together 67 splinter groups, none of which had access to or influence with government".

9.52pm

John Keena gives an impressive introduction to the presidential forum. He says there are over 400 people in the room. He adds that Offaly farmers are some of the best in the country, and farming some good and plenty of poor and marginal land, they produce over €250m of exports. John says his father was a founding member if NFA, and it’s first Offaly chairman.

9.45pm

9.28pm

Summing up time- Nigel says he will make farmers proud they voted for him if successful. Richard says he will fulfil the role with passion and commitment, and will put principle before personality. Pat says his dad PJ set up the local branch, and his focus was always family farm incomes. "You need a strong person who knows his way around government buildings and Brussels to protect your single payment, which is vital to our income, and is sometimes the entire income.

9.22pm

"The job of deputy president is a dud of a job as long as I've been in IFA" says a contributor from the floor. If you do start making an initiative, others will not be happy as you move to the next presidential election". It gains the first round of applause.

Richard says "the deputy president can make a role for himself, and it need not threaten the president. “I want to support the president but i want to put the organisation back on track. I see a liaison role with all the commodities to ensure that all their policies are brought to executive council. I would see a role for the deputy president in talking to individuals and groups who have left IFA disillusioned".

Pat Farrell "I see my role as supporting the president and supporting the committees. I come from a branch where the first president came from. He set up IFA to represent farmers. But in recent times there was too much emphasis on the balance sheet. IFA needs renewal"

Nigel Renaghan recounts the role of the deputy president on the board of Teagasc. He has spoken before of the need for Teagasc to get the pension provision off their balance sheet, as it takes up half of their income. He has raised it with party leaders before the election.

9.18pm

"What can we do to lift milk price" asks dairy chairman Matthew O'Byrne.

"We have to lift the intervention price, it’s no use to us at 21c/l. says Richard. "You might be wondering about the national envelope which depends of the government, but we don't have a government at the moment" Nigel points to the loss of control suppliers suffered when reducing shareholding in their processor below 50% "That was a mistake" he says, adding that 25c/l intervention price would help. Pat Farrell also points to intervention price as being too low, and believes it must be raised.

9.06pm

"I'm depending on Bord Bia to market our produce abroad. Maybe they could be doing a better job, as a beef farmer I'm seeing my margin eroded" says Pat Farrell.

9.02pm

"If there's any problem (on a farm), then there should be an inspection, but otherwise, there should be no inspections of farms", says another contributor from the floor. He thinks one person would be enough staff in the Bord Bia inspectorate". "Nigel agrees with the sentiments from the floor, and says that "we are only creating employment for people to police us".

Richard Kennedy disagrees. "We absolutely need accreditation to verify our standards of production. I absolutely agree that Bord Bia inspections are too severe to the point of being almost ridiculous".

8.56pm

The Offaly county secretary is the one to ask the nightly question regarding Bord Bia inspections. The candidates are all well versed in their responses. "We can't survive without quality assurance, it's a trade issue" says Richard Kennedy, but farmers need the opportunity to carry out any required improvements. There should be a committee in every county to assist farmers facing inspections. Pat Farrell says that a columnist in the Farming Independent recounting his failing an audit sums up the schemes failings. Nigel Renaghan says that Bord Bia have 88 staff and the average wage is €126,000. Farmers contribute €5.7m to Bord Bia.

8.54pm

"It was the height of the road-building when I was national environment chairman" says Pat Farrell. "As Kildare chairman I am involved with Eirgrid projects". Richard Kennedy also speaks of his experience with roads in Limerick when county Chairman. Nigel Renaghan says he is involved in a landfill group which will be community owned and "is a world-first".

The first question relates to the project to draw water form the Shannon in parteen. How will the land be restored to good order, asks Joe Deverall. Joe is environment chair in Offaly.

8.44m

Before opening for questions from the floor for, Chairman John Keena pauses to allow a partition be opened at the back of the room. The large crowd, on this, the last of 29 hustings for the candidates, means we are invoking "Plan B" the crowd is now in excess of 300. whatever the issues in IFA, indifference is not one of them.

8.40pm

Nigel Renaghan tells the audience that incomes rare his priority, incomes for fam families. He has grown into this contest, having started as an outsider, and the least known of the six candidates.

8.35pm

Richard Kennedy is next. He tells us that he was arrested in Limerick when exposing the presence of New Zealand lamb in our retailers. "I got out again, as you can see" he says, none the worse for the experience.

8.30pm

And we're into the opening speeches from the candidates for the deputy presidency. Pat Farrell is first tonight. He will be hoping to poll well in Offaly, and is in confident mood, having endured a difficult night in Meath last Wednesday.

7.53pm

Welcome to the IFA hustings live from the Tullamore Court Hotel. We will begin our live blog shortly.

After a mammoth seven weeks on the road, the six president and deputy president candidates can draw a line under the hustings. The Irish Farmers Journal has been at every one of the presidential debates and it has been a long road for us too!

Stay tuned, we'll be up and running shortly.

Don't miss your last chance to make up your mind before you vote: watch our live debate with the three candidates for IFA president in a special edition of Around the Editor's Table this Friday 1 April at 8pm on www.farmersjournal.ie.

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Full coverage: IFA elections 2016