The Big Dealer: Hogan has his bag packed for Brussels round two

I couldn’t help but have a wry grin on my face this week upon hearing the European Commissioner for Agriculture’s comments about his future in Brussels.

Asked by an attendee at the Irish Rural Link conference if he would be waiting for the agriculture job in the Commission, he merely said he had no phone number for the new president of the European Commission to know what his role will be in the future because there isn’t a president yet.

“There are phones, I’m sure, ringing to all the leaders of the European Union after the European elections deciding all that.

“I’m like a good curate, I have my bag packed at all times and I’ll wait and see where I’m sent,” Hogan quipped.

Longford breeder Noel McGoldrick is the new president of the Irish Charolais Cattle Society, taking over the reins from Meath man Kevin Maguire.

McGoldrick, from Drumlish, has been breeding pedigree Charolais cattle for 20 years and joined the council in 2016.

Galway man Mattie Kelly will look after the society’s money and investments as treasurer.

Taking up the vice-president role is Kilkenny breeder Christy Comerford, while Cavan man Nevan McKiernan is secretary.

This year is an important one for the society, which is hosting the world technical congress in August. From 4 to 12 August, it will welcome international breeders on pedigree herd visits, a visit to the Kepak feedlot in Meath, a visit to Teagasc Grange and ICBF, as well as a genomics conference in Kilkenny. The week will culminate in the All-Ireland Charolais Championships at Tullamore Show.

As locals and farmers in the Banner county prepare for the arrival of US president Donald Trump, I’ve heard that anyone living within a close radius of Doonbeg needs a special card to access the area.

Given the amount of farmland in the area, one would have to assume that this means keeping the special card in the cab of your tractor for any farmers in the area who are going about their daily jobs.

Nothing like constant vigilance to keep you on your toes when the US president, and prominent Clare landowner, is in town.

I see Dawn Meats was named not just the Family Business of the Year, but also the Sustainable Family Business of the Year at the first ever Energia Family Business Awards on Monday.

The meat processor, owned by the Browne and Queally families, earned brownie points with the judges for saving the energy equivalent of 19,000 homes since it joined Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme in 2012.

It cut emissions by the equivalent of 40,000 cars and reduced water by the equivalent of 30,000 households. It has sent no waste to landfill to 2016.

TDs can expect visits from farmers as the IFA organises a lobbying effort to ensure Ireland rejects proposed restrictions on lead ammunition.

Concerns over contamination in game meat and wetlands have led the European Chemicals Agency to consider banning lead shot and bullets. Gun clubs argue that replacements such as steel may not work, especially in 100,000 older shotguns used by farmers to control vermin. The HSA represents Ireland on the expert committee due to decide in June, with the EPA and the National Parks and Wildlife Service also involved.

I see Teagasc director Prof Gerry Boyle and Glanbia managing director Siobhán Talbot are to be honoured by University College Cork.

Prof Boyle is to be conferred with an honorary Doctor of Science degree, while Talbot is to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The big day is 7 June. Last autumn, UCC launched a degree programme specialising in dairying in association with Teagasc.

I’m told Katie McCaghey, founder of Monaghan-based McCaghey Turkeys, celebrated a milestone birthday recently. Katie founded McCaghey Turkeys with nine birds she raised to sell for Christmas in 1951. She celebrated her 100th birthday by hosting a mass and party for over 200 people on the farm in Castleblayney. Guests included her priest of 25 years, Fr Daly, and long-time friend and competitor in the market, Mrs Shalvey.