Chaired by George Collier, the Carlow IFA hustings signalled the last chance for the 250 farmers in attendance to meet the IFA presidential and deputy candidates.

TB testing was one of the first questions put to the deputy candidates Brian Rushe and Thomas Cooney.

Rushe will not stand behind vaccinations, that a “proper wildlife programme must be applied to both badgers and deer”. Cooney would like compensation packages to be re-examined and the tests themselves to be upgraded - “they’re not good enough,” he said.

Presidential candidates

Tim Cullinan was first of the presidential candidates to be put under scrutiny by the crowd. One farmer asked how Cullinan could talk about sub-dividing committees when what is needed is unity.

Cullinan responded by referring to the importance of being able to speak to a clear leader who can deal with specific issues directly.

Woods went against this statement and said that all the different sectors and committees must work off a “sound policy” and if that’s there, then the IFA can get together as a family and drive policy forward.

James Keeley at Carlow Hustings

Climate and farmer bashing

Farmer Jeremy Keeley wanted to know what the candidates are going to do to promote “our cows out in February eating grass”; what will they do to promote Irish food?

John Coughlan wants to get the general public to understand what farmers produce. “People are now mixing up diet and environment and I think that’s wrong,” he said.

Woods pointed out that consumers don’t put two and two together. “On RTÉ, they’re saying not to eat beef, but eat avocados. I think it’s essential that we put the right people in front of the cameras and tell people what we’re really producing.”

Cullinan was more focused on keeping sucklers and sheep out in the fields. “When oil companies are pumping gasses into the air, compared with keeping a few sucklers, that just doesn’t add up to me.”

He suggested looking into growing clovers with the crop and working with bio-methane digesters. Cullinan went a little further, calling RTÉ a “bloody disgrace” after airing a programme that put farmers at the top of the offenders list for Ireland’s climate crisis.

Voting

Those voting in the IFA election will be able to watch the three presidential candidates go head-to-head in an Irish Farmers Journal debate on Friday evening.

The debate will be broadcast live on the Irish Farmers Journal website. You can watch the debate at ifj.ie/ifaelection

If you have any questions for the candidates, you can text or WhatsApp your questions to 086-836 6465 or email ifjdebate@farmersjournal.ie.

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