With much talk of how to be more sustainable, I have an electric car on loan this week doing research for a story on the practicality of a commuter, like me, going electric. It might be a spoiler but as I have been late for every single thing this week, I want to apologise to everyone who had to wait on me. Sorry.

One of the first things I was late for was the Teagasc National Dairy Conference. I was chairing the afternoon session ‘Opportunities in dairy farming: succession and progression pathways’. The pathways of my three panelists were all different. I had two young(er) gentlemen, Brendan Elliot who is milking 70 cows on a rented land block and Shane Dolan who is milking 290 cows together with his parents. The third gentleman, and the one that probably got the most questions – Ciaran Kavanagh – was 50 when he went into dairying in his own right.

All three told their stories, answered questions and were frank with their commentary

Although all were positive, it was Ciaran that talked up the opportunities that are coming for young farmers the most. And he felt that this was because of farmers like him, farmers of an older age profile, with good size land blocks and no successors. All three told their stories, answered questions and were frank with their commentary. Other farmers had done similarly throughout the day. Farmers supporting other farmers.

You can say that candidates are fair game as they put themselves forward

I have been pretty horrified, call it a positive mental attitude or naïvety or whatever you like, to see farmers denigrating each other over the last couple of weeks. I saw it on the news in the form of posters of the IFA presidential candidates. The depiction was very poor. You can say that candidates are fair game as they put themselves forward. But to belittle fellow farmers in the glare of the media is doing farming and the industry no favours. One farm organisation calling out the actions of another in a negative fashion or one type of farming enterprise calling out another as being the cause of their woes paints us in a poor light.

I found his story fascinating

The panel was an interesting mix of youth and experience. We need both. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t spend more time quizzing my grandad and now he is gone. I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Sharon Greene about her grandfather Dr Juan Greene, the IFA first president. I found his story fascinating particularly in this time when a lack of unity amongst farmers threatens the long-term viability of our family farm model. This family farm model is different amongst families, evidenced by my panel. A man farming with his parents, one farming on his own with hopes for his baby son, and one solely with his wife.

As farmers we are far from being an organised community and must avoid appearing either precocious or complacent

At this time of challenge for our industry, those that would slight their fellow farmer are playing directly into the hands of those who relish in a divide and conquer policy. Dr Greene once said: “As farmers we are far from being an organised community and must avoid appearing either precocious or complacent.”

Sometimes being in leadership means making the hard decisions

Today, we appear disorganised and we most certainly cannot afford to be complacent. On the positive, it appears that many individuals are willing to step up to the plate to represent farmers. The importance of finding common ground for the common good and a unified front however is vital. Sometimes being in leadership means making the hard decisions and making the calls that not everyone will like. No one said leading was easy.

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