IFA president Tim Cullinan has said the devastation caused by the extremely wet weather is an indictment of the authorities, right up to the top levels of Government.
This follows a visit to farms affected by flooding in Co Galway.
“Farmers have to deal with flooded land and farmyards. In some cases, they have had to move livestock because their sheds are flooded,” he said.
Any proposal that seeks to gloss over decades of mismanagement by drowning farmland will be resisted
“Farm families deserve better than this. Too many people in positions of authority have washed their hands of this issue. It seems that any level of flooding and disruption on farmland is considered acceptable, and there is no accountability,” said Cullinan.
“Now we have some engineers and retired academics who want to create a river catchment that facilitates the flooding of farmland,” he said. “IFA will oppose this cop-out tooth and nail.”
The IFA president added: “Any proposal that seeks to gloss over decades of mismanagement by drowning farmland will be resisted.”
He said farmers will not become the “fall guy” for anyone who is not willing to co-ordinate a proper river management plan.
Supports
IFA Connacht chair Pat Murphy has proposed actions to provide practical support to farmers:
Implement the farmyard relocation scheme provided by the OPW and administered by the Department of Agriculture.Fast-track relief works at pinch points, with increased funding.Teagasc to set up clinics in the worst-affected areas that would identify farmers who need fodder and set up a scheme to deliver the fodder.Support services to safeguard the mental health of those affected by flooding.“These are the priorities at the moment to get us through this phase. In the longer term, the authorities have to identify a co-ordinated plan that avoids the severe disruption that farmers and householders have had to endure,” Murphy said.
Read more
Storm Jorge: water levels rising in south Co Galway
10 tips for driving machinery in flooded conditions
Watch: farmer frustration as thousands of acres flood
IFA president Tim Cullinan has said the devastation caused by the extremely wet weather is an indictment of the authorities, right up to the top levels of Government.
This follows a visit to farms affected by flooding in Co Galway.
“Farmers have to deal with flooded land and farmyards. In some cases, they have had to move livestock because their sheds are flooded,” he said.
Any proposal that seeks to gloss over decades of mismanagement by drowning farmland will be resisted
“Farm families deserve better than this. Too many people in positions of authority have washed their hands of this issue. It seems that any level of flooding and disruption on farmland is considered acceptable, and there is no accountability,” said Cullinan.
“Now we have some engineers and retired academics who want to create a river catchment that facilitates the flooding of farmland,” he said. “IFA will oppose this cop-out tooth and nail.”
The IFA president added: “Any proposal that seeks to gloss over decades of mismanagement by drowning farmland will be resisted.”
He said farmers will not become the “fall guy” for anyone who is not willing to co-ordinate a proper river management plan.
Supports
IFA Connacht chair Pat Murphy has proposed actions to provide practical support to farmers:
Implement the farmyard relocation scheme provided by the OPW and administered by the Department of Agriculture.Fast-track relief works at pinch points, with increased funding.Teagasc to set up clinics in the worst-affected areas that would identify farmers who need fodder and set up a scheme to deliver the fodder.Support services to safeguard the mental health of those affected by flooding.“These are the priorities at the moment to get us through this phase. In the longer term, the authorities have to identify a co-ordinated plan that avoids the severe disruption that farmers and householders have had to endure,” Murphy said.
Read more
Storm Jorge: water levels rising in south Co Galway
10 tips for driving machinery in flooded conditions
Watch: farmer frustration as thousands of acres flood
SHARING OPTIONS