'Quality Assurance must be simplified'
“The main priority for the new minister and Government is to look after the family farm and make sure the correct supports are in place.
“I was disappointed my two sons hadn’t much interest in taking on the farming tradition but lately I’m relieved they have chosen a different path. Beef farming doesn’t have a bright outlook at the minute.
“The factories are cute. They keep an eye on what the farmer receives in the mart and adjust their price to suit. If they see stock getting an extra €100 per head, they’ll be sure to cut their price to match.
“The Quality Assurance (QA) scheme is a farce. It’s just a way of putting down the price we receive for our cattle. In my opinion, all animals from QA farms should be accepted. It’s based on the environment the animal is reared in and not the animal itself.
“One year I was on the QA scheme and out of five animals only one heifer got the bonus. The rest were either too heavy or a couple of days too old. There are too many terms and conditions to the scheme. Bord Bia and the Government must simplify this and in turn encourage more farmers.
“The minister must also work to increase the farmer share of the retail value. Currently, we are getting less than 30%. This should be at least 50%.
“The beef industry must become more transparent and it is vital that the new minister acts on this. The Government has the power to make real changes in the sector.”
- Basil Bothwell, Charolais and Limousin breeder, Killeshandra, Co Cavan.
Basil Bothwell.
'Investments must be protected'
“The minister must ensure the calf market is made sustainable. The expansion of the dairy herd doesn’t seem to be coping with the increase in calf numbers. Ideally, we would be able to build a domestic market for these calves but live export is the next best option.
“I think the minister needs to work hard stabilising the beef market. The beef sector is being squeezed out of business and I wouldn’t like to see many more beef farmers moving over to dairy.
“The dairy and beef sector both need to be going well for Irish agriculture to function. A strong beef sector would be an excellent destination for the dairy calves.
“Volatility in dairy markets will always be a worry. Brexit is also still up in the air so it’s important the new minister brings a level of stability to Irish agriculture. Farmers have made huge investments into their farms and these investments must be protected.”
- Michael Kavanagh, dairy farmer, Ballykilty Upper, Co Wexford.
Michael Kavanagh bringing his cows in for milking. \ Philip Doyle
'Over-reliance on feed crops in the tillage sector'
“The minister must guarantee a minimum protein payment of €350 per hectare. This will amount to an extra €1.5m which is reasonable when you consider the beef sector has been awarded a €50m fund this year.
“The tillage sector is over-reliant on feed crops and must begin to invest more in value-added products which will increase our margins.
“Convergence makes no sense and the tillage sector is dead set against it. We are heavily dependent on the basic payment and tillage farmers need an alternative option. If the current terms go ahead, the Government must tell us how we are to offset the associated losses.
“It’s important to highlight to the new minister that there are very low levels of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Irish tillage sector. This needs to be acknowledged and recognised. Tillage farmers shouldn’t be penalised as heavily as the other sectors for this reason.
“I’d ask also that the new minister reviews the technical files for the PGI status of Irish whiskey and spirits. There is a necessity to use Irish cream from Irish cows, yet there’s no necessity to use Irish grain in these files.”
- Bobby Miller, tillage farmer and chair of Irish Grain Growers, Rathmore, Co Laois
Bobby Miller preparing the soil to sow a Lynx variety of beans. \ Philip Doyle
'We’ve enough trees in Leitrim'
“The new minister needs to bring in greater supports for the suckler farmer. We have a surplus of beef coming from the dairy herd. You can’t beat a good continental calf, but these days dairy-bred animals are filling up the feedlots.
“Other farmers are moving into contract-rearing but I’d rather retire than go down that route. The minister needs to offset these loses to the suckler herd and keep farmers in the sector with a €200-per-cow subsidy scheme.
“Leitrim land is very heavy and farmers need support to improve drainage in the county. Fields become waterlogged and unworkable when the main rivers overflow. These rivers also need drainage work. They haven’t been cleaned out in years.
“The planting of trees by investors from Norway and Sweden needs to be addressed by the minister. We have enough trees in this county, any land that comes on the market is snapped up by these forestry companies.
“No one farming can compete with these companies for land any more. I feel sorry for any young fella that wants to start farming and can’t bid against the foreign investors.”
- Michael McGirl, Charolais breeder, Aughnasheelin, Co Leitrim.
Michael McGirl helps Oisin Fahey prep his animal for display at the Ballinamore Agricultural Show. \ Lorraine Teevan
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Farmer view: what Minister Calleary should prioritise
'Quality Assurance must be simplified'
“The main priority for the new minister and Government is to look after the family farm and make sure the correct supports are in place.
“I was disappointed my two sons hadn’t much interest in taking on the farming tradition but lately I’m relieved they have chosen a different path. Beef farming doesn’t have a bright outlook at the minute.
“The factories are cute. They keep an eye on what the farmer receives in the mart and adjust their price to suit. If they see stock getting an extra €100 per head, they’ll be sure to cut their price to match.
“The Quality Assurance (QA) scheme is a farce. It’s just a way of putting down the price we receive for our cattle. In my opinion, all animals from QA farms should be accepted. It’s based on the environment the animal is reared in and not the animal itself.
“One year I was on the QA scheme and out of five animals only one heifer got the bonus. The rest were either too heavy or a couple of days too old. There are too many terms and conditions to the scheme. Bord Bia and the Government must simplify this and in turn encourage more farmers.
“The minister must also work to increase the farmer share of the retail value. Currently, we are getting less than 30%. This should be at least 50%.
“The beef industry must become more transparent and it is vital that the new minister acts on this. The Government has the power to make real changes in the sector.”
- Basil Bothwell, Charolais and Limousin breeder, Killeshandra, Co Cavan.
Basil Bothwell.
'Investments must be protected'
“The minister must ensure the calf market is made sustainable. The expansion of the dairy herd doesn’t seem to be coping with the increase in calf numbers. Ideally, we would be able to build a domestic market for these calves but live export is the next best option.
“I think the minister needs to work hard stabilising the beef market. The beef sector is being squeezed out of business and I wouldn’t like to see many more beef farmers moving over to dairy.
“The dairy and beef sector both need to be going well for Irish agriculture to function. A strong beef sector would be an excellent destination for the dairy calves.
“Volatility in dairy markets will always be a worry. Brexit is also still up in the air so it’s important the new minister brings a level of stability to Irish agriculture. Farmers have made huge investments into their farms and these investments must be protected.”
- Michael Kavanagh, dairy farmer, Ballykilty Upper, Co Wexford.
Michael Kavanagh bringing his cows in for milking. \ Philip Doyle
'Over-reliance on feed crops in the tillage sector'
“The minister must guarantee a minimum protein payment of €350 per hectare. This will amount to an extra €1.5m which is reasonable when you consider the beef sector has been awarded a €50m fund this year.
“The tillage sector is over-reliant on feed crops and must begin to invest more in value-added products which will increase our margins.
“Convergence makes no sense and the tillage sector is dead set against it. We are heavily dependent on the basic payment and tillage farmers need an alternative option. If the current terms go ahead, the Government must tell us how we are to offset the associated losses.
“It’s important to highlight to the new minister that there are very low levels of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Irish tillage sector. This needs to be acknowledged and recognised. Tillage farmers shouldn’t be penalised as heavily as the other sectors for this reason.
“I’d ask also that the new minister reviews the technical files for the PGI status of Irish whiskey and spirits. There is a necessity to use Irish cream from Irish cows, yet there’s no necessity to use Irish grain in these files.”
- Bobby Miller, tillage farmer and chair of Irish Grain Growers, Rathmore, Co Laois
Bobby Miller preparing the soil to sow a Lynx variety of beans. \ Philip Doyle
'We’ve enough trees in Leitrim'
“The new minister needs to bring in greater supports for the suckler farmer. We have a surplus of beef coming from the dairy herd. You can’t beat a good continental calf, but these days dairy-bred animals are filling up the feedlots.
“Other farmers are moving into contract-rearing but I’d rather retire than go down that route. The minister needs to offset these loses to the suckler herd and keep farmers in the sector with a €200-per-cow subsidy scheme.
“Leitrim land is very heavy and farmers need support to improve drainage in the county. Fields become waterlogged and unworkable when the main rivers overflow. These rivers also need drainage work. They haven’t been cleaned out in years.
“The planting of trees by investors from Norway and Sweden needs to be addressed by the minister. We have enough trees in this county, any land that comes on the market is snapped up by these forestry companies.
“No one farming can compete with these companies for land any more. I feel sorry for any young fella that wants to start farming and can’t bid against the foreign investors.”
- Michael McGirl, Charolais breeder, Aughnasheelin, Co Leitrim.
Michael McGirl helps Oisin Fahey prep his animal for display at the Ballinamore Agricultural Show. \ Lorraine Teevan
Read more
Farmer view: what Minister Calleary should prioritise
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