Food and farming got no further up the ladder this week in terms of knowing what the implementation plan is to meet the legally binding carbon emission reductions.
This Climate Action Plan should have been a big step up the ladder in that this is the first plan set out under new law since carbon ceilings were established in August.
In effect, that August legislation means the Minister for Agriculture is legally responsible for what the plan is. Following yesterday’s announcement, we are little or no better off in terms of understanding how food and farming is going to meet the gap in implementation that exists to meet the legal ceiling for food and farming. We got a list of what we knew already, but little insight, detail or financial policy instruments to allow farmers make business decisions on the future of their enterprise.
Should we be surprised by this ongoing kicking of the can further down the road? Probably not. What is becoming clearer by the day is that the Government is prepared to sit and wait. This Government is prepared to let CAP reform and increased regulations, such as those on nitrates, push the lowest performing farmers out of business. So what rules are changing? While the ongoing nitrates debacle is regarded as only affecting the dairy sector, it will take land away from other farming sectors also. The economics of the situation will drive this change.
\ Jim Cogan
While CAP reform is sold as a gain for half the farmers and a loss for the other half, the reality is far different. Teagasc analysis released last week shows us Irish farmers who up to now have been producing the vast majority of meat protein will see their cheque significantly reduced. This cohort of farmers have been utterly dependent on the support from Government and the EU to do this.
So, politicians can go on the national airwaves and talk about no mandatory cull of the national herd through the front door, but the reality is farmers are being forced out the back door.
Let’s just stand back from this. In August, before the politicians went on a well-deserved summer break, they signed food and farming up to a 25% legally binding emissions reduction law. At the time we got no clarity on how this would be realised. Objective observers and the politicians knew it would mean fewer stock.
Farmers looking to set up a livelihood and to plan ahead got little or nothing more from the Government in terms of a picture of what the future holds
There was and still is lots of talk of establishing various industry groups to chart the way forward. There is talk of multispecies swards, new science and less artificial nitrogen, but we know doing all that will only get us so far to reaching the end goal. This week’s Climate Action Plan should have brought more detail on the way forward. Instead, farmers looking to set up a livelihood and to plan ahead got little or nothing more from the Government in terms of a picture of what the future holds.
So in that vacuum what will happen? The industry will continue on and the CAP reform changes and increased rules will continue to drive decision-making on farms.
That means those farmers who were supported to produce beef and sheep in the past won’t be supported and have few alternatives.
Talk of alternative revenue streams continues but with little substance. Those who were considering a stock exit or reduction will probably sit tight and wait for another bit.
Reduction scheme
A reduction scheme was included this week as had been recommended to the minister in both the Food Vision reports. In effect the Government shot itself in the foot this week by not including further detail on a timeline or compensation package.
As an industry it would be easy, if we are not careful, to talk ourselves into negativity all the time.
Already given global supply and demand dynamics we see reduced global protein supply. This should help underpin commodity prices.
Many food producers will glean optimism on the food security issues highlighted by Noel Bardon in his interview with the European Commissioner.
While challenging our leaders on policy we always need to keep this territorial climate game in context. Irish food producers are excellent at producing quality product in an environmentally sensitive way. Other countries are envious of what we do. We can and will improve on these already high standards.
Seasons greetings to all our readers.
Food and farming got no further up the ladder this week in terms of knowing what the implementation plan is to meet the legally binding carbon emission reductions.
This Climate Action Plan should have been a big step up the ladder in that this is the first plan set out under new law since carbon ceilings were established in August.
In effect, that August legislation means the Minister for Agriculture is legally responsible for what the plan is. Following yesterday’s announcement, we are little or no better off in terms of understanding how food and farming is going to meet the gap in implementation that exists to meet the legal ceiling for food and farming. We got a list of what we knew already, but little insight, detail or financial policy instruments to allow farmers make business decisions on the future of their enterprise.
Should we be surprised by this ongoing kicking of the can further down the road? Probably not. What is becoming clearer by the day is that the Government is prepared to sit and wait. This Government is prepared to let CAP reform and increased regulations, such as those on nitrates, push the lowest performing farmers out of business. So what rules are changing? While the ongoing nitrates debacle is regarded as only affecting the dairy sector, it will take land away from other farming sectors also. The economics of the situation will drive this change.
\ Jim Cogan
While CAP reform is sold as a gain for half the farmers and a loss for the other half, the reality is far different. Teagasc analysis released last week shows us Irish farmers who up to now have been producing the vast majority of meat protein will see their cheque significantly reduced. This cohort of farmers have been utterly dependent on the support from Government and the EU to do this.
So, politicians can go on the national airwaves and talk about no mandatory cull of the national herd through the front door, but the reality is farmers are being forced out the back door.
Let’s just stand back from this. In August, before the politicians went on a well-deserved summer break, they signed food and farming up to a 25% legally binding emissions reduction law. At the time we got no clarity on how this would be realised. Objective observers and the politicians knew it would mean fewer stock.
Farmers looking to set up a livelihood and to plan ahead got little or nothing more from the Government in terms of a picture of what the future holds
There was and still is lots of talk of establishing various industry groups to chart the way forward. There is talk of multispecies swards, new science and less artificial nitrogen, but we know doing all that will only get us so far to reaching the end goal. This week’s Climate Action Plan should have brought more detail on the way forward. Instead, farmers looking to set up a livelihood and to plan ahead got little or nothing more from the Government in terms of a picture of what the future holds.
So in that vacuum what will happen? The industry will continue on and the CAP reform changes and increased rules will continue to drive decision-making on farms.
That means those farmers who were supported to produce beef and sheep in the past won’t be supported and have few alternatives.
Talk of alternative revenue streams continues but with little substance. Those who were considering a stock exit or reduction will probably sit tight and wait for another bit.
Reduction scheme
A reduction scheme was included this week as had been recommended to the minister in both the Food Vision reports. In effect the Government shot itself in the foot this week by not including further detail on a timeline or compensation package.
As an industry it would be easy, if we are not careful, to talk ourselves into negativity all the time.
Already given global supply and demand dynamics we see reduced global protein supply. This should help underpin commodity prices.
Many food producers will glean optimism on the food security issues highlighted by Noel Bardon in his interview with the European Commissioner.
While challenging our leaders on policy we always need to keep this territorial climate game in context. Irish food producers are excellent at producing quality product in an environmentally sensitive way. Other countries are envious of what we do. We can and will improve on these already high standards.
Seasons greetings to all our readers.
SHARING OPTIONS