Dear member,

The past year has brought challenges that nobody could have predicted. As farmers, we played our part in ensuring that despite the pandemic, the food chain kept functioning.

The COVID-19 pandemic also caused challenges for our association.

However, the IFA has used technology to keep our national council, national committees and county executives operating online. Our elections have been taking place by post and we hope to be able to hold our branch AGMs next spring.

We have also had a number of staff changes in the organisation. While this was driven by the need to restructure our cost base, it has given us a chance to bring some new staff with new ideas into the association.

We wish those staff who have left well, and we thank them for their long and loyal service to IFA.

Challenges

While COVID-19 has dominated the headlines and airwaves, farming has continued to face huge challenges including Brexit, CAP and climate change.

While farmers have been unfairly blamed in this debate, we can hold our heads high. We produce top-quality, safe, nutritious food in some of the most picturesque countryside on the planet. We are the first responders to climate change and we are playing our part.

I really missed the opportunity to engage with members at events like the National Ploughing Championships, the Tullamore Show and the other excellent shows around the country. Hopefully, these will be back in full swing in 2021.

I look forward to seeing you at these and at county meetings in the early part of next year.

In the meantime, have a happy Christmas and remember, most of all, to farm safely.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Cullinan,

IFA president.