I see that PAC Ireland, one of the country’s two agricultural contractor associations, said that it has been approached to carry out a comprehensive survey of the agricultural contracting industry in Ireland.

They are asking as many contractors as possible to complete the confidential survey in order for it to have maximum impact. PAC Ireland said that the survey information will be “the start of a new era in the representation of agricultural contractors in Ireland”.

In a sideways swipe at its competing organisation, Farm Contractors Ireland (FCI), a statement on the PAC Ireland website said: “Now more than ever, agricultural contractors need professional representation. Marching up and down outside Dáil Eireann is of little use and cuts no ice with TDs, Ministers or government officials and generates no sympathy from the general public.”