An ageing farming population, farmers feeling powerless and the need for farm diversification are just a number of challenges voiced by Donegal farmers during the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming listening event in Ballybofey last Thursday.
Donegal sheep, beef, tillage and dairy farmers as well as representatives from organisations such as ICSA, IFA, INHFA, Teagasc, Donegal Rapeseed Oil, Donegal Local Development Company and many more attended the two and a half hour focus group and shared their thoughts and opinions.
Supply chain
The feeling that farmers have little to no power in the supply chain was key issue of the night and was partly responsible for the profitability issues facing rural farmers.
Henry O’Donnell of the INHFA gave an example of how farmers in parts of Donegal were keeping the minimum stocking level in order to maintain payments, as they were better off financially by doing this.
“You have to play the system and keep the minimum stocking rate and see what you can do with that. Let the principles of supply and demand kick in,” he remarked.
Mairead Lavery at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting Ballybofey. \ Clive Wasson
Innovate
Innovation was seen as an important aspect to improving farm viability but as one sheep farmer said on the night “you can’t innovate if you can’t even feed your family”.
Attendees heard of the co-operative-style beef industry in parts of France and how this could be developed in Ireland.
Emigration
“I’m a third generation farmer and five out of my six children are living outside of Donegal,” was one moving comment made by a beef farmer on the night.
Outward migration, as well as challenges in enticing young farmers into farming in Donegal, were key themes of the night.
“In a few years’ time people won’t know how to calve a cow,” remarked one sucker farmer who fears that farming skills will be lost in the future given the lack of young farmers.
Brian Marshall, Ian Buchanan and David Buchanan at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
Climate change
“Put the tax on the food based in the amount of food miles” was the response of one attendee when challenged about climate change and agriculture.
There was total agreement in the room, however, that farmer’s should be part of the solution as opposed to being the subject of blame and criticism.
Interestingly, the issue of afforestation not feature heavily on the night unlike other listening events in Kerry, Clare and Mayo.
Sean Martin, Henry O'Donnell and Malcolm Thompson at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
GM crops and imports
The role that genetically modified crop imports from the port of Derry and the lack of competition and market outlets for native grain have in depressing the grain prices in the northwest were points of contention among Donegal grain farmers.
Given the ever-increasing reduction in farmers’ chemical tool box, some growers felt that permitting the cultivation of GM crops could help address this situation.
However, there was little or no distinction drawn between conventional understanding of GM crops and new gene editing technologies.
Drew Vaughan, Elspeth Vaughan and Grace Vaughan, Campview Farm Ballyshannon. \ Clive Wasson
Agri-tourism and diversification
An emphasis was placed on developing new business revenue models through agri-tourism and diversification. Representatives from Campview Farm and Donegal Rapeseed Oil spoke of their efforts to diversify and add value to their businesses. A poor road network into the county was one of the key issues facing Donegal tourism.
Campview also spoke of Social Farming on their farm. More on this in June's Donegal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming supplement.
Phelim Molloy making his point at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
Other key issues
The feedback from the focus group also gave an insight into some of the other key issues facing Donegal, such as broadband, farm viability, environmental schemes, Brexit, Irexit, greenways, fires, renewable energy, road infrastructure and much more.
The Donegal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming supplement will be available in June.
Brendan McLaughlin, Donegal IFA chair and Gary Fisher, Teagasc. \ Clive Wasson
Gary Fisher, David Boyd, Neville Miles and Stephen Robb at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting.
Henry O'Donnell, Drew Vaughan and Gemma McLaughlin at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting.
Padraic Fingleton, DLDC, Stephen Robb, IFJ, Frank Kelly DLDC and Michael Chance at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting in Jacksons Hotel. \ Clive Wasson
Over 30 farmers, advisers and industry representatives attended the Donegal WAW listening event.
Read more
‘I got more for hill lambs in 1982 than I am now'
Living and farming in west Clare: the issues
An ageing farming population, farmers feeling powerless and the need for farm diversification are just a number of challenges voiced by Donegal farmers during the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming listening event in Ballybofey last Thursday.
Donegal sheep, beef, tillage and dairy farmers as well as representatives from organisations such as ICSA, IFA, INHFA, Teagasc, Donegal Rapeseed Oil, Donegal Local Development Company and many more attended the two and a half hour focus group and shared their thoughts and opinions.
Supply chain
The feeling that farmers have little to no power in the supply chain was key issue of the night and was partly responsible for the profitability issues facing rural farmers.
Henry O’Donnell of the INHFA gave an example of how farmers in parts of Donegal were keeping the minimum stocking level in order to maintain payments, as they were better off financially by doing this.
“You have to play the system and keep the minimum stocking rate and see what you can do with that. Let the principles of supply and demand kick in,” he remarked.
Mairead Lavery at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting Ballybofey. \ Clive Wasson
Innovate
Innovation was seen as an important aspect to improving farm viability but as one sheep farmer said on the night “you can’t innovate if you can’t even feed your family”.
Attendees heard of the co-operative-style beef industry in parts of France and how this could be developed in Ireland.
Emigration
“I’m a third generation farmer and five out of my six children are living outside of Donegal,” was one moving comment made by a beef farmer on the night.
Outward migration, as well as challenges in enticing young farmers into farming in Donegal, were key themes of the night.
“In a few years’ time people won’t know how to calve a cow,” remarked one sucker farmer who fears that farming skills will be lost in the future given the lack of young farmers.
Brian Marshall, Ian Buchanan and David Buchanan at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
Climate change
“Put the tax on the food based in the amount of food miles” was the response of one attendee when challenged about climate change and agriculture.
There was total agreement in the room, however, that farmer’s should be part of the solution as opposed to being the subject of blame and criticism.
Interestingly, the issue of afforestation not feature heavily on the night unlike other listening events in Kerry, Clare and Mayo.
Sean Martin, Henry O'Donnell and Malcolm Thompson at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
GM crops and imports
The role that genetically modified crop imports from the port of Derry and the lack of competition and market outlets for native grain have in depressing the grain prices in the northwest were points of contention among Donegal grain farmers.
Given the ever-increasing reduction in farmers’ chemical tool box, some growers felt that permitting the cultivation of GM crops could help address this situation.
However, there was little or no distinction drawn between conventional understanding of GM crops and new gene editing technologies.
Drew Vaughan, Elspeth Vaughan and Grace Vaughan, Campview Farm Ballyshannon. \ Clive Wasson
Agri-tourism and diversification
An emphasis was placed on developing new business revenue models through agri-tourism and diversification. Representatives from Campview Farm and Donegal Rapeseed Oil spoke of their efforts to diversify and add value to their businesses. A poor road network into the county was one of the key issues facing Donegal tourism.
Campview also spoke of Social Farming on their farm. More on this in June's Donegal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming supplement.
Phelim Molloy making his point at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting. \ Clive Wasson
Other key issues
The feedback from the focus group also gave an insight into some of the other key issues facing Donegal, such as broadband, farm viability, environmental schemes, Brexit, Irexit, greenways, fires, renewable energy, road infrastructure and much more.
The Donegal Wild Atlantic Way of Farming supplement will be available in June.
Brendan McLaughlin, Donegal IFA chair and Gary Fisher, Teagasc. \ Clive Wasson
Gary Fisher, David Boyd, Neville Miles and Stephen Robb at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting.
Henry O'Donnell, Drew Vaughan and Gemma McLaughlin at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting.
Padraic Fingleton, DLDC, Stephen Robb, IFJ, Frank Kelly DLDC and Michael Chance at the Irish Farmers Journal Wild Atlantic Way focus group meeting in Jacksons Hotel. \ Clive Wasson
Over 30 farmers, advisers and industry representatives attended the Donegal WAW listening event.
Read more
‘I got more for hill lambs in 1982 than I am now'
Living and farming in west Clare: the issues
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: