More than four in every five farmers surveyed (83%) believe that the IFA needs to allow part-time farmers to run for senior positions such as president, deputy president or regional chairperson. Sixteen percent said that full-time farmers should not be allowed to run for these position with the remaining 1% unsure.

Of the total respondents, just over half were IFA members, but the trend remains very similar among members only. A total of 78% said they want part-time farmers to run for these positions, 21% do not and 1% of respondents were unsure.

IFA elections

In the rules of the IFA, farmer candidates in certain elections who are not full-time farmers are ruled out from running for the most senior positions within the association – it is rule 75 (b).

Listen to an analysis of our poll's findings on IFA presidential pay and eligibility of part-time farmers in the podcast below:

The issue of part-time farmers running for senior positions in the IFA has come into sharp focus in recent weeks.

In the race for the position of Connacht chair with the IFA, Roscommon candidate John O’Beirne was excluded from running for the position as he was found to be a part-time farmer. O’Beirne is also an employee of An Post.

He had indicated that he would be taking a leave of absence but at the time of nominations closing two weeks ago, he had not yet commenced his break from the position and returned to full-time farming.

This resulted in nominations having to be reopened and now there is deadlock in the Connacht IFA race.

With the majority of beef and sheep farmers, as well as a small number of dairy and tillage farmers being classed as part-time, many have felt that rule 75 (b) is no longer fit for purpose.

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