Ciaran Lynch, Croughton, Boyle, Co Roscommon
On the new Government: “It’s hard to know if I am happy or not. Time will tell, I suppose. I just don’t know how the Greens are going to work for us in rural Ireland. Having no minister from Donegal to Limerick is a huge problem – the west has been forgotten about again.”
On greenhouse gas reductions and REPS return: “We are already ‘green’, with schemes such as GLAS and how we have to farm to get our BPS from Europe we have to do things right – it’s as simple as that.
“Farmers want to help improve the environment – and we are. But if we are going to be paid to do it and help improve things then all the better. GLAS was a good scheme but it would be great to have a return of REPS in the coming years.
“We’re only minding the land for the next generation so if there is something we can do to help it along, farmers will want to do that as far as I can see.”
Billy Hanmore, Knockavroe, Boyle, Co Rosommon
On the new Government: “It’s a good thing to finally have a Government to start with anyway. However, it’s disappointing that we haven’t more representatives in the west of Ireland. It’s a pity because we are being left behind and it’s just not good enough.”
On what Minister Barry Cowen needs to do: “The suckler farmers in the west need support. The majority of land isn’t suitable to other enterprises and it’s vitally important that the suckler cow survives. We need a minimum of €200/cow.”
On the new REPS: “I’m delighted to see a return of REPS. It has been a lifeline for farmers in the west of Ireland in the past and we need that to continue.
“I don’t think there needs to be any major changes in the way we farm in the future. From an environmental point of view we are already well covered, so I don’t see anything to fear from that point of view from the new Government.”
Noel O’Connor, Kiltealy, Co Wexford
Noel O'Connor
On the new minister: “I hope he will improve the price of beef because suckler farming is disappearing very quickly. Dairy farming is taking over the whole country and good continental beef is being ruined by the calves from the dairy herd.”
Matty Prendergast, Kiltealy, Co Wexford
Matty Prendergast.
On the new minister: “I would like to see more money being given to the mountain farmers – let there be more subsidies and look after them better. That’s what I would like to see from the new minister.”
Paddy Murphy, Knockbay Livestock, Ballyhack, Co Wexford
Paddy Murphy.
“From a beef point of view, we have to get more money for what we are producing. Farmers are producing below cost and it’s just not sustainable, something has to happen.
“The farmer producing the store cannot produce them for any less either. The beef price has to come from the other end.
“Climate change is also a big thing, we have such a green country, I can’t understand how farming is being blamed for all these emissions, I think there should be more study done on that end of things.”
Ciaran Lynch, Croughton, Boyle, Co Roscommon
On the new Government: “It’s hard to know if I am happy or not. Time will tell, I suppose. I just don’t know how the Greens are going to work for us in rural Ireland. Having no minister from Donegal to Limerick is a huge problem – the west has been forgotten about again.”
On greenhouse gas reductions and REPS return: “We are already ‘green’, with schemes such as GLAS and how we have to farm to get our BPS from Europe we have to do things right – it’s as simple as that.
“Farmers want to help improve the environment – and we are. But if we are going to be paid to do it and help improve things then all the better. GLAS was a good scheme but it would be great to have a return of REPS in the coming years.
“We’re only minding the land for the next generation so if there is something we can do to help it along, farmers will want to do that as far as I can see.”
Billy Hanmore, Knockavroe, Boyle, Co Rosommon
On the new Government: “It’s a good thing to finally have a Government to start with anyway. However, it’s disappointing that we haven’t more representatives in the west of Ireland. It’s a pity because we are being left behind and it’s just not good enough.”
On what Minister Barry Cowen needs to do: “The suckler farmers in the west need support. The majority of land isn’t suitable to other enterprises and it’s vitally important that the suckler cow survives. We need a minimum of €200/cow.”
On the new REPS: “I’m delighted to see a return of REPS. It has been a lifeline for farmers in the west of Ireland in the past and we need that to continue.
“I don’t think there needs to be any major changes in the way we farm in the future. From an environmental point of view we are already well covered, so I don’t see anything to fear from that point of view from the new Government.”
Noel O’Connor, Kiltealy, Co Wexford
Noel O'Connor
On the new minister: “I hope he will improve the price of beef because suckler farming is disappearing very quickly. Dairy farming is taking over the whole country and good continental beef is being ruined by the calves from the dairy herd.”
Matty Prendergast, Kiltealy, Co Wexford
Matty Prendergast.
On the new minister: “I would like to see more money being given to the mountain farmers – let there be more subsidies and look after them better. That’s what I would like to see from the new minister.”
Paddy Murphy, Knockbay Livestock, Ballyhack, Co Wexford
Paddy Murphy.
“From a beef point of view, we have to get more money for what we are producing. Farmers are producing below cost and it’s just not sustainable, something has to happen.
“The farmer producing the store cannot produce them for any less either. The beef price has to come from the other end.
“Climate change is also a big thing, we have such a green country, I can’t understand how farming is being blamed for all these emissions, I think there should be more study done on that end of things.”
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: