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A recent airing of RTÉ’s show, What Planet Are You On? has left farmers feeling angry about being blamed for the climate crisis. Marcella Connolly spoke to farmers on the issue at Dairy Day in Punchestown
Grange, Co Meath
“This thing of running down farmers. I don’t think it’s on. I think you have a lot of bodies that have different agendas and I don’t think farming is one of them. Farming in Ireland has never been done as well, because we’re working off grass. If you think that food coming from South Africa or South America into Europe to be sold, ours has no carbon footprint. It’s here, it’s the best, use it.”
Nenagh, Co Tipperary
“They’re [farmers] going to have to work hard on publicity, they’re going to have to put themselves out there showing what’s really good and what the plus factors are. Don’t let the bad be out there all the time, because no matter what the industry, it isn’t always bad. I would definitely emphasise the green and showing our livestock and get it known throughout the world.”
Oranmore, Co Galway
“It’s pretty poor form by the people who are at it [farmer bashing], I’d expect that they should have known more. I think it’s unfortunate that they don’t understand the contribution that farmers, especially dairying, is making to the whole economy of Ireland. I think as farmers, we need to educate consumers and even RTÉ. Last week’s show was totally biased against farmers from what I saw.”
Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
“I think we’ve a real problem with social media and farmers don’t engage with it enough to counteract the negative press. We’re inclined to take it lying down. I think our farm organisations are letting us down on that front. If you talk to anyone about how much carbon is sequestered in soil and hedgerows, it’s not taken into consideration.”
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