Climate action

IFA president Joe Healy said the recent figures released on the change in emissions attributed to agriculture was not unexpected. This is due to the increased market demand coinciding with the ending of the milk quota regime in 2015, which had been in place since 1984.

He said: “Ireland is the most carbon efficient producer of milk in the European Union and our beef farmers are in the top five. This is important at a time of increasing demand for dairy and beef. If agri-food production is limited in Ireland, it will happen elsewhere and contribute to increased international greenhouse gasses.” Ireland has a natural advantage in food production due to its grass-based production system. At present, no credit is given in the climate data to the contribution that our permanent pasture and hedgerows make to carbon sequestration. This is not giving a fair picture of the overall positive contribution of agriculture.

Bluetongue

IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said the detection of bluetongue in an imported animal in NI is a reminder of the risks associated with importing animals from regions of lower health status. The IFA chair said farmers in Ireland have made a huge investment in disease control and eradication to attain the very favourable position we currently hold.

Farrell called on the minister and Department officials to be vigilant on all imports, and to ensure that all animals are screened on arrival into Ireland to minimise the risk of disease introduction to the country.

He said individuals who are considering the importation of animals should think long and hard of the implications, not only for their own herds but for the country, before taking that risk.

Livestock sector challenges

IFA president Joe Healy and IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods will be before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture next week highlighting the challenges facing the livestock sector. They will be highlighting how the medium-term outlook for agriculture is uncertain, not least as a result of policy and trade issues stemming from Brexit and will be calling on the Government to ensure that an increase in the CAP budget is delivered that will at least keep pace with inflation.

National council

The final IFA national council meeting will take place in the Irish Farm Centre on the 19 December. The meeting will reflect on the key priorities for 2019.