Burning penalties

IFA national hill chair Flor McCarthy has urged Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to ensure that farmers who have been penalised on burning, and who are not responsible, get their payments. The IFA has advised farmers to appeal, including an affidavit to state that they did not cause the fire. It is estimated that there are around 160 farmers affected and it is vital that these farmers who can show evidence that they did not cause the fire are fully paid.

Agricultural appeals

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy has welcomed the publication of the Agriculture Appeals Act Review Committee Report. Richard Kennedy said the recommendation for an Agriculture Appeals Review Panel with an independent chairperson is very positive – this was a key part of the IFA’s submission to the review process. Kennedy said the recommendations could have gone further, but must now be implemented without delay.

Cattle price

National livestock chair Angus Woods said winter finishers need a substantial price rise at this time in order to cover the very high level of costs they have incurred feeding indoors for the last number of months. He said farmers should demand full value for their stock and insist on a price well above the quoted level from the factories. Prices in our main export markets, both in the UK and across Europe are all ahead of Irish prices, showing the potential for Irish prices to increase.

Potato conference

At the national potato conference this week, IFA president Joe Healy said the price potato growers receive for their produce has to rise if retailers and packers want to have a potato industry in the future. He said stronger retail regulation and an independent retail ombudsman are needed to strengthen farmers’ position and the findings of the Agricultural Markets Task Force must be implemented to bring transparency and fairness to the food chain.