Tillage hardship scheme

IFA president Joe Healy insisted that the tillage hardship scheme must be put in place for farmers mainly on the west and south who were affected by poor harvesting conditions in 2016 and who suffered severe losses. The IFA was told by the minister that he has made a submission for funding. However, the IFA told the minister that this issue has dragged on for too long and needs a quick resolution.

World Farmers’ Organisation

IFA president Joe Healy attended the general assembly of the World Farmers’ Organisation in Finland this week. Among the topics discussed were food security, climate change and the food chain. Healy chairs the COPA Working Party on the Food Chain. The meeting adopted Agenda 2018-2028, a strategic framework that will guide the work of the organisation for the next 10 years. The president also attended the Praesidium of Copa-Cogeca in Brussels.

Greenhouse gas emissions

IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney has met senior officials from the European Commission in Brussels. This meeting took place at a time when members of the environment committee are negatively targeting agriculture, by seeking to significantly reduce the positive contribution that forestry is making to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Contribution to Irish farming

IFA president Joe Healy has acknowledged the contribution to Irish farming of Austin Deasy, the former minister for agriculture, who passed away last weekend. He said: “The key issue came in 1983/84, when the EU negotiated the milk quota regime. The IFA launched a major campaign, insisting that milk production was a vital national interest for Ireland. The Government secured a significant increase in the level of quota, 20% above what the Commission had proposed.’’