Macra na Feirme is calling for the European Commission aid package for livestock farmers to be 100% co-funded to bring the figure for the total fund to over €22m.

This money needs to be strategically invested in measures which will improve profitability and efficiency inside the farmgate, rather than being paid out as a flat-rate payment or put into a fund for a loan system to all farmers. Macra na Feirme is also calling for this aid to be accessible to all farmers across grass-based livestock sectors.

Speaking this week at a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Macra na Feirme national president Seán Finan said: “If this money is spread across the livestock sectors in a flat-rate payment to all livestock farmers, then the amount received will amount to small change. I acknowledge that there is a cashflow issue on many farms due to poor commodity prices but a small payment would do little to alleviate the cashflow problems which exist.”

Finan continued: “Young farmers believe that this aid money would be better spent and more beneficial to farmers if it was invested in an optional grassland improvement scheme, which would part-fund grassland improvement measures. A strategic scheme of this nature would improve the main productive assets within the farmgate such as soil fertility and grass. In the medium to long term, a measure like this will return more to farmers, than a one-off small flat-rate payment ever could, as a result of improvements in soil fertility and grass utilisation.”

Reports from the Teagasc beef open day 2016 declared an astonishing 50% of Irish farms are not reaching their grass growth potential. Macra strongly believes that for Ireland to sustain its world-renowned green image, as well as support Irish farmers, this money should be wisely invested in grassland improvements.

The Macra na Feirme proposal – based on a total fund of €22.2m – with farmers receiving a€150 payment per acre, would result in the completion of 148,000 acres of reseeding across the country.

Thomas Duffy, vice-chair of the agricultural affairs committee, said: “This is clearly the fairest and simplest proposal as it benefits all active grass-based livestock farmers, focusing on efficiency regardless of size or scale. The benefit of this measure is to decrease cost of production in the long term, rather than incurring debt, meeting our environmental and sustainability targets and it is accessible without major cost to all farms while still being a worthwhile payment.”

As part of the last EU dairy aid package, Macra na Feirme secured a €1,000 top-up for young dairy farmers on top of the flat payment to all dairy farmers. This lobbying by Macra na Feirme resulted in approximately €1.5m making its way into the hands of young dairy farmers across rural Ireland.

Finan concluded: “If Minister Creed decides to go down the flat payment route with this package, then young farmers request a top-up on the payment. We also call on the minister to look at the other enterprises, outside of the grass based livestock sectors, as they cannot be forgotten as they too require assistance and are under as much if not more financial pressure than some of the grass-based livestock sectors.”

The number of deaths, serious injuries and near misses in farming are truly frightening and we need a change of attitude in our industry.

Macra na Feirme is asking its members to take the lead on farm safety, by launching its ‘‘Safe Agri Skills’’ card. For the first time, those working in agriculture are asked to complete a suite of short training courses in relevant areas around farm safety.

Modules include tractor safety, livestock handling, manual handling, first aid and health for farmers, as well as optional extras such as chainsaw use and ATV/quad bike safety. Safe Agri Skills is the first and only of its kind – a farm safety training course covering all the basics and the major causes of accidents in agriculture.

Macra launched the Safe Agri Skills card at the National Ploughing Championships on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at the launch, Macra na Feirme national president Seán Finan said: ‘‘Only in agriculture is something like this seen as revolutionary. In any other industry it’s just done, no questions asked. You do not show up to work unless your safety training is up to date.

‘‘We need more education about safety in farming and it is initiatives like Safe Agri Skills that can provide farmers with that education.’’

Seamus Banim of ABP Ireland said that the organisation is delighted to stand behind the initiative. He said: ‘‘Farmers are, in the main, self-employed so there is no one standing over them. Beginning with young farmers, we are asking you to take responsibility for yourself, your family and your future, to ensure the future safety and wellbeing of our suppliers.’’

Certificate

All those who complete the training programme will receive a Safe Agri Skills wallet card and certificate. Courses are available nationwide and you can book your place on http://macraskillnet.eventbrite.ie