IFA president Eddie Downey said that the inclusion of the North-South transmission line in the independent review announced will ensure that a comprehensive analysis of the overall electricity infrastructure plans is carried out.

Downey said: “For this review to be credible, the concerns of everybody affected by the development of the network must be taken into account. For agriculture, it is critical that the full costs and effect on farmers and rural communities are set out when considering route design options for electricity infrastructure as part of this review.”

Eddie Downey also noted that there was no agricultural expert on the independent review commission and he called on the Government to address this situation.

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Route design

He said that IFA remains firm that undergrounding must be fully considered as part of route design and planning.

Agrifood conference

Speaking at the agrifood conference, IFA president Eddie Downey said that farm income volatility, as a result of weather and market price extremes, is the key issue to be addressed if Food Harvest 2020 targets are to be achieved. He said processors and policy leaders have a role to play in addressing this problem.

Sligo meeting

IFA Rural Development Committee executive Gerry Gunning attended the Sligo IFA county executive as the guest speaker. He said the new GLAS scheme is an opportunity to put in place a meaningful support for farmers with SACs and commonages and that a replacement scheme is needed for farmers who will leave REPS4 later this year.

Co-op development

IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Sean O’Leary attended the East Clare IFA dairy meeting as the guest speaker. He called on all co-ops which are planning for capacity development, or other investment in the period to 2015 or the post quota era, to keep their cost to farmer shareholders to the minimum.

Longford IFA AGM

IFA president Eddie Downey attended the Longford IFA AGM as the guest speaker. He said that IFA has launched a major offensive at EU level to stall advanced discussions between the EU and the Mercosur Group, particularly Brazil, which could lead to an exchange of offers on a trade deal before the end of March.

Potato conference

The National Potato Conference and Trade Show will take place in the Red Cow Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday 18 February. Among the guest speakers will be IFA president Eddie Downey, Minister Tom Hayes and Teagasc director Gerry Boyle. To book your place at the conference, please contact Ciara Nagle on 01-4260344.

IFA highlights problems for sheep farmers

IFA National Sheep Committee chairman John Lynskey said there is a strong view among sheep farmers that the sector was short-changed in the CAP and Rural Development Programme implementation plans recently outlined by Minister Coveney.

He said the move to incorporate the Sheep Grassland Scheme payment into the SFP of flock owners erodes any additional value and benefit from the scheme. It also removes the positive incentive the grassland scheme provided in maintaining the national ewe flock.

He added that IFA has sought a meeting with Minister Coveney on the sheep grassland issue. “IFA is insisting that Minister Coveney revisits this proposal and comes forward with a more targeted method of maintaining support for sheep farmers and the national sheep flock.”