IFA Hill Committee chairman Pat Dunne has said that the proposed condition that 80% of Commonage farmers must agree on stocking rules to get into the new GLAS scheme must be changed.

Speaking following an IFA Hill Committee meeting in Dublin, Pat Dunne said that Minister Coveney must honour his commitment to set up a discussion on this and other issues relating to commonages with an independent chairman. Implementing an 80% agreement will prove extremely difficult in many commanages and is impractical.

Grainne Duffy, head of IFA Member Services, has said that the recent adverse weather conditions caused extensive damage to the country’s telephone and broadband lines. As a result, IFA Telecom is working closely with Eircom to ensure that any faults are resolved as promptly as possible.

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She said: “We greatly appreciate our customers’ patience as some delays will be experienced due to the fact that Eircom is dealing with approximately 10,000 faults countrywide during this stormy weather.

“And we wish to offer every reassurance to our valued members that all is being done to get faults affecting IFA Telecom customers rectified as soon as possible,” she added.

Updates

For all updates or to log an IFA Telecom phone or broadband fault, please call: 1890 924 851 or email: customerservice@ifatelecom.ie

President in Kerry

IFA president Eddie Downey attended the Kerry IFA AGM as the guest speaker. He said the factory price for bulls has been cut by 30c to 50c/kg, or up to €200 per head since last December. “This has seriously eroded confidence among beef farmers and left winter finishers with substantial losses. The price cuts have to stop.’’.

Sheep meeting

IFA National Sheep Committee chairman John Lynskey met Minister Simon Coveney in Athlone and highlighted the problems with changes to the Sheep Grassland Scheme proposed in the CAP plan. Lynskey said Minister Coveney recognises that there are problems and the scheme is open to alternative proposals.

Roscommon IFA county executive

The guest speakers at the Roscommon IFA county executive meeting were the Connacht IFA regional chairman Tom Turley and FBD area manager Tommy Grehan. Rural development measures, the Suckler Cow Scheme and IFA’s campaign on beef prices were among the issues discussed at the meeting.

10-point plan for dog attacks

John Lynskey has launched an IFA protocol to help farmers who encounter a dog attack on their sheep flock. The IFA protocol involves an easy-to-follow, 10-point plan of action covering what a farmer should do following a dog attack or sheep kill. Please see www.IFA.ie for the 10-point plan.

Cork grain meeting

The guest speakers at the Cork grain meeting were IFA National Grain Committee chairman Liam Dunne, IFA National Grain Committee executive Fintan Conway and Teagasc’s Ciaran Collins.

Changes to Nitrates Regulations, CAP reform and grain market outlook were among the issues addressed.

Danske Bank will keep farmers’ accounts open

Following contact with Danske Bank last week, IFA Farm Business Committee chairman Tom Doyle says the association has got assurances that business/farmer current accounts are not being discontinued.

The move to close personal current accounts follows three months’ notice for the individuals affected.

However, Danske did confirm its plans to exit the Irish market in 2014. Business and farmer customers will be kept fully appraised of the Danske plans and they will be given plenty of notice of any changes.