IFA president Eddie Downey and IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Sean O’Leary are embarking on a programme of visits to dairy co-ops to review progress in planning for the post-quota era.

Eddie Downey said that IFA’s agenda of joint development, consolidation and the wise use of scarce farmer resources at all stages from collection to processing to marketing will be discussed. “Complacency is the enemy when markets are good and the opportunity to plan and build efficiency is now. It must not be missed.’’

The IFA president said: “We intend to challenge co-ops on their development plans in a constructive and progressive way, and to get them to articulate how they will secure the medium and long-term livelihoods of their suppliers by maximising farmers’ incomes from dairy markets.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Sean O’Leary added: “This is particularly important to ensure that farmers can have confidence in their current co-op. It avoids a situation where, instead of an orderly, resource-efficient consolidation of the industry, we end up with greater fragmentation and waste, to say nothing of insecurity for farmers.”

Among the items on the agenda for discussion will be the new dairy QA Scheme, the quota situation and managing the expansion plans in the run-up to 2015.

Meeting with Minister

At a meeting with the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, IFA president Eddie Downey presented IFA’s proposals on the CAP Pillar II Rural Development Plan and he called on the Minister to ensure the early implementation of the new schemes, which are a vital support to low-income farmers throughout the country.

Laois IFA AGM

The AGM of Laois IFA will take place at 8pm on Monday 24 February in the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise. IFA president Eddie Downey will be the guest speaker. Product price across all commodities, negotiations on a new charter of farmers’ rights and reducing bureaucracy and penalties will be among the key issues discussed.

Executive Council

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan will attend the IFA Executive Council on Friday 21 February. This will provide the Minister with an opportunity to hear from IFA members about the important role that existing measures play in the farming sector, as well as what is needed to underpin the expansion plans and deal with volatility.

National Potato Conference 2014

Opening the National Potato Conference, organised by IFA, Teagasc and Bord Bia, in Dublin, IFA president Eddie Downey warned that potato production is under threat in Ireland because of the falling share of the consumer price for growers and rising input costs.

Kerry IFA meeting

James McCarthy, IFA regional chairman for Munster, and Flor McCarthy, IFA National Rural Development Committee chairman, attended the Kerry IFA regional meeting as the guest speakers.

Extreme weather conditions make farming difficult

IFA president Eddie Downey said the extreme weather since the start of the year, coupled with the start of the lambing and calving season, is making conditions for farm families around the country very difficult.

Downey said that the saturated land means all livestock have to be housed for some time yet and there is an inevitable increase in the workload and costs as a result. The IFA president said a strong community spirit exists in rural Ireland, and he encouraged farm families to look out for each other. “I appeal to them to check in on elderly neighbours, in particular.”