Last Thursday saw a fascinating event take place in the hallowed halls of the RDS. A milk churn, which had been recommissioned as a time capsule in 1988 – in an early exhibit of recycling – was opened before a gathering of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
The material in the churn was a mix of newspapers and reports, promotional brochures for machinery and equipment, information leaflets from ACOT and An Foras Talúntais (which were both to be subsumed into Teagasc later in 1988) and other flotsam and jetsam representative of the time.
There were videos from Agtel, instructional videos from the company that would go on to make Ear to The Ground from 1993 to the present day. There were audio cassettes of radio programmes like the daily Farm Diary, which occupied a prime 6.15 slot on RTÉ Radio One.
A fascinating discussion of the times then and since took place, featuring a panel of three wise men – Michaels Miley and Patten, and David Markey.
They turned out to be Irish agriculture’s version of Giles, Dunphy and Brady, an informed, irreverent and entertaining trio who contrasted those times, nearly 40 years ago, with these.
Michael Miley asked Michael Berkery to speak on the battle around farmer taxation that was coming to a conclusion in 1988 after a fraught decade. It seems hard to believe now, but farmers were arguing back then that they should not be subject to any on-account taxation.
There were rates on land, which a test case brought by Wexford IFA saw declared unconstitutional.
Berkery spoke of how he himself was paying 66% tax on his wages when he joined the IFA back in 1978.
Items plucked from the time capsule which was buried by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1988. \ Philip Doyle
Green Cert
Liam Downey spoke of the advent of the Certificate in Farming (the Green Cert) a step-change in farmer training (which heavily featured instructional videos presented by a duffle-coated John Cummins, who Miley also talked to on the day).
The big change in agri-journalism noted was the amount of women involved now compared to the 1980s, with parity far closer amongst those reporting on farming than those actually farming.
The emergence of online journalism inevitably featured – you’re probably just as likely to be reading this on your phone, tablet or laptop as on paper.
Perhaps the churn should be reloaded and put in a safe place for another few decades.
The president of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland Matt O’Keeffe echoed this sentiment and, quoting the film Jaws, said “we’re gonna need a bigger churn”. The Dealer reckons a bulk tank would suffice.
The next question is - what would you put in it from 2025?
Last Thursday saw a fascinating event take place in the hallowed halls of the RDS. A milk churn, which had been recommissioned as a time capsule in 1988 – in an early exhibit of recycling – was opened before a gathering of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
The material in the churn was a mix of newspapers and reports, promotional brochures for machinery and equipment, information leaflets from ACOT and An Foras Talúntais (which were both to be subsumed into Teagasc later in 1988) and other flotsam and jetsam representative of the time.
There were videos from Agtel, instructional videos from the company that would go on to make Ear to The Ground from 1993 to the present day. There were audio cassettes of radio programmes like the daily Farm Diary, which occupied a prime 6.15 slot on RTÉ Radio One.
A fascinating discussion of the times then and since took place, featuring a panel of three wise men – Michaels Miley and Patten, and David Markey.
They turned out to be Irish agriculture’s version of Giles, Dunphy and Brady, an informed, irreverent and entertaining trio who contrasted those times, nearly 40 years ago, with these.
Michael Miley asked Michael Berkery to speak on the battle around farmer taxation that was coming to a conclusion in 1988 after a fraught decade. It seems hard to believe now, but farmers were arguing back then that they should not be subject to any on-account taxation.
There were rates on land, which a test case brought by Wexford IFA saw declared unconstitutional.
Berkery spoke of how he himself was paying 66% tax on his wages when he joined the IFA back in 1978.
Items plucked from the time capsule which was buried by the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1988. \ Philip Doyle
Green Cert
Liam Downey spoke of the advent of the Certificate in Farming (the Green Cert) a step-change in farmer training (which heavily featured instructional videos presented by a duffle-coated John Cummins, who Miley also talked to on the day).
The big change in agri-journalism noted was the amount of women involved now compared to the 1980s, with parity far closer amongst those reporting on farming than those actually farming.
The emergence of online journalism inevitably featured – you’re probably just as likely to be reading this on your phone, tablet or laptop as on paper.
Perhaps the churn should be reloaded and put in a safe place for another few decades.
The president of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Ireland Matt O’Keeffe echoed this sentiment and, quoting the film Jaws, said “we’re gonna need a bigger churn”. The Dealer reckons a bulk tank would suffice.
The next question is - what would you put in it from 2025?
SHARING OPTIONS