The prospect of its inaugural national election early in the new year has Beef Plan Movement members all hot and bothered.
It seems that some unauthorised WhatsApp groups were set up over Christmas, without the express approval of either of the Beef Plan national committee co-chairs Eamon Corley and Hugh Doyle.
The pair have alleged that unauthorised WhatsApp group founders may have done so to further their election prospects and plan amendments to be tabled at county-level AGMs this month.
Corley and Doyle describe the moves as very serious disciplinary instances and want to restrict its county WhatsApp network until after the AGMs “to avoid confusion” and “ensure all AGMs take place in accordance with the rules and governance of Beef Plan”.
Internal investigation
An internal investigation is planned and “appropriate disciplinary measures” will be taken against anyone involved, they said.
I’m told that Galway is a hotbed of political angst, with the county chair Kevin O’Brien and the regional vice-chair Eoin Donnelly at loggerheads over the upcoming election and rules.
Argy-bargy over calf ages
I hear the dairy expansion think tank, led by Martin Blake within the Department of Agriculture, convened just before Christmas with all interested parties in the room.
A sub-group is to be set up to spearhead calf-related action, while the Department is to get letters out to dairy farmers early in the new year reminding them of their obligations before new black-and-white calves start arriving.
I’m told there was some argy-bargy between stakeholders about the minimum age for calf movement.
Currently a calf needs to be a minimum of 14 days old for export destination, 12 days old for Department of Agriculture transfers, and a minimum of 10 days for farm-to-farm movement.
Musical chairs on IFA committees
It’s that time of the decade again in the IFA when some committee chairs go out and some come in.
Rosemary McDonagh is the new farm business chair, replacing Martin Stapleton. She’s a livestock and sheep farmer from Headford in Galway.
Thomas Cooney is the outgoing chair of the environment committee, Joe Brady will be leaving rural development and Angus Woods will exit the livestock committee. These will be important committees in the context of CAP reform. I’ve heard two people might want to take the environment chair job – Cork’s Chris Hayes and Kilkenny’s Paul O’Brien.
Rural development
I’ve heard Roscommon’s John Hanley, who lost out on the Connacht chair role to Pat Murphy, might be considering running for the rural development chair. Another name in that hat is Clare’s Denis Tuohy.
Milk v juice in Banner county
The Dealer was out and about in west Clare lately and pulled into the Rock Shop, that fine emporium outside Liscannor.
Having reddened the credit card in pursuit of Christmas presents, it was time for a coffee. Fond and all as The Dealer is of a good Americano, he didn’t expect to be asked about his “milk choices”. Did he want oaten or soya or almond “milk” – any of which would have added 35c to the price of the coffee?
Knowing many dairy farmers in west Clare, The Dealer came to their defence and gently pointed out that you could no longer use the word milk to describe oaten, soya or almond drinks.
“Well that’s what the carton says and that’s what our customers ask for,” was the response.
When The Dealer asked to see the carton the word milk wasn’t on it. Alas, the staff were unmoved.
Wild west of Lisavaird Co-op
I see a book charting the history of one of the west Cork co-ops has been launched.
Written by former employee Chris Collins with the help of local historian Michael O’Mahony, The Story of Lisavaird Co-op 1925-2020 is a nostalgic read for the older generation and an insight for younger readers into the evolution of the co-operative since its inception. I was interested to see some background on the inclusion of the proposed amalgamation of the four west Cork co-ops and how it failed to come to pass.
Train robberies
The Dealer noted an element of the wild west in a number of chapters, with tales of break-ins and even train robberies.
Chris Collins with his book, The Story Of Lisavaird Co-op.
Cavan contenders for IFA treasurer
The IFA treasurer election is turning into quite the contest. With Martin Stapleton, Padraig Joyce and Nigel Reneghan all declared, now comes word of not one but two Cavan candidates.
Thomas Cooney, who lost out so narrowly for the deputy presidency last month, is seeking to succeed Tim Cullinan. Joe Brady, who considered a run for the presidency, is also in. The national council will make its choice at this month’s AGM.
The prospect of its inaugural national election early in the new year has Beef Plan Movement members all hot and bothered.
It seems that some unauthorised WhatsApp groups were set up over Christmas, without the express approval of either of the Beef Plan national committee co-chairs Eamon Corley and Hugh Doyle.
The pair have alleged that unauthorised WhatsApp group founders may have done so to further their election prospects and plan amendments to be tabled at county-level AGMs this month.
Corley and Doyle describe the moves as very serious disciplinary instances and want to restrict its county WhatsApp network until after the AGMs “to avoid confusion” and “ensure all AGMs take place in accordance with the rules and governance of Beef Plan”.
Internal investigation
An internal investigation is planned and “appropriate disciplinary measures” will be taken against anyone involved, they said.
I’m told that Galway is a hotbed of political angst, with the county chair Kevin O’Brien and the regional vice-chair Eoin Donnelly at loggerheads over the upcoming election and rules.
Argy-bargy over calf ages
I hear the dairy expansion think tank, led by Martin Blake within the Department of Agriculture, convened just before Christmas with all interested parties in the room.
A sub-group is to be set up to spearhead calf-related action, while the Department is to get letters out to dairy farmers early in the new year reminding them of their obligations before new black-and-white calves start arriving.
I’m told there was some argy-bargy between stakeholders about the minimum age for calf movement.
Currently a calf needs to be a minimum of 14 days old for export destination, 12 days old for Department of Agriculture transfers, and a minimum of 10 days for farm-to-farm movement.
Musical chairs on IFA committees
It’s that time of the decade again in the IFA when some committee chairs go out and some come in.
Rosemary McDonagh is the new farm business chair, replacing Martin Stapleton. She’s a livestock and sheep farmer from Headford in Galway.
Thomas Cooney is the outgoing chair of the environment committee, Joe Brady will be leaving rural development and Angus Woods will exit the livestock committee. These will be important committees in the context of CAP reform. I’ve heard two people might want to take the environment chair job – Cork’s Chris Hayes and Kilkenny’s Paul O’Brien.
Rural development
I’ve heard Roscommon’s John Hanley, who lost out on the Connacht chair role to Pat Murphy, might be considering running for the rural development chair. Another name in that hat is Clare’s Denis Tuohy.
Milk v juice in Banner county
The Dealer was out and about in west Clare lately and pulled into the Rock Shop, that fine emporium outside Liscannor.
Having reddened the credit card in pursuit of Christmas presents, it was time for a coffee. Fond and all as The Dealer is of a good Americano, he didn’t expect to be asked about his “milk choices”. Did he want oaten or soya or almond “milk” – any of which would have added 35c to the price of the coffee?
Knowing many dairy farmers in west Clare, The Dealer came to their defence and gently pointed out that you could no longer use the word milk to describe oaten, soya or almond drinks.
“Well that’s what the carton says and that’s what our customers ask for,” was the response.
When The Dealer asked to see the carton the word milk wasn’t on it. Alas, the staff were unmoved.
Wild west of Lisavaird Co-op
I see a book charting the history of one of the west Cork co-ops has been launched.
Written by former employee Chris Collins with the help of local historian Michael O’Mahony, The Story of Lisavaird Co-op 1925-2020 is a nostalgic read for the older generation and an insight for younger readers into the evolution of the co-operative since its inception. I was interested to see some background on the inclusion of the proposed amalgamation of the four west Cork co-ops and how it failed to come to pass.
Train robberies
The Dealer noted an element of the wild west in a number of chapters, with tales of break-ins and even train robberies.
Chris Collins with his book, The Story Of Lisavaird Co-op.
Cavan contenders for IFA treasurer
The IFA treasurer election is turning into quite the contest. With Martin Stapleton, Padraig Joyce and Nigel Reneghan all declared, now comes word of not one but two Cavan candidates.
Thomas Cooney, who lost out so narrowly for the deputy presidency last month, is seeking to succeed Tim Cullinan. Joe Brady, who considered a run for the presidency, is also in. The national council will make its choice at this month’s AGM.
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