Just one in three respondents rated the performance of the farm organisations as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in a major survey undertaken by the Irish Farmers Journal.

The survey of almost 1,500 farmers found that 30% of respondents rated the performance of the farm organisations – such as IFA, ICMSA, ICSA and Macra na Feirme – in a positive manner.

Twenty-six percent of respondents described the performance of the farm bodies as ‘good’, while a further 4% classed their efforts as ‘very good’.

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However, 32% of those surveyed classed the performance of the farm bodies as ‘indifferent’, while a further 38% said it was ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

Dissatisfaction with the performance of the farm organisations is most apparent among tillage farmers, with 42% describing their efforts as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. Just 21% of cereal growers classed the farm bodies as ‘good’ or ‘very good’.

Thirty-three percent of dairy farmers described the farm organisations’ performance as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, with 34% classing their efforts as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. A further 34% said the performance levels were ‘indifferent’.

Thirty-nine percent of beef farmers were dissatisfied with the farm bodies’ performance, with a further 32% ‘indifferent’. However, 29% were satisfied with their efforts, with 24% describing it as ‘good’ and 5% as ‘very good’.

Thirty-four percent of sheep farmers described the farm bodies’ performance as ‘good’ or ‘very good’, with 35% classing their efforts as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. A further 31% rated the performance levels as ‘indifferent’.

Ulster farmers were happiest with the performance of the farm bodies, with 32% describing it as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. This compared to 31% in Munster and 29% in both Connacht and Leinster.

Dissatisfaction highest in Connacht

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the farm organisations was highest in Connacht where 39% of respondents rated their performance as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. This compared to 38% in Leinster, 37% in Ulster and 36% in Munster.