The successful candidate will replace Tom Short, who is stepping down from the role in December. Francie Gorman from the Ballinakill branch has been nominated by Laois IFA. He was chair of Laois county executive until last February.

Wexford County Executive has nominated their current chair James Kehoe from the Monageer branch. IFA National Treasurer/Returning Officer Martin Stapleton said it’s the first time in the history of the Association that an election of this scale is taking place by postal ballot.

“Given the circumstances presented by COVID-19, and the restrictions imposed by public health guidelines, the National Council decided to proceed with all elections that fall due this year. Meetings in person are not possible under current public health restrictions, so we have to put alternative arrangements in place,” he said.

It also means the traditional county executive debates in six of the counties – Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Offaly and Wicklow – will take place online over a two-week period beginning November 23.

Postal voting by county officers and branch delegates in the eight county executives of South Leinster will take place in early December, with the count scheduled for mid-December, in line with public health guidelines that will be in place at that time.

The National Council decided last month to proceed with postal voting for the election of officers at national and county level.

IFA dairy chair Tom Phelan said this month’s PPI from Ornua has risen to 30.2c/l. When adjusted to include the Ornua value payment, it amounts to 32.71c/l (including VAT).

“The dairy sector has proven robust amongst the COVID-19 uncertainty, as clearly seen by the slight but upward trend of the Ornua PPI each month. This gives farmers confidence going into the backend,” he said.

For September milk, there was a difference of about 2c/l in base price between the highest paying and lowest paying milk processors.

“We highlighted this last month as a growing issue amongst the lower paying processors. Instead of the gap narrowing, it has since widened,” he said.

“Dairy farmers expect this price difference to be addressed this month,” he concluded.

In a meeting last week with Minister Patrick O’Donovan, who has responsibility for the OPW, IFA president Tim Cullinan said farmers want the OPW to manage the water levels on the Shannon by dropping the level from the end of the summer season, while ensuring that it doesn’t cause problems further downstream.

“We need the new minister to take control of the situation. Farmers are sick of excuses for inaction.”

“A number of key pinch points identified along the river need to be addressed. Silt has been building up on the bed of the Shannon over the years, which has to be removed by dredging. These actions would help alleviate the flooding problem by lowering the water levels. It’s affecting farmers, who are suffering major losses, and it also causes disruption for businesses in the flooded areas,” he said.

IFA Connacht regional chair Pat Murphy said there is a huge flooding problem in south Galway, with water rising in the turloughs. A proper drainage system would alleviate some of the problem.

There are a small number of farmers in the area whose farm yards and wintering facilities get flooded and the proposed drainage will not rectify this.

This farmyard flooding causes major problems and stress for farmers. They do not want to move their farmyards, but find themselves forced to do so. IFA is calling on the minister to provide relocation support for these farmers. IFA and local farmers also want the OPW to construct overflow channels connecting turloughs to move excess water to the sea in Kinvara.

Cullinan said Minister O’Donovan should establish an agency with local people managing the overall Shannon project to rectify the problems and maintain it thereafter. He said that the current minister and previous ministers have accepted that European regulations have stifled the progress of flood defence and drainage work across the whole country.

“This has to be challenged by the current minister, as the national pattern of flooding, especially along the Shannon and south Galway, will only get worse in the future if current weather patterns continue to occur,” he said.

The IFA delegation included Clare county chair Tom Lane, Limerick chair Shay Galvin, north Tipperary chair Imelda Walsh, Offaly chair Richard Scally, Westmeath chair Bernie McCarthy and Galway chair Anne Mitchell.