I note that one of the more interesting points coming out of the IFA’s executive council meeting on Tuesday was on the poultry side.

Incumbent poultry chair Nigel Renaghan finally succeeded in getting the poultry committee a full vote on the IFA’s decision-making body.

Prior to this, the poultry committee shared attendance duties with the pig committee on a ratio of two-to-one, but the pig committee had the vote on all votes. Renaghan has ensured that the poultry committee becomes the 58th vote on the council, voting on issues such as rule changes.

With poultry getting a full vote, it got me thinking. What about the aquaculture, hardy nursery stock or mushroom committees? Will they get full votes too? Interestingly, the aquaculture sector is one of the highest drivers of levies for the IFA. A small but lucrative sector is the blue economy.