This is a subscriber-only article
DEAR SIR
The Dealer and Matt Dempsey (IFJ 28/7/18) both delivered an important message about the role of family farming in Ireland. The late Professor Seamus Sheehy, as indicated by Matt, 40 years ago advised his students of the dangers of over-production, which, at the time of speaking, saw consumers spending over 30% of their incomes on food.
Today, he pointed out this figure is 10%. Seamus Sheehy’s point was that over-production has its consequences for farming, unless offset by compensatory payments, which recognise the value of food security.
Sustainabliity
The Dealer in his column dealt with the issue of the sustainability of current agricultural intensification in its own right, as well as its effect on the Government’s policy to reduce output of greenhouse gases. However, as he rightly emphasises, what is also relevant and requiring immediate and reasoned debate, is the sustainability of individual farming operations. Over the years there has been an ongoing mantra that bigger is better – sometimes this is true, sometimes not. However, even where it is true what is the point of expansion if, due to weather and other conditions, the core enterprise is threatened.
The Government has plans with targets, State agencies have quality schemes with cost requirements for farmers, which produce tangible advantage for processors and retailers but questionable added value for the farmers themselves.
One of the greatest and ongoing threats to farming incomes is the share of the profit taken by processors and retailers compounded and exemplified by recent actions undermining the liquid milk business or, in the case of the meat processors, taking advantage of current forage related difficulties.
These actions raise the question of who is benefiting from Origin Green or other schemes which place demands on farmers.
Family farm model
The European Commission’s proposals for the next CAP encouragingly highlight its support for the family farm model across the EU.
However, growing vertical integration which, in particular, hits the lowest-earning sector of Irish agriculture is not conducive to sustaining family farming. Future national policy implementation needs to recognise this.
With member states being given more powers of CAP implementation it is essential to examine just how relevant and beneficial the next CAP will be for the primary producer and its most important component - the family farm.
SHARING OPTIONS: