I saw most of the declared candidates in IFA elections pressing the flesh at the Virginia Show this week.
The Ploughing is usually where the candidates for the IFA president and deputy president start the schmoozing of potential voters but campaign season appears to have started earlier – likely because of the entry of Cavan native Joe Brady in the race for the top job.
Brady ruffled feathers in his announcement this week when he appeared to take aim at his presidential rival Angus Woods. A thinly veiled jibe about farmer unity appeared to resonate well with the electorate at the Co Cavan show (see page 12). You can do things on home turf, you see. A certain former IFA president was visibly enthused to see a “local” candidate in Brady in the race.
Tim Cullinan and John Coughlan were as busy as relief milker in Tipperary at the show too.
At the time of going to print, Angus Woods hadn’t made it to the land of the lakes.
In the deputy race, Brian Rushe looked like a relieved man with Thomas Cooney out of the running. Cooney will steer Brady’s ship in the presidential race. Rushe will now Duke it out with Padraic Joyce in that contest.
IFA referee puts down the whistle
With the IFA election field widening, the hurling is bound to get competitive.
It’s good to see that the rulebook for combat has been updated, with a comprehensive draft code of conduct agreed.
It precludes accepting funding from agribusiness and contains a declaration of interests.
Support from politicians is not allowed, nor is support from recently departed (two years) IFA staff.
No rulebook is complete without a strong referee, of course. The referee in IFA is the chair of the rules and privileges committee, who is also the national returning officer.
Tim Cullinan held that office but is gamekeeper turned poacher, being a presidential candidate. His replacement, Richard Kennedy will have his work cut out. Cullinan and Woods have been firing out press releases in recent days.
Out of milk and back to beef
The recent merger between Lakeland Dairies and LacPatrick has resulted in a shakeup among the personnel.
One of the most interesting nuggets The Dealer heard is that Cavan man Paul Crosson is heading back to the Teagasc beef research centre in Grange, Co Meath, after a three-year career break. Crosson had been heading up the farm support team in LacPatrick since summer 2016. He played a major role in keeping LacPatrick’s milk pool from moving to Lakeland’s competitors in the tense period when merger talks were under way last year.
Rumour has it he is to head up the upcoming QPS grid review negotiated as part of recent discussions between MII and the farm organisations.
Some might say it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Hurlers on pitches but not ditches
The Dealer searched through the names in the Tipperary hurling panel and drew a blank in terms of finding a farmer.
Colin English from the Fr Sheehy’s club in Clogheen, the captain Seamus Callanan and man of the match Noel McGrath all have farming roots but none are now directly involved.
McGrath does work for Chanelle Animal Health so maybe he’s the closest to farming as it stands. Tipperary County Board chair John Devane is a farmer but he’s not togging out.
The word on the street is that there are a number of tillage farmers in the Ballycarney area of Wexford who are following in the footsteps of the Beef Plan Movement and are now calling themselves the Straw Plan Movement.
The Dealer has heard secret meetings have been taking place in various locations, such as The Ballycarney Inn and Jordan’s of Ballindaggin.
It has not yet come to light what the agenda of the Straw Plan is but I’ll be keeping my eye on them.
I see Minister Creed made no changes to the law surrounding tobacco growing in Ireland this year. A maximum of five hectares has been allocated to the crop for the whole of the country. The maximum area that any one farmer can plant is 0.5ha.
The crop was widely grown by previous generations of farmers, but died out after the 1940s. However, there remain plenty of old stone sheds with timber rafters on which the tobacco leaves were once hung after picking in order to dry.
Donegal farmers fight against cancer
A tractor run and barbecue in aid of Cancer Care West is being held this Saturday 24 August at Garshooey, Newtowncunningham. The tractor run will be hosted by Donegal IFA and registration will be open from 11am on the day. Entry, including barbecue, for each tractor is €20.
An auction is also being held for the same charity on 20 September at 7pm at Stranorlar Mart.
Borris breeders celebrate in style
The Borris Ewe Breeders’ Association held its annual show and sale last Saturday in Leinster Marts, Borris, Co Carlow.
Buyers from across the country landed down to Co Carlow with their chequebooks, making for a great sale with a clearance rate of 98%.
The trade was on fire, with ewe lambs making as much as €155 and hogget ewes making up to €250.
I’m told a number of well-known Borris breeders celebrated the “most successful sale in 20 years” on Saturday night in Bob’s Bar by filling the cups won in the show with liquid refreshment. Sláinte.
I saw most of the declared candidates in IFA elections pressing the flesh at the Virginia Show this week.
The Ploughing is usually where the candidates for the IFA president and deputy president start the schmoozing of potential voters but campaign season appears to have started earlier – likely because of the entry of Cavan native Joe Brady in the race for the top job.
Brady ruffled feathers in his announcement this week when he appeared to take aim at his presidential rival Angus Woods. A thinly veiled jibe about farmer unity appeared to resonate well with the electorate at the Co Cavan show (see page 12). You can do things on home turf, you see. A certain former IFA president was visibly enthused to see a “local” candidate in Brady in the race.
Tim Cullinan and John Coughlan were as busy as relief milker in Tipperary at the show too.
At the time of going to print, Angus Woods hadn’t made it to the land of the lakes.
In the deputy race, Brian Rushe looked like a relieved man with Thomas Cooney out of the running. Cooney will steer Brady’s ship in the presidential race. Rushe will now Duke it out with Padraic Joyce in that contest.
IFA referee puts down the whistle
With the IFA election field widening, the hurling is bound to get competitive.
It’s good to see that the rulebook for combat has been updated, with a comprehensive draft code of conduct agreed.
It precludes accepting funding from agribusiness and contains a declaration of interests.
Support from politicians is not allowed, nor is support from recently departed (two years) IFA staff.
No rulebook is complete without a strong referee, of course. The referee in IFA is the chair of the rules and privileges committee, who is also the national returning officer.
Tim Cullinan held that office but is gamekeeper turned poacher, being a presidential candidate. His replacement, Richard Kennedy will have his work cut out. Cullinan and Woods have been firing out press releases in recent days.
Out of milk and back to beef
The recent merger between Lakeland Dairies and LacPatrick has resulted in a shakeup among the personnel.
One of the most interesting nuggets The Dealer heard is that Cavan man Paul Crosson is heading back to the Teagasc beef research centre in Grange, Co Meath, after a three-year career break. Crosson had been heading up the farm support team in LacPatrick since summer 2016. He played a major role in keeping LacPatrick’s milk pool from moving to Lakeland’s competitors in the tense period when merger talks were under way last year.
Rumour has it he is to head up the upcoming QPS grid review negotiated as part of recent discussions between MII and the farm organisations.
Some might say it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Hurlers on pitches but not ditches
The Dealer searched through the names in the Tipperary hurling panel and drew a blank in terms of finding a farmer.
Colin English from the Fr Sheehy’s club in Clogheen, the captain Seamus Callanan and man of the match Noel McGrath all have farming roots but none are now directly involved.
McGrath does work for Chanelle Animal Health so maybe he’s the closest to farming as it stands. Tipperary County Board chair John Devane is a farmer but he’s not togging out.
The word on the street is that there are a number of tillage farmers in the Ballycarney area of Wexford who are following in the footsteps of the Beef Plan Movement and are now calling themselves the Straw Plan Movement.
The Dealer has heard secret meetings have been taking place in various locations, such as The Ballycarney Inn and Jordan’s of Ballindaggin.
It has not yet come to light what the agenda of the Straw Plan is but I’ll be keeping my eye on them.
I see Minister Creed made no changes to the law surrounding tobacco growing in Ireland this year. A maximum of five hectares has been allocated to the crop for the whole of the country. The maximum area that any one farmer can plant is 0.5ha.
The crop was widely grown by previous generations of farmers, but died out after the 1940s. However, there remain plenty of old stone sheds with timber rafters on which the tobacco leaves were once hung after picking in order to dry.
Donegal farmers fight against cancer
A tractor run and barbecue in aid of Cancer Care West is being held this Saturday 24 August at Garshooey, Newtowncunningham. The tractor run will be hosted by Donegal IFA and registration will be open from 11am on the day. Entry, including barbecue, for each tractor is €20.
An auction is also being held for the same charity on 20 September at 7pm at Stranorlar Mart.
Borris breeders celebrate in style
The Borris Ewe Breeders’ Association held its annual show and sale last Saturday in Leinster Marts, Borris, Co Carlow.
Buyers from across the country landed down to Co Carlow with their chequebooks, making for a great sale with a clearance rate of 98%.
The trade was on fire, with ewe lambs making as much as €155 and hogget ewes making up to €250.
I’m told a number of well-known Borris breeders celebrated the “most successful sale in 20 years” on Saturday night in Bob’s Bar by filling the cups won in the show with liquid refreshment. Sláinte.
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