Saddam takes Fine Gael rebuke – and centre stage
I see Longford politician and farmer Paraic “Saddam” Brady was hauled before the Fine Gael hierarchy for his recent beef protests. Brady was given a warning by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and reminded of his responsibilities.
Brady has turned into something of a cult figure. He was vocal at the protest in Ballyjamesduff and – perhaps more importantly – at Larry Goodman’s C&D pet food plant. He still has an injunction hanging over him from there.
Brady was unwavering in his support of the farmers locally and reminded FG officials that these farmers helped him get re-elected as a county councillor in the summer.
Brady, known as Saddam since his football days where he won a few county championships from half-forward, will have an eye on more power if there’s a general election.
UK retail ombudsman gets the call
I see the IFA is ramping up pressure on the Government to introduce a retail ombudsman.
IFA president Joe Healy has invited Christine Tacon, the UK groceries code adjudicator, to headline a new food chain conference in November.
Getting Fairness for Farmers in the Food Chain will take place on 5 November in Dublin. Healy said Tacon’s visit would allow farmers hear first-hand how a properly established regulator operates between retailers and suppliers to ensure an even playing field.
Vets in for a spot of egg chasing
I see the vets are in Limerick this weekend at the annual Cattle Association of Veterinary Ireland conference. After dinner in Thomond Park on Friday, the vets’ work schedule for Saturday includes both Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. When in Rome and all that.
They are not scheduled to watch Wales v France on Sunday morning because there is a gangrenous mastitis and rumen function in the way.
After mastitis it’s back to Japan v South Africa and the programme finishes with a session on the gyn stick. The gyn stick? I know, I never heard of it either. Apparently it’s a device like a hockey stick that you tie calving ropes on to that helps deliver calves not coming the way they should.
Sixty years of selling in Kanturk
I hear that 60th anniversary celebrations are afoot in Kanturk Mart.
They will be marking the occasion with a dinner dance on Friday 15 November in Charleville Park Hotel with dinner at 7.30pm followed by music from Flake the Gander.
Selling 30,000 cattle a year under manager Seamus O’Keeffe, the mart has witnessed plenty of changes since it opened in 1959 and these will be marked in a book looking back over the years. This will be launched on the night with proceeds going to Dogs for the Disabled and Dromcollogher Respite Centre.
The November fatstock show and sale has a €5,000 prize fund and limited tickets. I hope to get my hands on one.
Scottish tups no longer tip-top?
Scottish farmers are scratching their heads as to why they have fewer ewes but more rams in their sheep fields. Census figures show farms have 150,000 fewer ewes but 5,000 more rams over the last 10 years.
The June-recorded numbers could reflect a higher number of small ram breeders, a growing trade in breeding rams being sold or increased use of synchronisation and more ram lambs being used.
Either way, no one has been brave enough to assume that the Scottish tups are just not up to the job.
Dutch farmers get a kick in the Groningen
Farmers in the Netherlands have escalated protests against the government, which wants to cut nitrogen emissions and has suggested compensation for those who exit farming and restrictions on those who don’t.
Dutch farmers taking to their tractors to protest in Maastrict, The Netherlands.
Dutch minister for agriculture Carola Schouten said: “The government [plans] to help farmers who want to leave farming. Farms responsible for high nitrogen emissions ... will be the first in line.”
The move triggered a series of huge farmer protests, with thousands of farmers descending on The Hague on 1 October, causing 1,100km tailbacks.
On Tuesday, farmers descended on Maastricht, blocking the motorway en route.
In Groningen, protesters pushed in the door of a provincial government building.
The Ministry of Defence deployed trucks to cordon off The Hague city centre from tractors on Wednesday.
Thousands of Dutch farmers protest outside the Hague.
I see that Danny Healy-Rae this week proclaimed: “It is a fact that it has been raining in Co Kerry for at least seven weeks.”
He was speaking in relation to the slurry spreading deadline and that cattle were housed.
The Twitterati were out in force, tweeting that there was a four-day dry spell in the county at one stage and that the weekend before in Killarney it was also dry. .
I see that the IFA did not have an in-house economist for the budget last week following the departure of Edel Kelly. Nor has there been any advertising of the position.
I’m told that the IFA is looking at the job requirement, the finances of the IFA and its current in-house expertise.
I’m also told a lot of other tasks have been tied on to the role and that this needs to be looked at. Watch this space.
Following a tractor run in east Donegal and livestock auction in Stranorlar Mart, Donegal IFA is concluding its fundraising drive for Cancer Care West with a charity auction in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, on Friday 18 October. I hear all three IFA presidential hopefuls will be attending the auction. I’m sure farmers in attendance will be keeping a close eye to see who brings their chequebooks with them on the night.
Ploughing 2020 will be returning to Fenagh, Co Carlow. The NPA said this week it had a “fantastic year” on the Ballintrane site, where ideal weather conditions guaranteed visitor satisfaction at what is the largest outdoor agricultural festival in Europe.
Almost 300,000 people visited over the three days. Mark it off in your calendars as next year’s event will take place from 15 to 17 September.
Saddam takes Fine Gael rebuke – and centre stage
I see Longford politician and farmer Paraic “Saddam” Brady was hauled before the Fine Gael hierarchy for his recent beef protests. Brady was given a warning by Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan and reminded of his responsibilities.
Brady has turned into something of a cult figure. He was vocal at the protest in Ballyjamesduff and – perhaps more importantly – at Larry Goodman’s C&D pet food plant. He still has an injunction hanging over him from there.
Brady was unwavering in his support of the farmers locally and reminded FG officials that these farmers helped him get re-elected as a county councillor in the summer.
Brady, known as Saddam since his football days where he won a few county championships from half-forward, will have an eye on more power if there’s a general election.
UK retail ombudsman gets the call
I see the IFA is ramping up pressure on the Government to introduce a retail ombudsman.
IFA president Joe Healy has invited Christine Tacon, the UK groceries code adjudicator, to headline a new food chain conference in November.
Getting Fairness for Farmers in the Food Chain will take place on 5 November in Dublin. Healy said Tacon’s visit would allow farmers hear first-hand how a properly established regulator operates between retailers and suppliers to ensure an even playing field.
Vets in for a spot of egg chasing
I see the vets are in Limerick this weekend at the annual Cattle Association of Veterinary Ireland conference. After dinner in Thomond Park on Friday, the vets’ work schedule for Saturday includes both Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. When in Rome and all that.
They are not scheduled to watch Wales v France on Sunday morning because there is a gangrenous mastitis and rumen function in the way.
After mastitis it’s back to Japan v South Africa and the programme finishes with a session on the gyn stick. The gyn stick? I know, I never heard of it either. Apparently it’s a device like a hockey stick that you tie calving ropes on to that helps deliver calves not coming the way they should.
Sixty years of selling in Kanturk
I hear that 60th anniversary celebrations are afoot in Kanturk Mart.
They will be marking the occasion with a dinner dance on Friday 15 November in Charleville Park Hotel with dinner at 7.30pm followed by music from Flake the Gander.
Selling 30,000 cattle a year under manager Seamus O’Keeffe, the mart has witnessed plenty of changes since it opened in 1959 and these will be marked in a book looking back over the years. This will be launched on the night with proceeds going to Dogs for the Disabled and Dromcollogher Respite Centre.
The November fatstock show and sale has a €5,000 prize fund and limited tickets. I hope to get my hands on one.
Scottish tups no longer tip-top?
Scottish farmers are scratching their heads as to why they have fewer ewes but more rams in their sheep fields. Census figures show farms have 150,000 fewer ewes but 5,000 more rams over the last 10 years.
The June-recorded numbers could reflect a higher number of small ram breeders, a growing trade in breeding rams being sold or increased use of synchronisation and more ram lambs being used.
Either way, no one has been brave enough to assume that the Scottish tups are just not up to the job.
Dutch farmers get a kick in the Groningen
Farmers in the Netherlands have escalated protests against the government, which wants to cut nitrogen emissions and has suggested compensation for those who exit farming and restrictions on those who don’t.
Dutch farmers taking to their tractors to protest in Maastrict, The Netherlands.
Dutch minister for agriculture Carola Schouten said: “The government [plans] to help farmers who want to leave farming. Farms responsible for high nitrogen emissions ... will be the first in line.”
The move triggered a series of huge farmer protests, with thousands of farmers descending on The Hague on 1 October, causing 1,100km tailbacks.
On Tuesday, farmers descended on Maastricht, blocking the motorway en route.
In Groningen, protesters pushed in the door of a provincial government building.
The Ministry of Defence deployed trucks to cordon off The Hague city centre from tractors on Wednesday.
Thousands of Dutch farmers protest outside the Hague.
I see that Danny Healy-Rae this week proclaimed: “It is a fact that it has been raining in Co Kerry for at least seven weeks.”
He was speaking in relation to the slurry spreading deadline and that cattle were housed.
The Twitterati were out in force, tweeting that there was a four-day dry spell in the county at one stage and that the weekend before in Killarney it was also dry. .
I see that the IFA did not have an in-house economist for the budget last week following the departure of Edel Kelly. Nor has there been any advertising of the position.
I’m told that the IFA is looking at the job requirement, the finances of the IFA and its current in-house expertise.
I’m also told a lot of other tasks have been tied on to the role and that this needs to be looked at. Watch this space.
Following a tractor run in east Donegal and livestock auction in Stranorlar Mart, Donegal IFA is concluding its fundraising drive for Cancer Care West with a charity auction in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, on Friday 18 October. I hear all three IFA presidential hopefuls will be attending the auction. I’m sure farmers in attendance will be keeping a close eye to see who brings their chequebooks with them on the night.
Ploughing 2020 will be returning to Fenagh, Co Carlow. The NPA said this week it had a “fantastic year” on the Ballintrane site, where ideal weather conditions guaranteed visitor satisfaction at what is the largest outdoor agricultural festival in Europe.
Almost 300,000 people visited over the three days. Mark it off in your calendars as next year’s event will take place from 15 to 17 September.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: