“This is me first time in a mart, so go easy on me,” was Dublin footballer Kevin McManamon’s opening line to the assembled crowd of 400 farmers at Tuesday night’s KT event at Granard Mart.

It was organised by local agricultural consultant Paul Belton and Kiernan Milling, proving a big hit with farmers. McManamon regaled the crowd with stories of playing football, as well as how dealing with disappointment made him more resilient.

One of the final questions came from a local farmer: “Should Dublin be split in two to make it fairer for other counties?” McManamon’s answer was “no”, to which another farmer shouted: “Sure maybe you’d get the start if they were.”

Kevin McMenamon.

ICBF on the move to Cork city

I hear the ICBF is moving house. I have it on good authority that the organisation is moving its headquarters from Bandon half an hour up the road to Cork City. Currently the ICBF works from Shinagh House in Bandon – leased from the four west Cork co-ops who own the building. The organisation is outgrowing its housing arrangement, with increased staff numbers.

Given the amount of joint work with Teagasc it was suggested previously that ICBF should go even further away from Bandon, and shack up with Teagasc in Moorepark.

Obviously ICBF are also looking to tap into the mainly city based software developers.

Winner winner beef dinner

I see that the Department of Agriculture has won an award for Excellence in Collaboration, for achieving access to the Chinese market for Irish beef.

The project, described as long term (which indeed it was), involved collaboration across a number of divisions in the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Bord Bia team in Dublin and Shanghai.

Market access for beef to China was announced on 16 April 2018, when Ireland became the first western European beef exporter to secure entry, with Irish beef hitting Chinese shores in June of this year.

Holy intervention at beef sale

Given the current tribulations with beef returns, The Dealer witnessed a case of what could be described as a beef pious action trying to influence price.

An astute farmer at Kanturk Mart’s Christmas fatstock show and sale tried to gain divine intervention to improve his chances.

Due to restrictions on farmers entering the lairage, he was accompanied by a staff member to where his bullock was penned.

The animal was then anointed with a sprinkling of holy water, before the bottle was carefully resealed and tucked away for another day.

Tractor run keeps delivering

Tullow Mart manager Eric Driver and his wife, Sarah, contacted us to say they have been overwhelmed by the response to their recently organised tractor run – with €5,500 raised to date for Crumlin Hospital. A presentation evening is being held on Wednesday 5 December in Littlewood Hall, Killabeg, Co Wicklow, at 7pm. With patrons welcome to attend and hear what the funds raised will be used for.

Joe Healy on high-level EU forum

I see that IFA president Joe Healy attended his first meeting in Brussels of the EU High-Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain on Wednesday. Healy is representing Irish and European farmers as the COPA delegate on the forum, joining other EU non-governmental associations and federations representing agriculture production, food processing, trade, retail and distribution.

IFA forestry chair Collins resigns

Outgoing IFA forestry chair Pat Collins. \ Finbarr O'Rourke

IFA forestry chair Pat Collins has handed in his resignation, citing work and family commitments.

The Roscommon man’s tenure since 2016 saw this year’s mid-term review of the forestry programme, in which he expressed disappointment.

The IFA forestry committee will elect a new chair next week.

Beet meetings for Cahir, Enniscorthy

I see that Beet Ireland are taking their project on tour ove the next two weeks. A meeting in conjunction with the IFA is being held in the Cahir House Hotel- the scene of many a memorable beet meeting in the past, next Thursday 6 December. A further meeting will be in Enniscorthy on the following Wednesday 12 December. Both start at 6.30pm