Thomas Duffy, a dairy farmer from Ramor Macra in Co Cavan, was the only person nominated to be the next president of Macra by the closing date on Wednesday.

The last time there was one candidate for the job was in 2007 when Catherine Buckley ran for election. For the Leinster, Munster and northwest VP positions, the nominations for Leinster are: Eamon Briscoe Termonfeckin Macra, Co Louth; Gerard Mahon, Killoughey Macra Co Offaly; Helen Dempsey, Mountmellick Macra, Co Laois; and Veronica Wheatley, East Laois Macra, Co Laois.

There are three nominations in Munster: John Cremin, Shannonside Macra, Co Limerick; Trevor Coffey, Mid Kerry Macra, Co Kerry; and Sean Wallace Donoughmore Macra, Muskerry, Co Cork.

Two candidates will battle it out for the northwest job: Fergus O’Rourke, Carrigallen Macra, Co Leitrim; and Shane Quigley, Castlebar Macra, Co Mayo.

Meanwhile, I see this Saturday the Macra national debating final takes place. The motion is “that Macra is as relevant to farming today as it was when it was founded”.

Thomas Duffy is a dairy farmer from Co Cavan.

Durkan in Dublin dilemma

The news that former SDLP leader Mark Durkan is to contest the European elections in May as a Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin constituency raises some interesting questions for European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan’s chances of retaining his commissionership later this year.

What if Durkan, and not the red-hot favourite Frances Fitzgerald, were to be elected? It would leave the former Tánaiste, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in the Charleton Tribunal, still on the sidelines.

Would An Taoiseach Leo Vardakar be tempted to nominate her as Commissioner for the new term starting in November?

Hogan has been the star performer of this Commission and is considered a shoo-in for a second term, but if Fitzgerald somehow failed to get elected, she could become Commissioner at Big Phil’s expense.

The smart money remains on a Hogan–Fitzgerald double though.

Glanbia boss sees pay hike of 20% in 2018

I see Glanbia’s Siobhan Talbot received a 20% pay hike, bringing the Kilkenny woman’s total remuneration to over €2.3m last year.

She received a €645,000 cash bonus, along with share bonuses and other benefits of €836,000 on top of her €860,000 base salary during the year.

I was also interested to see that Martin Keane received €90,000 during the year in which he became Glanbia chair. The board overall received €847,000.

Siobhan Talbot, Glanbia group managing director.

More names for IFA elections

I’ve heard that Thomas Cooney is looking at running for vice president of the IFA.

Cooney has served as the association’s environment and rural affairs chair and his role there comes to an end this year.

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady is another name I’ve heard that could throw his name into the mix, but he is keeping his cards close to his chest on whether he would run for VP or for the top job.

Meanwhile, on a separate election issue, a motion calling for rules and privileges chair Tim Cullinan and secretary Bryan Barry to step down, after an election conflict in Waterford IFA, was withdrawn before national council last week.

Ways to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture remain among key issues on the table at private meetings of the Oireachtas all-party committee on climate action, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

The committee was due to submit its final report at the end of February, but now expects to complete its work after St Patrick’s Day.

While most members agree that an increasing carbon tax should not apply to emissions from agriculture, some are holding on to the Citizens’ Assembly recommendation to tax farm greenhouse gas. An emissions trading scheme similar to milk quotas has been suggested as an alternative.

‘Bull’ Hayes Rearing to Go

John ‘Bull’ Hayes took to the rostrum at Corrin Mart last Saturday, to help auction off calves and maiden heifers in aid of the Thomas Hayes Trust.

Organised by Rearing to Go, which aims to create awareness around mental health in farming, the auction raised over €14,390.

The top price of the day was €1,450, paid for a maiden heifer.