Eyebrows have been raised numerous times since Boris Johnson became British prime minister last week.
One case in particular was when he selected Theresa Villiers to head up the department responsible for farming and the environment.
The new DEFRA secretary of state has previously been involved in animal rights campaigns. In October 2017, she introduced a private members’ bill to parliament which aimed to ban the live export of farm animals from the UK.
All is not lost for the UK farm lobby however; MP voting records show that she has supported badger culling in the past.
Brexit
Like many of her colleagues in Johnson’s cabinet, Villiers is a Brexiteer, and a hardline one at that.
She voted against Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on each of the three occasions it was presented to MPs.
Another move at DEFRA last week was the re-appointment of former junior minister George Eustice.
He voted for the withdrawal agreement three times but resigned from DEFRA in February in protest of Theresa May’s decision to allow MPs to vote on delaying Brexit.
Newly appointed Defra secretary Theresa Villiers. \ Defra Twitter.
Pressure on Talbot as performance nutrition fails to perform
Farmers will be concerned over a slide in the share price of Glanbia which is now down 36% since March.
It seems the performance nutrition business, which has been the driver of growth for almost a decade, is not performing.
Having received big pay rises in March, senior executives including managing director Siobhan Talbot will come under pressure from shareholders including the co-op to explain the poor performance.
Talbot received a total pay package last year of €2.3m and signed a new three-year deal with a 20% pay hike.
I couldn’t help but notice that Ryanair cut Michael O’Leary’s base salary by half under his new contract, to €500,000, after lacklustre performance at the airline.
Siobhan Talbot, Glanbia group managing director. \ Dylan Vaughan.
Slick Tim and new Munster name
The Dealer took what the young lads call a video break at the weekend and spotted IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan’s slick video. I spotted former IFA president John Dillon and Tipperary hurling coach Tommy Dunne. I see he has also pulled in a favour from PR guru Eugene Hogan. I’m told there’s a family connection there. Meanwhile, I also heard that Clare IFA chair Willie Hanrahan announced his intention to run for Munster regional chair at a Clare county executive on Wednesday night. Very smooth operating.
The cowless dairies of Ireland
While brushing up on some facts and figures about the structure of dairy farms in
Ireland this week, I noted
with interest one cohort of farmers.
Of the 17,987 registered milk suppliers, some 901 herds have no cows. Surely a dairy without a cow is like an inflatable dart board or a chocolate teapot?
These farmers are not supplying milk but still have a milk supplier number.
The revelation means these farmers will now be entitled to a share of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM).
One farmer took to Twitter to complain that RTÉ hadn’t mentioned the Beef Plan Movement in Monday’s news report on the beef sector. RTÉ’s southern correspondent Paschal Sheehy wasn’t having any of it. “Here are the facts,” replied Paschal. “1. The Beef Plan Movement was specifically mentioned in the 6.1 News. 2. I was at Watergrasshill at 2pm to talk to Beef Plan protestors there. There were none! Must try harder.” Ouch.
Ageism at Aurivo dryer launch
While there were angry beef farmers at the gates, I hear it was all very jovial on the tour of the new dryer in Ballaghadereen.
At one stage, as various products were displayed, former chair Padraig Gibbons asked plant manager Willie Murphy if he could buy a 25kg bag of powder for making lattes.
Quick as you like, Willie responded, “No, but we have a product called senior milk and we can get you some of that.”
Met Éireann seeks storm names
I see that Met Éireann is looking for suggestions of storm names for the coming winter season.
So this is your chance to have a storm named after your favourite cow.
Suggestions can be sent in to stormnames@met.ie by the 9 August closing date or write to Evelyn Cusack, Met Éireann, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9, D09 Y921.
Storm Boris, storm Donald and are just some of the suggestions from my side.
Eyebrows have been raised numerous times since Boris Johnson became British prime minister last week.
One case in particular was when he selected Theresa Villiers to head up the department responsible for farming and the environment.
The new DEFRA secretary of state has previously been involved in animal rights campaigns. In October 2017, she introduced a private members’ bill to parliament which aimed to ban the live export of farm animals from the UK.
All is not lost for the UK farm lobby however; MP voting records show that she has supported badger culling in the past.
Brexit
Like many of her colleagues in Johnson’s cabinet, Villiers is a Brexiteer, and a hardline one at that.
She voted against Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement on each of the three occasions it was presented to MPs.
Another move at DEFRA last week was the re-appointment of former junior minister George Eustice.
He voted for the withdrawal agreement three times but resigned from DEFRA in February in protest of Theresa May’s decision to allow MPs to vote on delaying Brexit.
Newly appointed Defra secretary Theresa Villiers. \ Defra Twitter.
Pressure on Talbot as performance nutrition fails to perform
Farmers will be concerned over a slide in the share price of Glanbia which is now down 36% since March.
It seems the performance nutrition business, which has been the driver of growth for almost a decade, is not performing.
Having received big pay rises in March, senior executives including managing director Siobhan Talbot will come under pressure from shareholders including the co-op to explain the poor performance.
Talbot received a total pay package last year of €2.3m and signed a new three-year deal with a 20% pay hike.
I couldn’t help but notice that Ryanair cut Michael O’Leary’s base salary by half under his new contract, to €500,000, after lacklustre performance at the airline.
Siobhan Talbot, Glanbia group managing director. \ Dylan Vaughan.
Slick Tim and new Munster name
The Dealer took what the young lads call a video break at the weekend and spotted IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan’s slick video. I spotted former IFA president John Dillon and Tipperary hurling coach Tommy Dunne. I see he has also pulled in a favour from PR guru Eugene Hogan. I’m told there’s a family connection there. Meanwhile, I also heard that Clare IFA chair Willie Hanrahan announced his intention to run for Munster regional chair at a Clare county executive on Wednesday night. Very smooth operating.
The cowless dairies of Ireland
While brushing up on some facts and figures about the structure of dairy farms in
Ireland this week, I noted
with interest one cohort of farmers.
Of the 17,987 registered milk suppliers, some 901 herds have no cows. Surely a dairy without a cow is like an inflatable dart board or a chocolate teapot?
These farmers are not supplying milk but still have a milk supplier number.
The revelation means these farmers will now be entitled to a share of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM).
One farmer took to Twitter to complain that RTÉ hadn’t mentioned the Beef Plan Movement in Monday’s news report on the beef sector. RTÉ’s southern correspondent Paschal Sheehy wasn’t having any of it. “Here are the facts,” replied Paschal. “1. The Beef Plan Movement was specifically mentioned in the 6.1 News. 2. I was at Watergrasshill at 2pm to talk to Beef Plan protestors there. There were none! Must try harder.” Ouch.
Ageism at Aurivo dryer launch
While there were angry beef farmers at the gates, I hear it was all very jovial on the tour of the new dryer in Ballaghadereen.
At one stage, as various products were displayed, former chair Padraig Gibbons asked plant manager Willie Murphy if he could buy a 25kg bag of powder for making lattes.
Quick as you like, Willie responded, “No, but we have a product called senior milk and we can get you some of that.”
Met Éireann seeks storm names
I see that Met Éireann is looking for suggestions of storm names for the coming winter season.
So this is your chance to have a storm named after your favourite cow.
Suggestions can be sent in to stormnames@met.ie by the 9 August closing date or write to Evelyn Cusack, Met Éireann, Glasnevin Hill, Dublin 9, D09 Y921.
Storm Boris, storm Donald and are just some of the suggestions from my side.
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