The two bodies set up to represent livestock exporters are likely to become one.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed spent much of 2017 and 2018 urging exporters to set up an organisation with which his officials could constructively liaise. Come 2019, he had not one but two, which was not what he wanted.
First up was the Irish Livestock Exporters Association, representing exporters of all livestock, with Sligo man Paul Clarke as chair. Last November the Irish Livestock Stakeholders’ Association was set up on the initiative of the Wicklow Calf Company, with an initial focus on calf exports and welfare standards. However, it seems all sides now accept there are not enough exporters to support two bodies. It looks as if Clarke’s Irish Livestock Exporters Association, which signed up more exporters, will speak for the sector.
It is in talks to become a partner with Animal Health Ireland. Expect it to push for a national IBR programme, which it sees as vital to maintaining existing export markets for Irish cattle and opening up new ones.
I see rural singletons are being sought for a new TV show Country Love.
“Anybody can apply,” Irish production company Kite Entertainment casting director Jane Taaffe told The Dealer.
“We’re looking for old and young, males and females. Farmers tend to be quite isolated and tied to one place with their farms, so it would suit them quite well. A nice farmer over 40 would be ideal, but anyone can apply. They don’t have to be farmers – they could just be living on an island or somewhere a bit isolated.”
If you are interested in applying, email countrylove@kiteentertainment.com or call or text 087-668 3729.
Healy gives it both barrels
Tim may have taken the reins but Joe didn’t go quietly. During his final speech as IFA president, Joe Healy took aim at splinter groups.
The latter end of his term was dominated by the beef crisis. While the IFA secured €100m from Brussels, other farmers went to the factory gates.
Healy said “those that led them” there were after “martyrdom and self-gratification, and delivered nothing but bedlam and a backlog.”
A letter from one group sent to UK retailers claiming they were being misled on Irish grass-fed beef also caught it on the nose from Healy.
Jerseys invade ICBF sire list
The Dealer got the shock of his life on Thursday afternoon last when he went on to the ICBF website to check out the latest dairy EBI Active Bull List.
Not only was the second highest bull on the list a Jersey, but no fewer than seven of the top 20 bulls on the list were also Jersey.
Not since the mid 2000s did Jerseys feature so highly on the Active Bull List – the bible for dairy farmers when it comes to picking AI bulls.
With so many people against crossbreeding, including some in the ICBF, it was a huge surprise to see Jersey EBIs jump so much. However, when The Dealer went back an hour later to double-check he wasn’t seeing things, lo and behold the list was taken down.
Forty-eight hours later the list was back up, albeit this time with only one Jersey bull in the top 20.
Normal service resumed, thank God, I hear people say.
Couple ‘bonding’ in farmyard
The Dealer chuckled at a court report in the Donegal News last week, detailing the case of a man accused of trespassing in a farmer’s yard.
Explaining why he opened the doors of a remote shed in St Johnston, the young man in question told the court: “Well, I don’t have a house of my own and me and my girlfriend went down there to bond for a while, you could say. I got out of the van to have a cigarette and was walking around the old abandoned mill. It was really interesting.” The case was dismissed by the judge.
Possible world ploughing venues
I hear the NPA is still scouting a number of locations for the World Ploughing Championships in 2021.
Athy in Co Kildare and Ratheniska in Co Laois are believed to be in the running, but I’m told the McHughs have been canvassing farmers in the Fenagh area about the availability of additional ground to host the four-day event. Russia will host the world event this year, but Ireland’s formidable McHugh-led NPA will play host in 2021. More than 30 countries will be represented at the world event.
Coveney sets record straight
I see Tánaiste Simon Coveney was forced to address one of the (many) paranoid conspiracy theories bandied about during last summer’s factory gate protests – that his wife is Larry Goodman’s niece.
The Corkman and former Minister for Agriculture tweeted last week: “Neither I or my wife have any connection or relationship whatsoever with Larry Goodman. Unfortunately public life today seems to involve untruths to damage people.”
Cawley’s impressive stable
I see former Teagasc chair Noel Cawley was the only Irish sport horse breeder to feature in the top 100 in the world. Dr Cawley and his daughter Lisa run an impressive outfit at Newpark Lodge, where they have bred top show jumpers Hybernia, Ballypatrick Flamenco, Dowth Hall, Mullaghdrin Limber and Flexability. Best of the bunch is Mullaghdrin Touch the Stars, which picked up over €240,000 in prize money last year for UK owners Jessie Drea and Lynne Humphries.
The two bodies set up to represent livestock exporters are likely to become one.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed spent much of 2017 and 2018 urging exporters to set up an organisation with which his officials could constructively liaise. Come 2019, he had not one but two, which was not what he wanted.
First up was the Irish Livestock Exporters Association, representing exporters of all livestock, with Sligo man Paul Clarke as chair. Last November the Irish Livestock Stakeholders’ Association was set up on the initiative of the Wicklow Calf Company, with an initial focus on calf exports and welfare standards. However, it seems all sides now accept there are not enough exporters to support two bodies. It looks as if Clarke’s Irish Livestock Exporters Association, which signed up more exporters, will speak for the sector.
It is in talks to become a partner with Animal Health Ireland. Expect it to push for a national IBR programme, which it sees as vital to maintaining existing export markets for Irish cattle and opening up new ones.
I see rural singletons are being sought for a new TV show Country Love.
“Anybody can apply,” Irish production company Kite Entertainment casting director Jane Taaffe told The Dealer.
“We’re looking for old and young, males and females. Farmers tend to be quite isolated and tied to one place with their farms, so it would suit them quite well. A nice farmer over 40 would be ideal, but anyone can apply. They don’t have to be farmers – they could just be living on an island or somewhere a bit isolated.”
If you are interested in applying, email countrylove@kiteentertainment.com or call or text 087-668 3729.
Healy gives it both barrels
Tim may have taken the reins but Joe didn’t go quietly. During his final speech as IFA president, Joe Healy took aim at splinter groups.
The latter end of his term was dominated by the beef crisis. While the IFA secured €100m from Brussels, other farmers went to the factory gates.
Healy said “those that led them” there were after “martyrdom and self-gratification, and delivered nothing but bedlam and a backlog.”
A letter from one group sent to UK retailers claiming they were being misled on Irish grass-fed beef also caught it on the nose from Healy.
Jerseys invade ICBF sire list
The Dealer got the shock of his life on Thursday afternoon last when he went on to the ICBF website to check out the latest dairy EBI Active Bull List.
Not only was the second highest bull on the list a Jersey, but no fewer than seven of the top 20 bulls on the list were also Jersey.
Not since the mid 2000s did Jerseys feature so highly on the Active Bull List – the bible for dairy farmers when it comes to picking AI bulls.
With so many people against crossbreeding, including some in the ICBF, it was a huge surprise to see Jersey EBIs jump so much. However, when The Dealer went back an hour later to double-check he wasn’t seeing things, lo and behold the list was taken down.
Forty-eight hours later the list was back up, albeit this time with only one Jersey bull in the top 20.
Normal service resumed, thank God, I hear people say.
Couple ‘bonding’ in farmyard
The Dealer chuckled at a court report in the Donegal News last week, detailing the case of a man accused of trespassing in a farmer’s yard.
Explaining why he opened the doors of a remote shed in St Johnston, the young man in question told the court: “Well, I don’t have a house of my own and me and my girlfriend went down there to bond for a while, you could say. I got out of the van to have a cigarette and was walking around the old abandoned mill. It was really interesting.” The case was dismissed by the judge.
Possible world ploughing venues
I hear the NPA is still scouting a number of locations for the World Ploughing Championships in 2021.
Athy in Co Kildare and Ratheniska in Co Laois are believed to be in the running, but I’m told the McHughs have been canvassing farmers in the Fenagh area about the availability of additional ground to host the four-day event. Russia will host the world event this year, but Ireland’s formidable McHugh-led NPA will play host in 2021. More than 30 countries will be represented at the world event.
Coveney sets record straight
I see Tánaiste Simon Coveney was forced to address one of the (many) paranoid conspiracy theories bandied about during last summer’s factory gate protests – that his wife is Larry Goodman’s niece.
The Corkman and former Minister for Agriculture tweeted last week: “Neither I or my wife have any connection or relationship whatsoever with Larry Goodman. Unfortunately public life today seems to involve untruths to damage people.”
Cawley’s impressive stable
I see former Teagasc chair Noel Cawley was the only Irish sport horse breeder to feature in the top 100 in the world. Dr Cawley and his daughter Lisa run an impressive outfit at Newpark Lodge, where they have bred top show jumpers Hybernia, Ballypatrick Flamenco, Dowth Hall, Mullaghdrin Limber and Flexability. Best of the bunch is Mullaghdrin Touch the Stars, which picked up over €240,000 in prize money last year for UK owners Jessie Drea and Lynne Humphries.
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