Rushe was elected to the position at Kildare IFA’s AGM in Newbridge on Wednesday night.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, the dairy farmer from Carbury said he became more involved in the IFA over the last year, especially after the pay scandal broke.

“When the pay scandal broke, I knew I had to make time. If I wanted my voice, and the voices of other farmers to be heard, I needed to be involved. You can’t complain about things if you’re not,” he said.

I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but as one group and one voice, the IFA’s strength is in its unity, and so it has to be preserved.

Income is the biggest challenge facing farmers in Kildare, Rushe said, between milk and beef prices, and also grain, particularly in the south of the county.

“Looking forward, it’s very hard for farmers at the moment to make plans for the future when we are so unsure about our income.

“So many factors are influencing the world market at the moment – it’s out of our control,” he said. “I think we have to start focusing inside the farm gate straight away to cut out the waste, tighten up and become more efficient.

“Small things become big things. I understand that debt is different for every farmer, but if you can cut 5% across all inputs then that will make a big difference,” he said.

Farm income levels are hindering young people from getting involved in farming, Rushe said.

“There isn’t enough income in farming for young people coming in. Young business people these days are ambitious, and they look for income and viability in enterprises,” he said.

Rebuilding the IFA

To regain the trust of the farmers, Rushe said the IFA has to hit the ground running and start working for farmers.

“The best way to gain back the trust of the farmers is to lead by example – IFA will have to work hard and deliver across all sectors,” he said.

The opportunity to travel abroad as part of his Nuffield Scholarship made the young farmer realise the importance of an organisation like IFA.

“I went travelling for two months, all around the USA, Canada and Australia, and I noticed how every commodity in these places had a different group lobbying for them. There was so many voices, and their message was nearly lost at federal level.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but as one group and one voice, the IFA’s strength is in its unity, and so it has to be preserved. Yes, it needs to be renewed and its strength needs to be rebuilt, but we need the organisation now more than ever here in Ireland, and in Europe,” he said.

Brian Rushe contributes a Farmer Writes column to the Irish Farmers Journal which you can check out here.