CAP budget concerns, land rent prices and Brexit dominated the conversation during a Macra na Feirme panel event in Newpark Hotel, Co Kilkenny on 23 July.

Over 100 people attended the event, which focussed on the future of CAP and farming post-2020, and speakers included Minister of State Andrew Doyle, Young Farmer of the Year PJ O’Keefe, AIB agri-advisor Liam Phelim, Irish Farmers Journal markets specialist Phelim O’Neil and Glanbia director of strategy Seán Molloy.

“The [CAP] proposals outline a cut of 5% - which from Ireland’s point of view is totally unacceptable,” Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle said.

“Ireland benefits to the tune of €1.5bn annually from pillar I and II payments.”

“This is a common policy through which member states have for decades benefitted from.”

“This policy has never stood still, it continually reinvents itself…but without farmers we will have land abandonment.”

Minister Doyle stressed that this would ultimately be bad for European consumers as it would allow for cheap food imports if farmers weren’t supported.

Although he acknowledged that it would be difficult to battle proposed cuts, he outlined that at least 20 member states had already backed proposals to restore the CAP budget.

Weather

The Irish climate has seesawed from snow and torrential rain to drought conditions, and AIB agri-advisor Liam Phelan has encouraged farmers to contact the bank if they’re experiencing difficulties.

“I’ve been to a number of Teagasc fodder clinics and it’s obvious that cash flow support will be needed,” Phelan said.

However, Phelan emphasised that overall there was a positive outlook for agriculture but he acknowledged that this year would be tough on a lot of farmers from all sectors.

Young Farmer of the Year, PJ O’Keefe echoed concern over the impact of the weather on farmers.

“We’ve had a very tough spring and to turn around and do it all again is draining,” O’Keefe said.

“It’s not necessarily the physical work, it’s the mental toll on people.”

Brexit

Another concern outlined for the industry was Brexit, which is just roughly 250 days away.

Director of strategy at Glanbia, Seán Molloy said that while Glanbia had a plan in place for trading in a post-Brexit environment, he recognised that there were still unknown pitfalls for Irish industry.

“In truth the dairy industry in Ireland and beyond will suffer greatly because of Brexit,” Molloy said.

He stressed that the future for Irish dairy exports was in Asia and China.

Questions from the floor

Questions on the floor centred on availing of credit facilities for young farmers and beef prices.

PJ O’Keefe wrapped up the event by saying that the industry needed to be re-energised, and this would be helped by banks opening up better credit facilities for young farmers.

“No one said that farming is an easier route, but I do it because I love it,” O’Keefe said.

“A little more flexibility from the banks and a little less red tape [from government] would be great.”

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