Angus Woods launched his campaign for the IFA presidency in front of his family and a large crowd of supporters and friends in the Bel-Air Hotel, Ashford, Co Wicklow, on Tuesday. Woods is chair of the IFA’s livestock committee and farms near Ashford in cattle, sheep and tillage.

His aim was to unite farmers, deliver proper functioning markets and fair prices for all farmers, and defend farmers on Brexit, CAP, Mercosur and climate change, Woods said.

The appearance of lots of splinter groups is weakening farmers’ voice, he said.

“We need unity, to pull together. I’ll do everything I possibly can to deliver that unity.”

Normally, an IFA president has one major challenge to face, he said. “But the challenges coming now include Brexit, CAP reform and Mercosur.”

As IFA president, he would fight hard to defend farmers’ interests, using the relationships he has built in Europe over the past four years, he said.

New model

“The beef sector needs a new model that works for farmers,” he said. “I fully believe it’s there and can be delivered. We can’t go on operating from crisis to crisis. We need long-term solutions.”

His livestock committee had delivered real benefits for cattle farmers, he said. They included market transparency, carcase trim and grading measures. It delivered €100m under BEAM and €20m additional money for a Suckler Cow Support Scheme. “That’s €10m per week for cattle farmers over the past year.”

The speakers supporting Woods included food writer and chef Catherine Fulvio, whose family have IFA connections and friendship with the Woods family.

“I’m here tonight to cook up a bit of support for Angus,” she quipped.

Farmer and Irish Olympian Sean Drea said that Woods was an excellent athlete, farmer and family man.

“They are the qualities needed for in a leader of IFA. We need young, energetic leaders like Angus.”

Former Macra president Thomas Honner said Woods would make an excellent president of IFA. His parting advice was a sporting catchphrase: “Angus, pull like a dog!”

Laois cattle farmer Henry Burns, who served with Woods on the livestock committee, told the crowd they would have to get out on the road and canvass farmers the length and breadth of the country for Woods.

“You’ll discover all kinds of new skills you didn’t know you had. You’ll navigate lanes, farmyards, Alsations, bulldogs – and wait till you meet the farmers.”

Ireland had only two natural resources, he said: “just rain and grass, and we farmers turn them into products that can be exported”.

Farmers need not be apologetic about what they do and instead should fight for their industry, he said.

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