Farming

THE extension by the Minister for Agriculture of the slurry spreading date for REPS 3 farmers to October 15, has been welcomed by farmers' leaders. But the advisability of 'farming by dates' imposed by Euro bureaucrats has been called into serious question again.

ICSA President Malcolm Thompson has described the Minister's extension as “the only sensible thing to do.”

“Each year we are faced with a similar scenario and each year the deadlines have to be extended”, he pointed out.  “This calls into question the advisability of farming by dates.

“Farmers are more conscious than most of the risks of pollution and we have always argued that spreading dates should be left up to farmers who are best qualified to make these decisions.”

FOOD SECURITY is of major importance and must be addressed by all countries and not just developing countries. That was the message of IFA Farm Family Chairperson Mary Sherry to the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) Committee of Women Farmers in Dublin Castle.

“If Europe is food independent then the production burden on developing countries is reduced and countries can direct their food production to feeding their indigenous population”, she said

THE GOVERNMENT decision to close the REPS 4 scheme for new applicants was described today (Thursday) by IFA President Padraig Walshe as a devastating blow for up to 34,000 mainly livestock farmers who would finish their environmental plans over the next three years.

He criticised Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith for abolishing a very significant support which, the recent the Teagasc National farm income figures showed, that many farmers were dependent on and which added greatly to the rural economy and environment.

REACTING to the report on the retail sector by the Competition Authority, ICSA Munster Vice President Edmond Phelan said that farmers are not to blame for price differentials between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

He explained: "When you see farmers being paid 20c a litre for milk and receiving just over €3.00 a kilo for beef and €3.80 a kilo for lamb, consumers can well see for themselves that the farmer isn't the one pushing prices up.

THE VITAL role of farming in enabling millions of Africans to escape the poverty trap, has been stressed by IFA President Padraig Walshe who is currently on a fact-finding visit to Kenya.

"The importance of increasing farm productivity has been brought home to me during this field visit with Irish development agency Self Help Africa", he said.

FARM INCOMES this year look set to be over 25% below those achieved in 2007, IFA President Padraig Walshe warned today (Tuesday).

Commenting on the publication of the CSO's finalised farm income figures for 2008, which showed a dramatic drop of 11.8% for the year, the President predicted: "Farm incomes will fall significantly further in 2009, with major and sustained downward price pressure across the main commodities.

OVER 10,000 farmers are having significant cash flow problems because of the failure of the Department of Agriculture to pay the remaining 25% top up of the REPS 4 scheme. As well, up to 2,000 farmers are still awaiting their first 75% payment.

And both delays are adding to a farm income crisis according to the IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley.

He points out that overall, €20m is owed to REPS 4 farmers, many of whom have already been paid their first 75% instalment.

THE PLANNED cost-cutting programme by the Department of Agriculture must be tempered to ensure that farmers have adequate access to whatever assistance they require, says ICSA Rural Development Chairman Gabriel Gilmartin.

"While we recognise that the cuts are needed and that a staff of 4,500 is not sustainable, consideration must be given to the needs of individual farmers who need support in resolving difficulties", he says.