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IFA WELCOME NEW BEEF DISCUSSION GROUP PROGRAMME

Monday, 20 February 2012 17:05

IFA WELCOME NEW BEEF DISCUSSION GROUP PROGRAMME

IFA President John Bryan welcomed the launch of the new Beef Discussion Group programme by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

Speaking at the Teagasc suckler cow event in Kilkenny mart, John Bryan said IFA worked hard to secure €5m funding for Beef Discussion Groups and this is a very positive initiative for the beef and livestock sector.

The IFA President said the Beef Discussion Group programme presents a major opportunity for Teagasc to deliver real results for the livestock sector at individual farm level. “The Discussion Group concept is well proven in dairying and this new programme provides a real opportunity for Teagasc to deliver to beef and livestock farmers.”

John Bryan said improving output, technical efficiency and profitability at farm level are key objectives set out in the Food Harvest 2020 Plan for the beef sector. He said participation in a Discussion Group will help encourage and drive farmers in a team approach in achieving these targets and securing strong growth in the beef sector.

The IFA President said increasing profitability at farm level is the major challenge for the livestock sector. He said, “As well as output, efficiency and costs, there is a major responsibility on the processing sector to maintain strong viable cattle prices in order to deliver increased farm profit. In addition, it is essential the Minister for Agriculture protects national funding for all the farm schemes and secures a strong outcome to the CAP 2013 negotiations.” He pointed out that Direct Payments make up a much higher proportion of income on beef and livestock farms.

John Bryan said costs at farm level associated with the Discussion Group programme must be kept to a minimum. He said up to 5,000 beef and suckler farmers should receive €1,000 per annum for participating in the programme, which will involve attending up to 6 discussion group meetings and a number of other tasks.

Encouraging beef and suckler farmers to apply for the scheme by the closing date of March 7th, John Bryan said farmers needed to get their application forms completed and back to Teagasc or their independent facilitator without delay.

IFA President John Bryan welcomed the launch of the new Beef Discussion Group programme by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

‘ACTION PLANS FOR JOBS’ INITIATIVE MUST SUPPORT PRIMARY AGRICULTURE

Monday, 20 February 2012 17:04

‘ACTION PLANS FOR JOBS’ INITIATIVE MUST SUPPORT PRIMARY AGRICULTURE

Reacting to the Government’s ‘2012 Action Plan for Jobs’, IFA President John Bryan said reaching the targets for the agri-food sector in Food Harvest 2020 depends on Government investment in primary agriculture.

Mr Bryan stated, “Export figures for 2011 show that the agri-food and drinks sector outperformed the general economy. Food and drink exports increased to their highest level ever, to almost €9bn in 2011.”

He continued, “Farm schemes are critical in driving production and underpinning farm incomes. Farming is the economic backbone of rural towns and villages and increased output at farmgate level supports the creation of jobs in the processing, marketing, tourism and retail industries.”

John Bryan said, “In addition, the on-farm investment that will be undertaken by farmers in the coming years in order to achieve the growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 will stimulate economic activity and jobs at farm level. Access to credit at a competitive rate will be critical to fund this expansion.”

In the short term, the Government must ensure that the funding allocation for the on-farm investment programme, TAMS, is fully utilised. In CAP post-2013, measures for farm efficiency, restructuring, innovation and training must form part of Ireland’s Rural Development programme, aimed at all sectors with potential for expansion.”

He said the Department of Agriculture has given IFA a commitment that on-line applications will be processed earlier and any problems will be dealt with well before the payment deadlines including earlier digitisation of any land parcels, where necessary.

The IFA Deputy President made it very clear to the Department that maps, digitisation, processing delays or inspections cannot be allowed to hold up 2012 payments later in the year. The Department gave a commitment to bring forward digitising work by 3 months.

“There are significant advantages in submitting on-line SFP applications. Apart from the commitment to be processed and paid earlier by the Department, farmers and their agents can make changes to their applications and maps online. Last year 54,000 applications were made on-line and every effort should be made to increase this number for 2012.”

IFA REJECT REVISED FARM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

Sunday, 19 February 2012 19:12

IFA REJECT REVISED FARM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

At a meeting with senior officials in the Department of Agriculture in Portlaoise, IFA Deputy President Eddie Downey strongly rejected new inspection requirements which involve assembling livestock for reading identity tags. Eddie Downey said the new proposals are way over the top and the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney must intervene to ensure a more farmer friendly inspection regime.

He said there was no need to assemble livestock to read tags for a Department of Agriculture inspection. “The Department should be able to obtain a reasonable sample of tags without bringing all animals into the farmer’s yard. Assembling animals involves a considerable workload, creates undue stress, adds to costs, and is another farm safety risk.”

The IFA Deputy President highlighted the need for earlier applications, speedier problem solving, processing and payments under the 2012 scheme. In addition, he said unannounced inspections are totally unacceptable and IFA is demanding that no inspector arrives on a farm without reasonable prior notice.

Eddie Downey said IFA also highlighted the need for better co-ordination of inspections and the avoidance of duplication as well as increased tolerances, reduced penalties and a strict adherence to prompt payment deadlines. He said farmers will not tolerate a repeat of last year, where applicants selected for inspection encountered long payment delays.

DAIRYGOLD-GLANBIA EXPANSION CAN BE MAJOR STEP TOWARDS FARMER-CONTROLLED, INTEGRATED INDUSTRY - BRYAN

Sunday, 19 February 2012 19:11

DAIRYGOLD-GLANBIA EXPANSION CAN BE MAJOR STEP TOWARDS

FARMER-CONTROLLED, INTEGRATED INDUSTRY - BRYAN

IFA President John Bryan said that the processing expansion discussions reportedly taking place between Dairygold and Glanbia present a unique opportunity for the co-op structures within both organisations to take a major step towards the integration of our dairy industry to deliver the scale and efficiencies necessary to compete on the global market place.

“I will be meeting the leaders of both co-ops to encourage them towards a successful outcome to their discussions. The opportunity to establish a farmer-controlled processing industry with scale and efficiency must be grasped, and Dairygold and Glanbia must make every effort in their discussions to achieve this,” Mr Bryan said.

“Dairy farmers will be understandably wary of investment in plc projects. It is therefore vital that, in an industry which is steeped in the co-operative ethos, expansion plans involving joint projects between milk processors, whether co-ops or plcs, would be structured so as to provide for solid farmer control of the combined processing facilities,” he said.

“Creative solutions can be found that strengthen farmer control and facilitate necessary investment without any significant dilution of co-op assets even if plc funds are involved at some level,” he added.

“I believe a successful outcome to the Glanbia/Dairygold discussions could be the conduit to speedier progress towards better industry integration over the coming months and years,” he concluded.

Massive Agriculture under-spend exposes Minister’s false claims on funding

Saturday, 18 February 2012 12:06

Massive Agriculture under-spend exposes Minister’s false claims on funding

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture Michael Moynihan has said that revelations of a massive under-spend in the Department of Agriculture last year expose false claims by Minister Simon Coveney that the previous Government didn’t leave enough money for farm payment schemes.

Deputy Moynihan was commenting on confirmation of a €220 million under-spend in the Department of Agriculture in 2011. This includes a €60 million under-spend on REPS and AEOS in 2011, a €30 million under-spend on the Suckler Cow Scheme and an under-spend of over €20 million on TAMS.

Deputy Moynihan commented, “In April last year shortly after coming into power, Simon Coveney re-opened a reduced AEOS scheme amidst great fanfare. He attempted to justify his decision to scale back the scheme by claiming the previous Government didn’t make adequate financial provision for it. This was simply untrue.

“The previous Government made more than adequate provision for last year. Budget 2011 published by Fianna Fáil allocated €337 million to REPS and AEOS. Yet the Department only spent €277 million. If there wasn’t enough money to protect AEOS and REPS, why was the Department’s budget so far in the black last year?

“Minister Coveney spent last year blaming the previous Government for the reductions he has made to various schemes. He won’t get away with this any longer. Last year in relation to AEOS, the Minister said things were “very challenging” and he had “one hell of a job” trying to fund the scheme. When I questioned him, he asked me where I suggest he finds an extra €50 million for the scheme. Now it turns out €60 million allocated to AEOS and REPS wasn’t even spent.

“He has now completely contradicted himself by tellingthe Dáil last week that 2011 was never the problem. He said: “There was never a problem funding last year’s Agri-Environment Options Scheme ... last year’s Budget was never a problem, there was always money available for it.”

“This casts a very different light over Minister Coveney’s decision to re-open the scheme in April amidst great fanfare. Why did he delay in opening the scheme when the finance was available?

“Almost 9,000 farmers were approved for AEOS payments in 2010. The scheme plays a vital role in providing an incentive to maintain the highest environmental standards that Irish agriculture has built its reputation on. It also forms a vital part of farm profits for many small farmers. I am calling on Minister Coveney to explain the under-spend last year and to clarify how this will impact farm payments this year.”

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