IFA membership exceeds 88,000 for first time with rise of 500 in 2012

The IFA’s membership has surpassed 88,000 for the first time, gaining an extra 500 members during 2012, attendees heard at yesterday’s annual meeting.

IFA treasurer JJ Kavanagh said membership numbers were at an “all-time high” . The IFA also has 15,000 family memberships, which are not included in the overall figure.

The IFA’s executives put this soaring membership down to its strong ability to influence policy domestically and in the EU. IFA president John Bryan said that only France and Ireland has representative bodies who worked so effectively on behalf of farming communities.