Farming survey: Farmers in need of clarity and certainty

Everywhere we look, in every sub-sector of Irish farming, we see that uncertainty and vagueness about what the immediate future holds — some will say that that’s the nature of any business — but farming and primary food is different, writes John Comer.

THIS is the fifth successive Irish Examiner/ICMSA farm survey and we are proud of our role in putting before the public and policymakers what is now acknowledged as the most in-depth and interesting snapshot of what farmers are thinking during a period in which national media is focused on them — the National Ploughing Championships.

I hope — and believe — that this year’s results will show a sector determined to build on our natural sustainability and technical excellence and one that is, moreover, reasoned and reasonable in its opinions and conclusions. But also one that is facing real flux and change and desperately needs some fixed positions and stability from which to move what is Ireland’s biggest indigenous economic sector forward.