Farmers unite in campaign over continuing income fall
Thousands of farmers nationwide took part in this week’s IFA tractor demonstration, which comes to climax with a rally outside Government Buildings in Dublin tomorrow.
IFA had to turn some farmers away to keep their demonstration manageable and minimise disruption for members of the public. But more farmers will get their chance to protest next week, when ICMSA mount a continuous demonstration outside Government and Department of Agriculture buildings, over a number of days.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association and Macra na Feirme fully supported this week’s “tractorcade”.
“There is a massive determination among farmers on the ground that the Government must sit up and take action to address the income crisis”, said IFA president John Dillon.
“At a time when farming is already in crisis, the Government really put the boot in on farmers in both the Budget and their cuts in the 2003 Book of Estimates”.
“The facts are that average farm income is down to less than 15,000 per year, while average industrial earnings are 26,000 and average public service pay is 37,000,” he said.
But Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh strongly denied claims that the Government had neglected farming, and stressed it was committed to the future of the sector.
“The Government’s approach has always been founded on the unique importance of the sector in terms of sustaining rural Ireland, and as our major natural resource based industry,” he said.
Minister Walsh said the Government’s commitment to farming has been demonstrated in a concrete fashion, time and time again.
He said he will continue to ensure the optimal framework for the development of agriculture and to seek the best possible supports in order to ensure adequate incomes for the farming community.
With almost 70% of income guaranteed by direct income payments, Mr Walsh said the sector itself, both farmers and processors, has to shoulder its responsibility to maximise the returns from the marketplace.
Minister Walsh stressed that, as always, he would continue to be available for discussions to address problems arising.
Many serious negotiating challenges lay ahead, in the context of the Mid Term Review of the CAP and the WTO Round.
It was vitally important that the focus remained on issues which would bring real long term benefits to Irish agriculture, he said.
Macra na Feirme National President Seamus Phelan said this week’s protest indicated the level of frustration being felt by farmers at their falling incomes.
“Young people are turning their back on the industry, with only 10% of Irish farmers now under the age of 35” he said.
He said he was confident the protest would cause minimum inconvenience to the general public, while making it clear to the Government that farmers were very angry over the lack of response to their current difficulties.
Announcing next week’s ICMSA programme of protest, Pat O’Rourke, president, said farmers were left with no alternative but to take direct action to demonstrate their complete lack of confidence in the Government.
“Given the level of anger among farmers, I am sure that the various actions by farm organisations would be supported by farmers throughout the country,” he said.
Mr O’Rourke repeated ICMSA’s demand for a commission on farm incomes to be established by the Government.
A special ICMSA National Council meeting has been set for January 20 to reassess any further action which will be required following the Association’s week of continuous protest outside Government buildings.
ICSA leader Charlie Reilly said the Teagasc national farm survey estimated the net income of a 100 acre cattle farmer, with no other source of income, as a mere 11,000.
He said he was shocked by the misinformation put forward by Minister Walsh, claiming he never refused to meet a farm leader, and giving farm income as 45,000 or 31,000.
He has failed to meet with ICSA, despite numerous requests for meetings, and his income figures are completely inaccurate, said Mr Reilly.
