Only farm group to support CAP reform elects a new president this weekend
About 100 national executive members will vote in a new president for the 8,000 member farmer organisation, the only one in Ireland to support the CAP reform proposals which an ICSA delegation will discuss with EU Commissioner Franz Fischler today, to press for better provisions for young farmers and hardship cases, and more flexible calculation of reference amounts. "It is better to start negotiating now for the necessary adjustment to the proposals rather than bury our heads in the sand", said Charlie Reilly.
Martin Coughlan is the ICSA Munster vice-president. From Carrick-on-Suir, he finishes 300 cattle each year, mainly off grass.
He claims Minister Joe Walsh has failed the drystock sector, and that other farmer organisations are victims of strong internal sectional interests and "political quick fix" policies. He would commit ICSA to support farmers in legally challenging the 20% SBP cut.
John Deegan, ICSA's sheep committee chairman and Leinster vice-president, farmed at Shillelagh, Co Wicklow since leaving school.
He started without land and built up gradually to more than 300 acres, most of it reclaimed and hilly, and including 42 acres near Bellacorick Power Station in northwest Mayo. He farms 97 sucklers and 1,100 ewes.
Fairer distribution of funds in the CAP review, permitting livestock producers to earn at least the average industrial wage, is one of his aims. He pledges to resist importation of beef and sheep meat, especially from countries where traceability is questionable.
He wants the Department of Agriculture to promote red meat sales on world markets.
