Common-sense approach by Minister on CMMS records

SINCE her appointment, Agriculture Minister, Mary Coughlan, has consistently shown a common-sense approach to resolving farming issues, and an understanding that the farmer is not to blame for everything that goes wrong, and that they should not be unfairly burdened with penalties.

Another example of her fair approach is her acceptance that farmers who make a genuine effort to ensure that Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS) records for their herds are accurate are not unfairly penalised.

It was made clear in talks with farming organisation leaders last week that agreement is not a licence for farmers to disregard the role of the CMMS, or the necessity that records should be accurate and up to date.