No ‘free licence’ to switch from cattle to dairy and tillage

AGRICULTURAL history tells us that in the dim days for farming when Jim Dillon reigned as Minister for Agriculture, farmers flocked to poultry keeping, lured by the prospect of an improved market for eggs.

Some things never change. Dangle the prospect of earning a few bucks more in front of farmers and wait for the immediate reaction, at a pace equalled by few other sectors.

Dairy and tillage are the new promised lands, and even Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association President Malcolm Thompson suggested to his members last week that they should consider switching to dairy and tillage