New IFA beef man backs discussion group project
He was elected chairman of the IFA National Livestock Committee in January. He previously served as chairman of the IFA National Sheep Committee. He comes to the livestock job just as the Beef Technology Adoption Programme with €5m of annual State funding brings the well proven discussion group to beef farmers, to help them adopt new technologies to improve their businesses.
>>I will be joining my local Teagasc Beef Discussion Group and I am looking forward to actively participating in the group. The new Beef Discussion Group Programme is a really positive opportunity for livestock farmers to develop their enterprises and focus on increasing profitability. The key to securing growth and profit at farm level will be maintaining viable and strong cattle prices.
>>IFA has strongly encouraged livestock farmers to join their local discussion group. We have undertaken a whole series of meetings with Teagasc since the minister announced the groups, to get people involved. IFA has put a lot of work in to get the Discussion Groups up and running, and securing €5m in funding. With this initiative, we can improve output, technical efficiency and profitability at farm level, which are key objectives in the Food Harvest 2020 Plan for the beef sector. Taking part in a Discussion Group will help encourage and drive farmers in a team approach.
Active participation will be the key to farmers getting the most out of the groups. In addition, a strong facilitator will be essential to the success of each group.
>>Minister Coveney has made €5m available and at the payment rate of €1,000 per farmer the target is to get just over 5,000 involved. From our meetings around the country in recent weeks, there is strong interest. Beef farmers see what it has delivered for other sectors. The Discussion Group concept is well proven in dairying.
>>Costs at farm level associated with the Discussion Group programme must be kept to a minimum. IFA has argued that some of the tasks involve too much cost, but there are a lot of options to keep costs down. We have also asked Teagasc to look at reducing the cost, especially for non-Teagasc clients joining up for the first time.
>>The main elements of the programme involve participation in five to six on-farm meetings per year, completing a very simple farm plan and a Profit Monitor. The tasks, some of which are more complicated, are optional and you only have to choose one. These issues will have to be kept under review, dependent on the uptake, and as the programme progresses.
>>Every livestock farmer who joins the programme can gain. What you get out of it will depend on what you put in. Active participation is the key. Suckler farmers, particularly in the breeding and animal health side, have a huge amount to gain. All livestock farmers can gain a lot from improved grassland management.
>>We would always encourage more involvement and feedback from the beef industry. While there have been some positive moves in recent years, the beef sector has suffered from a lack of real involvement and a more joined-up approach from the farm right through to the customer.
>>The Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme is a really positive scheme and Minister Coveney must ensure that it is maintained beyond 2012, with the necessary funding. The recent ‘Value for Money’ report from the department recommended the continuation of the scheme. It found it met its original objectives in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, collection of breeding data and ultimately achieving improved competitiveness within the beef sector.
The report also said the animal welfare measures have directly contributed to improved prices for weanlings and improved reputation for Irish beef and live exports in key markets. Anything that delivers a higher price to farmers is worth pursuing.
