Day of action must be carefully handled
I had been questioning IFA’s plans to tackle the control exercised by the beef processors over cattle prices paid to farmers.
In a press release announcing the “Day of Action”, IFA president John Bryan was critical of the Government’s failure “to address the dominance of the retail multiples”, and emphasised the need for the Government “to defend the full CAP Budget in Europe”, in the CAP reform negotiations.
I have to admit I was totally amazed at this turn of events.
From a situation where I thought IFA were paying only lip service in press statements to concerns being expressed by the farming community, the “Generals” have decided on a full mobilisation of the troops.
But the IFA’s mobilisation must be handled with extreme care, given the current economic situation, not only in this country but in much of the wider EU.
We do not want the situation to develop where the broader public are left feeling that “the farmers are trying it on”, and trying to duck responsibilities to the country as a whole.
Us farmers are as entitled as any other section of society to take to the streets if we feel that is the only way we can get our message across. And that’s where I run into a problem, what is the message, and what are the grievances?
John Bryan says, “The consequences of a disastrous summer and the escalating input costs have put massive pressure on farm incomes.”
This is very true, but escalating costs and bad weather have affected all of the economy. We have every right to march, but managing the PR side of a protest is paramount — get it wrong, and us farmers will possibly be portrayed as unpatriotic.
In the back of my mind, the suddenness of the IFA move bothers me.
My information is neither ICMSA or ICSA were consulted in advance, and have yet to meet to discuss the Day of Action.
What do they tell their members?
Support the Day of Action, and they admit that the IFA are ahead of them in their thinking; oppose it, and they possibly lose members.
A large turnout could effectively crush any dissent inside and outside IFA, and leave both other organisations well in their wake.
Single Farm Payment cheques will start to arrive in farmers’ bank accounts a couple of weeks after the Day of Action, which may present the IFA with a considerable problem if the media chooses to make an issue out of it in these tough times, when society can sharply divide along imagined lines of difference.
It is suggested that a protest at this time might strengthen the hand of the Agriculture Minister at the cabinet table.
Or it could focus public attention on arguments put up by unsympathetic elements, based on what they perceive to be taxpayer “handouts” to the farming community.
