’Day of action’ will call for full CAP budget
According to IFA, cuts to farm schemes have hit the poorest farmers hard, and their members are beset by extra costs and taxes, and by the disastrous summer weather.
Oct 9 is an opportunity for farmers to let the country know times are harder than usual in their tough business — and could get much harder if the financial lifeline from Brussels that keeps them in profit is weakened — with consequences for the sector’s 300,000 jobs and €9bn of food- and drink-related exports.
IFA president, John Bryan, says there is strong support among farmers for the ‘day of action’, and the wider agri and processing sector is acutely aware that a strong CAP budget that supports agricultural production is vital.
>>Thousands of farmers will converge on Dublin and assemble in Merrion Square at 11.30am for the ‘day of action’. We expect farmers from far away to arrive by bus and those from counties neighbouring Dublin to arrive by car. From Merrion Square, they will march to Leinster House on Kildare St. The crowd will be addressed by myself and others.
>>The issues we are raising next week — whether it is the future of the CAP budget, the importance of farm schemes, or the need for retailers to pass back more of their margin to producers — affect all farmers, and we expect a strong turnout from farm families.
Significant decisions will be made about the CAP budget in the coming months. Our objective is to secure a fully-funded budget, for both the Single Farm Payment and Rural Development measures, and to ensure that support for the rural economy is maintained.
Like everybody, farm families are under pressure, and the budget in December must maintain farm schemes, which are an important part of their income. We have taken a disproportionate level of cuts since 2008, and they have hit low-income farmers very hard. Coming after a difficult summer weather wise, and rising costs, our message next Tuesday will be straightforward: farmers have already taken significant cuts and cannot take anymore.
Anybody who wants information should contact the IFA office in their region, or talk to their local IFA officer. Local media will also be carrying details of arrangements for travelling on the day.
>>What we have asked farmers to do is shut down the farm on the day, and come to Dublin to show solidarity on the issues we are raising. At this time of year, it is quite straightforward to arrange collections on a particular day. It will not lead to any disruption of supplies if nothing moves off farms on Tuesday next.
>>There is a very good response from the wider agri-processing and agribusiness sector. They understand the significance of a positive outcome to the CAP talks, because they realise the importance of primary production in underpinning the overall sector. We are the engine of the rural economy and farmer spend is important in keeping activity levels maintained.
Both Kilkenny and Wexford marts have agreed to move their sales from next Tuesday. We appreciate their support and look forward to a strong presence in Dublin from agri-business.
>>There is no question about the value of our agri exports, but, remember, our food produce appears on supermarket shelves across Europe. What we want to see is action by our Government, and the EU Commission, that tackles the power of the retailers, brings transparency to the system, and gives farmers a price that covers the cost of production and pays them a modest margin. Commissioner Ciolos raised this during his visit to Ardee recently, and appears to be intent on restoring some equity for the producer. Unfortunately, the same urgency does not seem to apply with our Government. Much of the running on the issue of a statutory code of practice has been made by Fine Gael; what we need now is action.
The retailers devote a large part of their promotional budgets to highlighting the relationship they have with local producers, and why wouldn’t they? It allows them to trade on the high standards — animal welfare, traceability and environment — that we deliver every day. And they earn handsome profits along the way. With the way input costs are rising it’s time for them to shoulder some of the burden and return a decent price to farmers.
