What about the €2.148m missing each year from QPS?

While I have long been critical of the thinking at the topmost levels of the IFA, I do not underestimate their ability to mobilise and organise.

It has been interesting to note a subtle shift in emphasis since September 13, when they first announced the Day of Action because of “a disastrous summer,” “previous cuts to farm schemes“, “escalating farm input costs,” and “extra taxes”, as well as the failure of the Government to address “the dominance of retail multiples” and “the need to defend the full CAP budget in Europe”.

By last Sunday, their plans had become much sharper. Mention of the “disastrous summer” and “previous cuts to farm schemes” had been dropped, and the 300,000 jobs dependent on agriculture were given more prominence.