Farm leaders face serious crop of challenges in 2014

It will be a New Year in earnest for two of the country’s farm organisations who have just elected new leaders.

Eddie Downey, a tillage, poultry and suckler farmer from Slane, Co Meath, will become the Irish Farmers’ Association’s 14th president when he takes over from John Bryan on Jan 14.

Wexford tillage and beef farmer Paddy Kent from New Ross will also assume the presidency of the smaller Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association early in the New Year, in succession to Gabriel Gilmartin.