We’ll stand by you during the hard times, banks tell farmers

The main banks have given a commitment to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) that they will support farmers during the current difficulties.

IFA president Eddie Downey said the banks had pledged to provide the same level of working capital in the form of stocking loans and overdraft facilities in 2014, as in previous years.

“The IFA has recently met with the main banks and has outlined to them the difficulties facing farmers this year in the beef, tillage and potato sectors, in particular.