Walsh backs call for farming body

AGRICULTURE MINISTER Joe Walsh has supported calls for a unified body to represent farmers.

Speaking at the national ploughing championships at Ballinabrackey, Co Meath, yesterday, Mr Walsh said it would be sensible if the farm bodies could agree on having one coherent voice.

But he stressed it was a matter for the farm organisations themselves.

Macra na Feirme president Thomas Honner said one strong body would be better placed to make strategic decisions for the overall benefit of farmers.

“At present, energy is being expended by organisations and sectoral groups in trying to second guess one another, which is not always in the best interests of the farming community as a whole,” he said.

Mr Honner said there was no doubt there would be fewer farmers in the future and that against this background, having one strong unified body made sense.

“In the future it will be even more important for farmers to continue with the policy of making a logical well-explained case to the general public. This objective would be best served by having one organisation with a clear communications strategy,” he said.

Mr Honner called on the senior farm organisation leaders to get together with a view to forming a unified body in the near future.

IFA president John Dillon said he agreed with having one body, with Macra also included, and he had advocated farm unity in his own inaugural address.

But ICMSA president Pat O’Rourke said he was opposed to the idea. He said his members were well- served and he believed in competition.

Mr Walsh also announced that farmers who wish to have online access to iMAP in order to obtain their area aid details for 2001, 2002 and 2003 will be able to register for this facility at the championships, which continue today and tomorrow.

This database is used for administering the EU-integrated administration and control system governing direct payments of some €1.6 billion to farmers.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the words “crisis” and “farming” seemed to be inextricably linked at present.

He said farmers seem to be suffering from an image crisis but there is a future in farming. However, he said this would require a new way of thinking.

“We would urge farmers to look at the potential for forestry, eco-tourism not to mention safe and local food production and niche marketing as opportunities for the future growth and success,” Mr Sargent said.

ICSA president John Deegan urged farmers to be extra vigilant in checking their stock and locking gates and to report any suspicious behaviour to their local gardaí following the recent theft of cattle in Co Laois.