Farmers need to stop arguing and get organised to protect livelihood

Farmers are a divided group and should stop the arguing amongst ourselves. We are losing the battle as a divided group when it comes to getting a decent return on our work. 

Farming leaders need to be strong and must stop immediately taking levies from those we are fighting for a margin on our produce. This would allow a farmer leader to lead and not be dictated to by others. The older farmer is also dictating the future of farming without taking account of the next generation’s needs.

What is best for the older farmer is sometimes the exact opposite for the young replacement farmer. Parish pump politics are also hindering putting fresh blood into the farming organisation as the older farmer has a tight grip of control at the top. We as farmers are now in a very place as there is a firm agenda now to load young farmers with more debt. All this has come about by not having structures in place to protect our margin on the food we produce. We now have the ludicrous situation that those who handle our produce can make substantial turn around profit after a short period of time.

The large debt culture that exists in other countries must not be allowed to get foothold here as the young farmers will walk away in droves. It is imperative that the farming leaders need to sit in one room and stop this from happening. We have lost many battles on price for our produce and now we are going to lose the war if we sit idly bye.

Michael Flynn,

Rathgormack,

Carrick-on-Suir,

CoWaterford.