Members of Donegal Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA) called for less regulation on farmers following the group’s annual general meeting (AGM).
IFA president, Francie Gorman and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, attended the meeting in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny yesterday (Monday, March 4).
Gorman laid out all of the current challenges faced by farmers.
Donegal IFA chair, Joe Sweeney, told Agriland that discussions took place on issues, such as the recently introduced Nature Restoration Law; nitrates derogation and the lack of recognition for Ireland’s water quality; delayed payments; and ways of producing food more sustainably.
More specifically to Co. Donegal, Sweeney said that the county is known to have the most sheep in the country and is “challenged” by the cost of producing a weanling.
Donegal IFA
He said the numbers for suckler cows are decreasing at the moment, because “costs are too much”.
“The hoggets are a little over €200 at the minute, weanlings and cattle prices are flying, but what’s wrong is input prices are too high,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney added that the minister agreed with concerns raised, but said that due to EU regulation prices “can not be fixed”.
Sweeney said that while prices cannot be fixed, the government could “lessen the burden” on farmers by reducing the amount of regulation.
“It’s not one thing, it’s everything, and there seems to just be more and more regulation all of the time, more inspections, and farmers are just fed up and frustrated,” Sweeney said.
Donegal IFA will be one of the final branches to meet with county council representatives on Monday, March 25, where these issues will be raised as part of the association’s ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign.
Branches from counties: Sligo; Leitrim; Meath; Monaghan and Wicklow held protests and met with county councillors yesterday.