Farmers in the midlands will be given the chance to voice their concerns directly to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, later today.
Minister Creed will be present at a Farm Information Evening which will be held on Paddy Donnelly’s Farm, Balrath, Slanemore in Co. Westmeath at 4:00pm. The event is being organised by Fine Gael TD Peter Burke.
Deputy Burke, who represents the Longford-Westmeath constituency, outlined how the local farming community is looking for more government supports as they face into the uncertainty caused by Brexit.
“It is a time of uncertainty for farming, and while the weather has been good this year, there is still a lot of uncertainty around Brexit, around the stabilisation of farm incomes and in relation to European schemes and regulations.
“I was delighted that Minister Creed agreed to come to Mullingar for the day to hear first-hand the situation on the ground and where the farming community could benefit from additional government support.
“Also, it is important for him to outline exactly what his department is doing ahead of Brexit and ahead of the winter,” he said.
Farm safety
Meanwhile, Peter Gohery – a farmer from Co. Galway who lost his leg in a farm accident, will also address the meeting about the importance of farm safety.
The increased number of farm fatalities this year is a worrying trend, according to Deputy Burke. He also farms alongside his father in Mullingar.
Enough can never be done around farm safety when you see what can happen when things go wrong.
“It often takes hearing these kind of stories to shock our systems into changing habits that have been with us for decades,” he added.
The President of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), Joe Healy, will also address the meeting. Other speakers will include: Sergeant John Connolly, who will be speaking on crime prevention and how to protect your farm; Barry Hyland, Agri-Advisor with AIB, who will be on hand to talk all things finance; and David Webster, a local Teagasc advisor.
Those in attendance will also hear from Paddy Donnelly, the man who has offered his farm to the public for the evening, Deputy Burke explained.
As a beef and suckler farmer, he represents the mainstream of progressive farming in this part of the country.
“The information evening is open to all and light refreshments will be served afterwards,” the Fine Gael TD concluded.