Following a meeting of the IFA National Farm Business Committee this week, Martin Stapleton from Co. Limerick was elected Chairman of the committee.
He succeeds Wexford man, Tom Doyle, who had completed his four-year term as Chairman.
Stapleton farms in Oola, Co Limerick, and is a dairy farmer.
The new Chairman thanked outgoing Chairman Tom Doyle for the great contribution he has made over the last four years.
He noted particularly his important role in delivering positive taxation measures for farmers and for farm development in the 2014 Agri-taxation review.
The Chairman also congratulated the new President of IFA, Joe Healy, who, prior to his election, was a member of the IFA Farm Business Committee, and he pledged the full support of the committee to the new President.
Stapleton identified that an immediate issue in his chairmanship are the serious cash flow challenges facing farmers across almost all sectors.
“I will be engaging as a matter or priority with the financial institutions and other credit providers to ensure that short-term and flexible financing options are provided to farmers, and, importantly, that the banks make farmers aware of these options.”
IFA will run a strong information campaign on farm finances during 2016, including meetings, media briefings and documentation.
“In addition, IFA will continue to support farmers facing credit difficulties, and I urge anyone who is under pressure, to look for assistance as early as possible.”
On taxation issues, the new Chairman said that he is very clear that there must be a measure found to better tackle income volatility through the taxation system and I will be working to develop proposals in this area in advance of Budget 2017.
IFA National Liquid Milk Chairman
Earlier this week, the IFA National Liquid Milk Committee elected Galway dairy farmer John Finn to succeed Teddy Cashman as their Chairman for the next four years.
Finn farms near Oranmore with his wife Joan and son Eavan. He was Chairman of the Arrabawn Liquid Milk Producer Group between 2004 and 2014, and in this position was involved in price negotiations with Arrabawn on behalf of fellow-producers.
As incoming Chairman, I want to lead milk producer groups from all around the country in a united fight to ensure cut-throat competition between dairies and retailers is not allowed to erode the milk price that specialist farmers need to remunerate their higher production costs.
“The Committee has established that the cost of producing a litre of fresh milk and to pay a modest wage to the producer comes to around 40c/L.
“In the last 12 months, our annualised prices have averaged out only 30 to 31c/L, and this despite the fact that the retail returns for fresh milk, unlike global dairy markets, have remained very stable.”
Finn said that he will be meeting with all dairies, retailers, regulators and other stakeholders over the coming months to impress on them the importance of making sure that fresh milk producers are remunerated fairly in the food chain.
Speaking about outgoing Chairman Teddy Cashman, Finn said that he has done a terrific job in demonstrating the unique value of fresh, locally produced milk for Irish consumers, and the need to sustain the livelihoods of specialist producers to secure constant supplies.
IFA National Livestock Chairman
Also this week, Angus Woods, a mixed livestock, sheep and tillage from Co. Wicklow was elected as the new Chairman of the IFA National Livestock Committee.
Woods thanked outgoing Chairman Henry Burns and said that he had worked tirelessly for livestock farmers in his role as National Livestock Chairman for the last four years.
Woods said that his main priority will be tackling the difficult income problem in livestock farming.
The new IFA Livestock Chairman also emphasised the importance of direct payments to the incomes of livestock farmers and maintaining a strong CAP, with a strong budget. He said he was very clear that the incomes of livestock farmers must improve.
Angus Woods said cattle prices, currently at a base of €4.00/kg, need to increase as they are well below the costs of production for winter finishers.