At the Connemara/Mayo Blackface Breeding Group’s premier breeding sale, farmers told me of their disillusionment with Irish Farmers’ Association and…

IFA Presidential candidate and Laois farmer Francie Gorman says the Government must increase its supports for the agriculture sector in Budget 2024 after its “failure to provide any meaningful supports to the sector in last year’s Budget.”

Strong leadership is required to restore the role played by farmers in devising policies that impact on their livelihoods.

The farming sector has faced persistent and unfair criticism from environmentalists in the media. This criticism doesn’t mean farmers get a free pass on the environment, but it also doesn’t mean that the work of farmers to improve water quality and the sustainability of their produce should be ignored either.

Government double talk over the nitrates rules has descended further into a blame game between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. As a result, neither party is prepared to defend farmers’ interests.

I spoke to Ciaran Mullooly today about the increasing pressures on farmers to make a living, with a particular focus on the impact of the Bord na Móna closures on part-time farmers.

FA Presidential candidate Francie Gorman joined colleagues from across the country today to protest outside the Fine Gael party think-in in Limerick over delayed farm payments, proposed changes to a nitrates derogation and the need for supports for the vulnerable livestock sector.

More than 300 farmers are today staging a protest outside the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in in County Tipperary over proposed changes to a nitrates derogation and plans to hold further protests.

Francie Gorman launched his campaign where there was more than 350 people in attendance, including former IFA President John Bryan and IFA County Chairpersons from across the country.