It’s fair to say, that for the past year, farmers, particularly suckler and beef farmers have felt under attack.
Strong but true.
A cold and late spring, a hot dry summer, low beef prices, higher costs, climate change experts, vegan activists, rural isolation, a reduced CAP budget and Brexit politicians.
Fight back
A long list it is, but now is time for farmers to fight back. There’s not much we can do about the weather but be prepared for all eventualities. With a bit of luck, this spring and summer will not be as harsh as 2018, so we need to take full advantage of our grass-based systems.
Now is the time to take soil samples and make decisions about fertiliser use for the year ahead. Plan how to get cattle to grass early and spread slurry before closing fields for silage. Spend the rest of the year growing as much grass as possible and improve our grassland management skills, including grass measuring and using all available technology.
Carbon footprint
There are numerous climate change experts telling farmers they need to reduce their carbon footprint. There will be measures under the next CAP budget encouraging farmers to reduce their carbon footprint and farmers are willing to play their part. However, we must emphasise the current measures that farmers are undertaking.
All stakeholders in Irish agriculture need to support a campaign to back our farmers
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture reduced by 0.7% from 1990 to 2017, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, while emissions from energy industries increased by 3.7% and transport by over 133%. The total increase in Ireland’s GHGs from 1990 to 2017 was 9.6%.
The facts and figures need to be taken in this context and the fact that we are one of the most carbon-efficient producers of beef in the Europe, needs to be put into the public domain more.
Veganuary
The online Veganuary campaign, with the help of big financial backing, also needs to be countered. All stakeholders in Irish agriculture need to support a campaign to back our farmers and farmers themselves can use their online presence to back a February campaign to promote Irish grass to beef production using the hashtag #GrasstoBeef.
Suckler cow and calf grazing in Sligo. #GrasstoBeef
I suggest that Bord Bia invests in a brand and marketing campaign promoting Irish beef and its benefits to a healthy diet and our sustainable methods of production. Current promotions involving the Irish and Scottish rugby teams and their connection with beef, appear to be gaining traction.
Marketing
More of this is needed and a longer-term strategy, where Irish beef is marketed under the one brand achieving a premium price on international markets should be the medium-term goal. This measure alone should increase the price paid back to the primary producer, limit current rural population decline and isolation and counter the impending CAP budget and Brexit issues.
Finally, all those involved in agriculture should make it their business this week to purchase some wholesome, healthy and delicious Irish beef from their local butcher and spread the good news story Irish beef has to tell.
Read more
Farmer writes: why introduce a suckler cow scheme?
Farmer Writes: Outdoor calving kicks off with a bang
It’s fair to say, that for the past year, farmers, particularly suckler and beef farmers have felt under attack.
Strong but true.
A cold and late spring, a hot dry summer, low beef prices, higher costs, climate change experts, vegan activists, rural isolation, a reduced CAP budget and Brexit politicians.
Fight back
A long list it is, but now is time for farmers to fight back. There’s not much we can do about the weather but be prepared for all eventualities. With a bit of luck, this spring and summer will not be as harsh as 2018, so we need to take full advantage of our grass-based systems.
Now is the time to take soil samples and make decisions about fertiliser use for the year ahead. Plan how to get cattle to grass early and spread slurry before closing fields for silage. Spend the rest of the year growing as much grass as possible and improve our grassland management skills, including grass measuring and using all available technology.
Carbon footprint
There are numerous climate change experts telling farmers they need to reduce their carbon footprint. There will be measures under the next CAP budget encouraging farmers to reduce their carbon footprint and farmers are willing to play their part. However, we must emphasise the current measures that farmers are undertaking.
All stakeholders in Irish agriculture need to support a campaign to back our farmers
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture reduced by 0.7% from 1990 to 2017, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, while emissions from energy industries increased by 3.7% and transport by over 133%. The total increase in Ireland’s GHGs from 1990 to 2017 was 9.6%.
The facts and figures need to be taken in this context and the fact that we are one of the most carbon-efficient producers of beef in the Europe, needs to be put into the public domain more.
Veganuary
The online Veganuary campaign, with the help of big financial backing, also needs to be countered. All stakeholders in Irish agriculture need to support a campaign to back our farmers and farmers themselves can use their online presence to back a February campaign to promote Irish grass to beef production using the hashtag #GrasstoBeef.
Suckler cow and calf grazing in Sligo. #GrasstoBeef
I suggest that Bord Bia invests in a brand and marketing campaign promoting Irish beef and its benefits to a healthy diet and our sustainable methods of production. Current promotions involving the Irish and Scottish rugby teams and their connection with beef, appear to be gaining traction.
Marketing
More of this is needed and a longer-term strategy, where Irish beef is marketed under the one brand achieving a premium price on international markets should be the medium-term goal. This measure alone should increase the price paid back to the primary producer, limit current rural population decline and isolation and counter the impending CAP budget and Brexit issues.
Finally, all those involved in agriculture should make it their business this week to purchase some wholesome, healthy and delicious Irish beef from their local butcher and spread the good news story Irish beef has to tell.
Read more
Farmer writes: why introduce a suckler cow scheme?
Farmer Writes: Outdoor calving kicks off with a bang
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