The Big Dealer: more Brexit drama as Boris calls in queen

In the week when the beef factories are fighting Irish farmers in the High Court, British prime minister Boris Johnson has decided to sideline parliament to prevent them stopping his Brexit plans.

This has provoked outrage among MPs opposed to Brexit, with one proclaiming that he would have to be removed from Parliament by the police and others organising street protests.

It all makes the farmer protests at the meat factories look a low-key affair, but of course Brexit is a serious threat to Irish farmers.

In the northern edition of the Irish Farmers Journal we report on the direct consequences of a no-deal Brexit.

The arable (tillage) and vegetable sectors have been advised that exports of certain products to the EU, including the Republic of Ireland, will stop overnight, regardless of tariffs.

In London there is speculation about the queen getting involved in the Government versus parliament crisis.

The Dealer is wondering has anyone thought of asking President Higgins to arbitrate on the farmers dispute with the factories.

I am hearing the NPA is on the scout to secure a site for the Ploughing once it moves on from Carlow.

It is understood managing director Anna May McHugh has sent out letters to some farmers and is close to doing a deal with a farmer in Offaly to secure a site for the medium to long term.

While the NPA is thought to be looking at leasing the farm, it has been suggested before that the NPA might consider buying a permanent site to host the outdoor event.

With €10m in the bank, it could certainly afford a decent-sized farm.

With the World Ploughing coming in 2021, the NPA and the general secretary of the World Ploughing, Anna Marie McHugh, has only two years to secure a site and make plans for what is expected to be a four-day event.

It was a baptism of fire for RTÉ agriculture and consumer affairs correspondent Fran McNulty in his first week on the job.

The Longford man flew from pillar to post covering factory protests and his voice could be heard at regular intervals at every news bulletin.

They say if you want to test the strength of a teabag you put it in hot water. If Fran was a teabag I’d feel sorry for the water.

His reporting shone through in a difficult week for the farming community and The Dealer would like to reward him with a well-deserved pat on the back.

The only fly in the ointment in RTÉ’s reporting of a rural issue was the use of a picture of Brazilian cattle to introduce the segment on Irish beef protests. Fran might want to have a word with the news desk about that.

I see the IFA is keeping the postbox of the competition authority busy these days.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (CCPC) came to the attention of farmers during the beef talks, as it dictated that price must remain off the table.

Well, CCPC chairwoman Isolde Goggin now finds two letters on her desk from members of the IFA.

President Joe Healy has called for a meeting to find out why price can’t be discussed at talks, while presidential hopeful Tim Cullinan has demanded an investigation into the beef processors.

Mixed messaging or a two pronged attack?

I see a job listing has appeared on DoneDeal seeking students or retired members of the farming community to lead beef protests.

The call has come after factories decided to launch injunctions against farmers at the picket lines. The job has been described to suit “anyone without assets as we don’t want to lose a farm because of legal actions”. The listing also states “applicants need to be strong in their makeup, believe in peaceful protest and be prepared to risk jail time.”

In The Dealer’s day, US students got up to bra burning at protests; it appears youngsters of today have graduated to beef protests.

I see the Skidoo pedigree Charolais herd near Dublin is holding a dispersal sale on 14 September. It’s one of the oldest Charolais herds in Ireland.

The rumour I hear is that there will be a rotary milking parlour going in and there will be plenty of black and white cows appearing to replace the all-white herd that is currently in place.

The ball is back in play in west Cork after the National Dairy Council alerted Drinagh Co-op they could not have representation on the board of NDC. Since April 2018 Drinagh has been in discussions with NDC looking for a seat on the board and I understand NDC finally said no. Drinagh subsequently decided to discontinue the NDC levy collection and to refund farmer levies collected since April 2018.