President Michael D Higgins called for those in beef negotiations to view what is on offer as a beginning, and to make it a good beginning for the future of the family farm and rural Ireland.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow on Tuesday.
“One word of advice from someone of my experience is to say, if it cannot be solved by what’s on offer, it’s a beginning and beginnings are important,” the President said, wishing those who are trying to solve things every success.
President Michael D Higgins visiting the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2019 / Philip Doyle
Contribution
“More importantly, I hope at the end of the Ploughing you will all know the importance, how the contribution is divided between the agent of production the farmer, the processor and the retailer.
"Because everyone should know more and when we know more you can make good decisions.”
The Ploughing provides a bridge over the urban-rural divide, he said.
"No one is too far from the land. We must all work together to be able create a future for rural Ireland and for those who do the work and are entitled to their fair share.”
Climate targets
Climate change and sustainability formed a key part of the President's speech both this year and last.
He paid tribute to all those farmers participating in GLAS and other agri-environmental schemes.
“The evidence is there that Irish farming is responding to these challenges [of climate change and sustainability].
“I want to ask the farming community, what you do is you go to the head of the race on biodiversity and climate change because you are people who know it better than others.
“If Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency, it does so in the full knowledge that it has to make more sacrifices because of the proportion of the economy that relies on agriculture. But there is nothing that we can’t solve together.”
Farm family
However, with the backdrop of poor beef prices and ongoing protests, he paid tribute to the farmers that make rural Ireland tick.
“It is farming communities making Irish rural life possible. There is every evidence that so much can be achieved together,” the President said.
President Higgins and his wife Sabina at the National Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co Carlow.
“There will be changes in relation to what is taking place, but we must prepare for the just transition.
"People need not lose if it is planned properly.
"People must be willing to pay for rural Ireland, they must make it possible for people in rural Ireland for them to have services that enable them to partake in society with an equal citizenship.
“They need transparency, protection and a fair system. Let us now have fair produce, fair treatment for everybody involved.”
Read more
Ploughing 2019: ‘we’re producing a top-quality product; why can’t we get paid?’
President Michael D Higgins called for those in beef negotiations to view what is on offer as a beginning, and to make it a good beginning for the future of the family farm and rural Ireland.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow on Tuesday.
“One word of advice from someone of my experience is to say, if it cannot be solved by what’s on offer, it’s a beginning and beginnings are important,” the President said, wishing those who are trying to solve things every success.
President Michael D Higgins visiting the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2019 / Philip Doyle
Contribution
“More importantly, I hope at the end of the Ploughing you will all know the importance, how the contribution is divided between the agent of production the farmer, the processor and the retailer.
"Because everyone should know more and when we know more you can make good decisions.”
The Ploughing provides a bridge over the urban-rural divide, he said.
"No one is too far from the land. We must all work together to be able create a future for rural Ireland and for those who do the work and are entitled to their fair share.”
Climate targets
Climate change and sustainability formed a key part of the President's speech both this year and last.
He paid tribute to all those farmers participating in GLAS and other agri-environmental schemes.
“The evidence is there that Irish farming is responding to these challenges [of climate change and sustainability].
“I want to ask the farming community, what you do is you go to the head of the race on biodiversity and climate change because you are people who know it better than others.
“If Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency, it does so in the full knowledge that it has to make more sacrifices because of the proportion of the economy that relies on agriculture. But there is nothing that we can’t solve together.”
Farm family
However, with the backdrop of poor beef prices and ongoing protests, he paid tribute to the farmers that make rural Ireland tick.
“It is farming communities making Irish rural life possible. There is every evidence that so much can be achieved together,” the President said.
President Higgins and his wife Sabina at the National Ploughing Championships in Fenagh, Co Carlow.
“There will be changes in relation to what is taking place, but we must prepare for the just transition.
"People need not lose if it is planned properly.
"People must be willing to pay for rural Ireland, they must make it possible for people in rural Ireland for them to have services that enable them to partake in society with an equal citizenship.
“They need transparency, protection and a fair system. Let us now have fair produce, fair treatment for everybody involved.”
Read more
Ploughing 2019: ‘we’re producing a top-quality product; why can’t we get paid?’
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