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Momentum is building around the need to have farmers back at the ringside of the country’s marts after a week of disruption where sales have been held 100% online over the last seven days.

All the main farm organisations have rowed in behind these calls, with farmers on the ground becoming increasingly frustrated about not being able to see animals walking around a ring when making their purcahses.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Donegal Town mart manager and chairperson of the Mart Managers of Ireland group has stressed the importance of farmers getting back around the ring to help both buyers and sellers at this important time of the year.

“Don’t get me wrong, the combination of online bidding and ringside bidding has been great and it really has revolutionised marts, but you can’t expect farmers to be able to completely gauge the value of stock from a camera.

Remember

"I know buyers are allowed see animals before a sale but how could you remember 500 animals in 15 minutes and then sit for four or five hours to bid on them?”

The group made its views known directly to the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue this week.

“We need farmers to contact their local TDs and county councillors to heap the pressure on the government to allow farmers back at the ringside. We have done everything in our power to make marts safe. Hand sanitising, ventilated areas, social distancing are all in place so there is no reason why we can’t have 25 customers back around the ring,” she said.