Yates pull no punches at ASA conference

While next week sees the Ploughing take its place as the annual showcase of all things rural and farming, it shares September with the Agricultural Science Association conference, which is where the industry looks at itself.

The theme, The Future of Agri-Food, naturally had a strong Brexit flavour to it.

The gala dinner that precedes the conference has become a not-to be-missed social event. Killashee House in Naas was the venue. Guest speaker Ivan Yates pulled no punches, saying all the other problems of the Irish agri-food sector pale into comparison with Brexit. The former minister for agriculture was sceptical of the prospects for tillage and to a lesser extent drystock farming. He described Ireland and the UK as Siamese twins: “Inflict pain on one and the other will suffer.”

Aidan Cotter, the recently retired Bord Bia chief executive, was presented with the ASA’s distinguished member award, a high accolade that is only given occasionally. Former IFA general secretary Pat Smith was present. He recently also attended the Energy in Agriculture event in Gurteen college.

At the conference, Commissioner Phil Hogan was in typical forthright mood, saying the eye in the sky will replace “boots on the ground” inspections. “Farmers do not like people coming on to their land in relation to inspections ... and I am blue in the face listening to farmers talking about the need to remove the human interaction of inspections, so we are developing new technology,” he said.

“It is not big brother but it is about improving the system of control that has less human interaction and less inspections. I think farmers will welcome that.”

Glanbia’s Jim Bergin credited Bake-off as being a factor in the resurgence of butter, although he warned that €6,000/t is not sustainable.

Outgoing ASA president Mary Delaney of Glanbia handed over the chain of office to Derrie Dillon, Macra’s affable agriculture and rural affairs executive. One wag quipped that it means Macra has two presidents now and, coincidentally, both Derry and the real Macra president James Healy got engaged on the same weekend recently.