IFA branch meetings started on Monday 25 November at which members vote for the positions of IFA president and deputy president.

The meetings are confined to IFA members, as notified by post, and members can only vote at their own branch meeting.

The IFA national count will take place at the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday 17 December. The new president will take up office at the annual general meeting in January 2020.

Three candidates have been nominated to run for the position of IFA president – John Coughlan from the Buttevant branch in north Cork, Tim Cullinan from the Toomevara branch in north Tipperary and Angus Woods from the Barndarrig branch in Wicklow.

Two candidates have been nominated to run for IFA deputy president – Thomas Cooney from the Laragh branch in Cavan and Brian Rushe from the Carbury/Cadamstown branch in Co Kildare. Make your choice and have your say by voting at your branch meeting.

John Coughlan

John is a dairy, beef and tillage farmer from Buttevant, Co Cork. Alongside his wife Ann, and children Michael and Helena, John milks 100 cows, finishes over 100 cattle, and grows cereals.

John is an active campaigner for farmers and IFA members for 25 years. He was elected chair of the IFA’s Munster region in 2016, previously served as chair of north Cork IFA and represented farmers on national livestock and environment committees.

An experienced negotiator, John has a local, national and European track record of delivering results for farmers, including:

  • A 33% reduction in anti-dumping duties on ammonium fertilisers resulting in a saving of €20m/year for farmers.
  • The €100m aid scheme for beef emergency aid measure (BEAM) payments.
  • A 26% increase to €68.50/linear metre in compensation for farmers affected by gas infrastructure developments.
  • Restoration of payments for farmers affected by motorway developments.

    • John wants to use his experience and energy to lead a farmer-focused IFA which:

  • Restores farm incomes.
  • Delivers family focussed CAP reforms.
  • Secures a fair share for farmers from ring-fenced green funding.
  • Prioritises the welfare of all farm families.

    • Tim Cullinan

    Tim has been farming in Toomevara for over 40 years. He says he has never seen farm incomes so severely challenged or witnessed so much frustration among IFA members in his lifetime experience of dairy, beef, tillage and pig farming.

    Tim wants to put the fight back into the IFA to deliver for farmers and to meet the unprecedented challenges facing farmers over the next four years.

    He says his 15-year track record in IFA committees and county roles is proof that his presidency would be all about making a stand, fighting for farmers and getting results.

    Whether it was securing the Nitrates Derogation, going to war with supermarkets on prices, taking on the Department of Agriculture and winning on farm inspections, securing bonus payments from retailers for quality of produce, or negotiating a substantial compensation package for farmers devastated by the dioxin crisis, he says he was fearlessly on the farmers’ side.

    The power of IFA, properly harnessed, can deliver for farmers. But only strong and focused IFA leadership can make that happen, according to Tim.

    Tim believes farmers can trust him to provide the type of leadership that is needed to make the IFA and IFA membership a powerful, relevant and campaigning force that will deliver for farmers.

    Angus Woods

    Angus farms full-time with his family at Rathnew, Co Wicklow. His has a mixed enterprise farm with beef, suckler cows, sheep and barley.

    He is chair of the IFA’s national livestock committee, elected in 2016.

    As chair, Angus works tirelessly at home and internationally to defend the interests of Irish farmers. Delivery on critical issues include:

  • €100m BEAM scheme.
  • €40m of additional money for a Suckler Cow Support Scheme.
  • Substantial increase in live exports, including exports to Turkey.
  • Significant reduction in Department levy on calf exports.
  • Naming and shaming of factories engaged in illegal trimming.
  • Introduction of a close out model for on-farm Quality Assurance inspections.
  • Commissioning of a study into the importance of suckler cows to the Irish economy.
  • Defending competition in beef markets including challenging the takeover of Slaney Meats by ABP, in Dublin and in Brussels.

    • He holds a number of EU positions including president of the Commission’s Civil Dialogue Group on Animal Products and vice-chair of the COPA Beef Group. He is a member of the EU Meat Markets Observatory Group.

    Angus values team work and endurance and knows how to pull hard. He has represented Ireland with distinction as a rower in World Championships.