There’s election fever in Dairgyold Co-op, I see. Three board seats are up in the air and due to be filled in the middle of next month. Tom Feeney of Mitchelstown and John O’Sullivan of Whitechurch, have finished their terms while Seán MacSweeney of Lisarda must put himself forward for re-election.

Up to 10 farmers are expected to go forward, so MacSweeney will have to battle hard.

Rules

Adding to all the talk, the co-op’s rules and review committee is concluding its solemn contemplation on a series of issues. One is the rules on election of board chair and vice-chair, raised by Tom Feeney.

Another is new milk. Processing capacity is filling up. While there are few new entrants with greenfield sites left in its catchment, existing suppliers want to expand. The co-op must take all milk from members. But tough decisions are fast approaching on sharing up or other forms of supplier contributions towards stainless steel.

Landmines

There are no landmines in the report, The Dealer hears. If so, chief executive Jim Woulfe will be glad to see the process over. It has taken up staff and board member time and has delayed decisions on approaching matters, eg expansion. Today’s meeting (Thursday) of the 160 committee members will get a progress update, or maybe even the report itself.

I see that the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) has upset some of its neighbours in the salubrious and leafy Lansdowne Road area of south Dublin.

Residents are appalled that the VCI moved in with scalpel-like precision and cut down the generations-old trees at the back of its office, which is nestled in the shadow of the Aviva Stadium.

That’s where the soccer and the rugby is played in Dublin, if you’re wondering.

Well, the affluent neighbours think a lack of consultation and carrying out the work outside of normal work hours wasn’t strictly cricket – no, that’s not played in the Aviva.

Maybe the VCI is thinking of branching out into tree as well as bovine, ovine, equine and porcine surgery.

The Dealer can’t quite be-leaf it.

Cattle farmers’ livelihoods are under attack from every side on climate change, militant veganism and other environmental type issues. For something different, Westmeath ICSA last week invited climate change rebels Drs Michael, Ronan and Imelda Connolly to address members. They deny they’re deniers, saying climate change is ever present.

More controversially, they say it’s natural not manmade and in Castletown Geoghan last week they showed slides and posters to this effect. Given all that’s going on, the cattle farmers listened with interest but they reserved judgement afterwards.

Farmers took to social media last week to complain about the RTÉ series, What Planet Are You On?

Many highlighted their concern when “diet expert” on the show Dr Marco Springmann suggested Irish people swap local cheese for avocados.

The Dealer duly asked RTÉ if they had received any complaints regarding the show. RTÉ said no.

A farmer then sent The Dealer a copy of the complaint they sent to RTÉ and the acknowledgement from RTÉ.

The Dealer pointed out this fact to RTÉ but RTÉ was quick to come back that the complaint was not “formal”. “Formal complaints can only be made in writing to the complaints office or by email to complaints@rte.ie,” a spokesperson said.

I’m sure that information might come in handy to a few farmers reading.

The Dealer was clearing out some sheep he had forgotten he had in the flock.

Bringing the few brave sheep to the mart, the advent of the electronic identification (EID) has revolutionised the booking in of the creatures.

While I was awaiting the arrival of the wand to read the tags, the pen next to me was being booked in. When the mart staff asked the farmer if any of the sheep had distinguishing marks, the farmer quipped back “yeah, they’re not dead”.

There you have it, EID is not yet needed.

Monday’s calf export meeting in Wicklow was about to start when organisers David and James Scallan realised that a person opposed to livestock transport had infiltrated the room. She refused to leave.

Seamus Scallan Sr rose to the occasion, calmly announcing that while exporters would be happy to meet her later, it would be best if she didn’t attend the meeting.

He invited everyone else to move to another room which they did – minus the potential protester who departed. The meeting – focused on calf welfare - was uninterrupted after that.