Damien’s Diary: see it from the farmer's perspective

Whatever happens regarding government formation, the significance of the past few weeks for Irish farming shouldn’t be underestimated. Green Party fingerprints on the agricultural chapter of the programme for Government is monumental and good news for farming. Here’s why.

Science shows us the contribution intensive agricultural activity makes to global warming and this is multiplied in a country like Ireland. Farming is to Ireland what car manufacturing is to Germany.

it’s the Irish farmer that’s become the target for all that’s wrong with Ireland’s dismal record

So what can we do about it? Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) figures on agri emissions are not great. But farming is not alone. Overall, Ireland is in the EU’s relegation zone in meeting climate targets. We need to pull our socks up in terms of transport, industry and yes, farming.

However it’s the Irish farmer that’s become the target for all that’s wrong with Ireland’s dismal record. It’s more likely that a field of cows rather than a city traffic jam will be used to illustrate the negative impact of climate change here. The 34% emissions figure is for all agricultural production, yet it’s the mug shot of the relatively tiny (in world terms) Irish dairy or beef farmer that adorns the climate emergency wanted posters. And that translates into the online onslaught which farmers are dealing with every day from online bullies who have never set foot on a farm in their life. Particularly in the UK, some media are unapologetic in their anti-farming editorial.

Easily impressionable young people are being fed anti-farming propaganda

The populist “reduce the national herd” wheeze is a reflection of this. It shows a general ignorance about the collective complexity of sustainability which has not one but three pillars – economical, societal and environmental. Farmers are literally stressed out at the vilification. I’ve heard anecdotes of children embarrassed to reveal their family enterprise to others.

Easily impressionable young people are being fed anti-farming propaganda which complicates matters. It’s one thing being genuinely concerned about the intensification of agriculture and its impact on biodiversity, air, soil and water quality. But it moves to a more sinister level when it’s used as a cover for hidden agendas or campaigns about animal welfare or big agribusiness. On some of these profiles, peel away a layer and you’ll find profound hatred for everything conventional livestock stands for. It’s dangerous, unsubstantiated and an anathema to what genuine environmentalists and scientists stand for.

In any case, change is coming by way of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy

My point is that, away from the online noise, and through the prism of the programme for Government, farmers and the Green Party – enjoying their largest ever mandate – are now signalling a willingness to work together with the aim of protecting the environment, rural communities and farm family livelihoods concurrently. That is my point.

In any case, change is coming by way of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. And without much quibble, farmers say, if they’re suitably financially incentivised, their sleeves are rolled up and they’re ready to play their part.

A trade off should now be for environmental stakeholders to shoo away the urban dog whistlers with their self serving anti-ruminant bile. The Green Party spokesperson on agriculture Pippa Hackett put it perfectly last week: “We need buy-in not just from farmers but from the environmental side too.” At long last, two contrived adversaries are finally realising the only way forward for all our sakes is together. What is not to like?

By admitting he’d like to punch Manchester United’s David De Gea in the dressing room at half time after his boo-boo against Spurs, Roy Keane proved that great players don’t necessarily make great managers.