Does anyone else feel affected by the atmosphere of negativity that I feel? I have little doubt that others will share this feeling and I really appreciate that Katherine O’Leary has shared her opinion on this, as there is strength in solidarity.

Her [positive] attitude towards negative farming commentary is a reflection of how farmers always take on challenges: “...Until we can work out how we are going to do what we have to do, without actually going out of business.”

She is looking for feedback on what the O’Leary family farm needs to do, and will do, to meet the environmental challenges. In short: give us the tools to change and we will make it happen.

Last week, there was a pretty continual barrage of negative feedback arising from COP26, amongst other things. Research shows that feedback is key to improving performance and effective leadership. We (it’s human nature) will take on board positive feedback from just about anyone who is willing to share it but negative feedback is not accepted as freely. The latter is no less valuable though, as it helps us to identify what changes are needed.

So all negative feedback is not the most effective way to encourage people, especially when you factor in that not all negative feedback is genuine

However, with most feedback to farmers currently negative, people are closing off from the possibilities of positive change. They are being affected! According to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), negative feedback can make us defensive, angry, and self-conscious, which subsequently impairs our effectiveness. So all negative feedback is not the most effective way to encourage people, especially when you factor in that not all negative feedback is genuine.

The HBR gives examples of when feedback could be inaccurate and or nefarious: a colleague who doesn’t want you to succeed; a boss with unachievable expectations; an employee who is scared to speak truth to power; or a person who is simply projecting their own issues onto you. All of these could be applied to the debate that is raging on.

Each farmer is an individual – a mother, father, brother, sister, granny and/or granddad

When I read or hear about “farmers”, they are portrayed in an almost generic sense, a grouping. A cohort of individuals reduced to the same fate as their animals; a “national herd”. Neither is a fair reflection.

Each farmer is an individual – a mother, father, brother, sister, granny and/or granddad. Individual people who are being robbed of their identity in this debate. Farmers are no more a faceless group than the national herd is a state feedlot. The IFA is asking farm families to come to Dublin on Sunday 21 November to highlight that, despite what is portrayed, our farms are run by people.

Farming families that want a secure future for their children and grandchildren. That is both in terms of addressing climate change and ensuring that farms remain viable. These two things are not mutually exclusive, but there needs to be more positive framing around agriculture. At this point, no one is unaware of the impact that farming has on the environment but solution driven policy and some positive feedback would go a long way toward encouraging change at this point.

November is a time for remembering and praying (if that is your way) for loved ones who have gone before us. Although, Adam’s Cloud books have always been part of my children’s lives, and I knew Adam’s story, this week’s cover story still made me cry. There are very few of us that have not felt loss through death. We are all affected.

Ní imithe uainn atá siad, ach imithe romhainn.

Read more

Maintaining a standard of living against rising costs

Farming has a good story to tell but it’s not a fairytale