I see the IFA has lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) over an advertising campaign claiming that “eating animals contributes more to climate change than transport”. The complaint argues that the campaign by Go Vegan World, which has appeared on outdoor posters and in national media, is in breach of the ASAI code of conduct.

The code states: “Where there is a significant division of scientific opinion or where evidence is inconclusive, this should be reflected in any statements made in the marketing communication.”

The IFA cites sources with different findings and contends that the advert does not provide research or statistics to back up its claim. It describes Go Vegan World’s campaign as misleading to the public, offensive to farmers and potentially damaging to their livelihoods.

Brexit prep going bananas up North

Preparations for Brexit within the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland (NI) have gone bananas, literally.

Amendments to several pieces of legislation were proposed in a consultation last week and mainly involve subtle wording changes, such as replacing references to the EU with the UK.

Legislation affected by the proposed amendments include the Marketing of Fresh Horticulture Produce Regulations 2010, the Agriculture, Food and Horse (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and, last but not least, the Marketing of Bananas Regulations 2019.

Anyone with strong feelings about how Brexit will affect the banana trade in NI should submit a response before the consultation closes on 8 May.

Wanted: dairy farmer to work on island and pay no income tax

The inhabitants of Sark in the Channel Islands are looking for a dairy farmer who has plenty of experience and can bring their own cows with them.

There is no dairy farm left on the island after previous tenant Chris Nightingale quit milking due to rising costs, according to the BBC.

Sark is located between the island of Guernsey and France and cars are banned, with locals and visitors using bicycles and horse-drawn carriages to travel around.

More importantly though, there is no income tax payable there.

Green light for Talbot pay increase as shareholders cast vote at AGM

At this week’s AGM of Glanbia plc, I noted with interest that the motion to award a pay rise to Glanbia boss Siobhan Talbot and finance director Mark Garvey was passed comfortably, with 73% in favour.

There had been rumblings that shareholders might vote against the proposals after two firms which provide independent advice to investors on governance, ISS and Glass Lewis, questioned the pay increases.

Both firms advised shareholders to reject the proposed salary increases for Talbot and Garvey given that the company was lowering certain performance targets linked to bonuses and share rewards.

Talbot’s base salary will now rise by 22% from €860,000 to €1.05m as part of a new three-year deal. Mark Garvey will see his salary increase from €505,620 per annum to €581,000 – a 15% pay rise.

A legend of breeding passes away

Friends, family, neighbours and Hereford breeders turned out in force to mark the passing of a legend in the pedigree game, Margaret T (Gretta) McCabe, last weekend. Gretta and her sister Leila have been breeding quality pedigree cattle for over 70 years under the Beaghmore prefix. Their biggest success came in 2016, when their bull Beaghmore Romeo 2 was reserve champion at the Irish Hereford Society’s autumn sale. The Dealer knows that their legacy will live on, with one breeder coining the Gretla (shortening of Gretta and Leila) prefix in honour of the McCabe sisters.

Prison time for farm trespassers

I see vigilante animal activists in Australia could face up to 12 months in prison for sharing personal information which allows them to target and trespass on farms. The government down under has promised farmers that, if re-elected, it would introduce an offence designed to protect farmers and primary producers from the unlawful actions of animal activists. That’s fair dinkum in my book.

US beef farmers to sue factories

I see US beef finisher body the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (or R-CALF) has filed a lawsuit against four beef processors over what it alleges is a “conspiracy to suppress the price of fed cattle”.

The four factories named are Tyson Foods Inc, Cargill Inc, JBS USA and National Beef Packing Co. Together they controlled over 80% of the finished cattle kill in the US in 2017.

Inspectors with cúpla focal required

There’s many a gasúr questioning the relevance of learning their native tongue in schools, so parents should take note the Department could need more Irish-speaking inspectors to serve Gaeltacht regions.

The Department was taken to task at a recent Oireachtas Committee for only having three inspectors who could conduct an inspection as Gaeilge.

The Dealer might be tempted to take up such a pensionable position, but in the immortal words of Richie Kavanagh: “I not know no focal at all.”