Coupled payments for suckler farmers and how the three IFA candidates would relate to suckler farmers along the western seaboard were two questions asked in the Irish Farmers Journal debate on Friday night.
John Coughlan said he has spent the last 30 years buying quality continental weanlings in the west of Ireland.
“I fully understand what the suckler farmer is doing, what he is providing to the industry and I communicate with them every year when I’m buying cattle.
John Coughlan.
“The reality is that the suckler farmers are a unique breed in a unique part of the country, that the suckler cow is the animal that has to be kept there. It’s the only animal that is suitable for a lot of the western part of Ireland and we have to maintain that animal there in order to maintain the environment.
“I believe that the suckler cow is contributing to the tourism industry in the west of Ireland.”
He said he does not think we have too many sucklers in the country.
Tim Cullinan said he can relates to a 10-cow man in Ballina.
I think every farmer is entitled to make a living from farming
“I started on a very small farm. I grew up on a 20ac farm and I know what it’s like to have a small farm and try to make a living off that. I’ve done that. I have a business now but it was built up over the years.
“I think it’s crucial that we maintain the suckler farmer in the west of Ireland and in other parts of the country as well, because they are doing a job.
Tim Cullinan.
“I think every farmer is entitled to make a living from farming. It’s not every farmer that can or wants to milk cows and there are parts of the country which we all well know are not suitable for milking cows,” he said.
Financial implications
Wicklow suckler and sheep farmer Angus Woods also said he can relate to suckler farmers in the west.
“I know the financial implications of keeping suckler cows and the prices. I finish my own progeny myself, so I can definitely relate to any of these suckler farmers up and down the country.
“I’ve been a firm believer right since I’ve come in as livestock chairman to support the suckler cow and support the numbers and the farmer. That’s been my state of policy right from the beginning,” he said.
Coughlan said he doesn’t believe there should be any coupled payment from the CAP budget.
“That’s tying farmers into having inactivity in order to claim payments. I’m in favour of suckler payments through rural development schemes and through further payments be it rural development or environment,” he said.
Cullinan said he wanted a €300 suckler cow payment, not coming from the direct payments pot of money.
“We have our Government here talking about climate change and I believe by keeping the suckler cow and the sheep on disadvantaged areas on the hills of Ireland, what we are doing is keeping the grass there, and it’s a far better carbon sink than planting trees in it. We need a change of mindset here. What we need to keep rural Ireland alive is to keep the suckler cow, grazing on the hills, grazing the grass that we produce in Ireland which is an excellent carbon sink and I think that’s the way,” he said.
Angus Woods said if you look at what’s happening at the moment between the Beef Data and Genomics Scheme, the BEEP scheme and the BEAM scheme, we’re anywhere between €160 and €180 per cow.
Angus Woods.
“We’re at €180 per cow. People said we’d never get to €200; we’re close to it. We need to bring it together now. There’s two payments left on the BDGP. We need to bring it all together, make one farmer-friendly scheme which is beneficial for farmers. More than likely it would have to be environmentally based too,” he said.
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Coupled payments for suckler farmers and how the three IFA candidates would relate to suckler farmers along the western seaboard were two questions asked in the Irish Farmers Journal debate on Friday night.
John Coughlan said he has spent the last 30 years buying quality continental weanlings in the west of Ireland.
“I fully understand what the suckler farmer is doing, what he is providing to the industry and I communicate with them every year when I’m buying cattle.
John Coughlan.
“The reality is that the suckler farmers are a unique breed in a unique part of the country, that the suckler cow is the animal that has to be kept there. It’s the only animal that is suitable for a lot of the western part of Ireland and we have to maintain that animal there in order to maintain the environment.
“I believe that the suckler cow is contributing to the tourism industry in the west of Ireland.”
He said he does not think we have too many sucklers in the country.
Tim Cullinan said he can relates to a 10-cow man in Ballina.
I think every farmer is entitled to make a living from farming
“I started on a very small farm. I grew up on a 20ac farm and I know what it’s like to have a small farm and try to make a living off that. I’ve done that. I have a business now but it was built up over the years.
“I think it’s crucial that we maintain the suckler farmer in the west of Ireland and in other parts of the country as well, because they are doing a job.
Tim Cullinan.
“I think every farmer is entitled to make a living from farming. It’s not every farmer that can or wants to milk cows and there are parts of the country which we all well know are not suitable for milking cows,” he said.
Financial implications
Wicklow suckler and sheep farmer Angus Woods also said he can relate to suckler farmers in the west.
“I know the financial implications of keeping suckler cows and the prices. I finish my own progeny myself, so I can definitely relate to any of these suckler farmers up and down the country.
“I’ve been a firm believer right since I’ve come in as livestock chairman to support the suckler cow and support the numbers and the farmer. That’s been my state of policy right from the beginning,” he said.
Coughlan said he doesn’t believe there should be any coupled payment from the CAP budget.
“That’s tying farmers into having inactivity in order to claim payments. I’m in favour of suckler payments through rural development schemes and through further payments be it rural development or environment,” he said.
Cullinan said he wanted a €300 suckler cow payment, not coming from the direct payments pot of money.
“We have our Government here talking about climate change and I believe by keeping the suckler cow and the sheep on disadvantaged areas on the hills of Ireland, what we are doing is keeping the grass there, and it’s a far better carbon sink than planting trees in it. We need a change of mindset here. What we need to keep rural Ireland alive is to keep the suckler cow, grazing on the hills, grazing the grass that we produce in Ireland which is an excellent carbon sink and I think that’s the way,” he said.
Angus Woods said if you look at what’s happening at the moment between the Beef Data and Genomics Scheme, the BEEP scheme and the BEAM scheme, we’re anywhere between €160 and €180 per cow.
Angus Woods.
“We’re at €180 per cow. People said we’d never get to €200; we’re close to it. We need to bring it together now. There’s two payments left on the BDGP. We need to bring it all together, make one farmer-friendly scheme which is beneficial for farmers. More than likely it would have to be environmentally based too,” he said.
Read more
Watch back: IFA candidates take part in Irish Farmers Journal debate
Paddy Power reveals favourite for IFA election
IFA candidates on dairy calves: breeding policy and sexed semen lab discussed
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