As farms have grown in scale we regularly hear the line thrown out that some young farmers are too busy farming to be involved in local politics, producer groups, discussion groups or the co-op. The line continues that they are better off at home doing something for themselves.

Think about this. These are the young people who will be producing product that will form the backbone of the co-op. Young farmers that are investing hundreds of thousands in a business, growing assets and providing local employment, yet they are seemingly too busy to get involved in a local co-op group, a farm organisation or an action group.

There is something very short-term and wrong with this and only farmers can change the attitude that causes it. The day farmers are too busy doing rather than forming strategy, learning or dreaming for the sector will be a sad day for the industry.

Leadership of your private business is understandable but your business is one of many under the umbrella. Never has agriculture required such strong and firm leadership. We see challenges in all sectors. There are always challenges, but farmers must adapt and change how they organise themselves.

Who will take the tillage report published last week and build an action plan around it? Who will commit the time and resources to make changes? It takes ownership, responsibility and leadership to do that.

It’s all very well to extol the virtues of the sector as environmentally friendly but who will put the hard work into building a roadmap to take the produce into higher-value markets rather than let imported product of unknown origin fill the gaps?

What have you done as a discussion group or a farm organisation to forward the cause for better leadership?

Who will continue to hold dairy co-ops accountable? We are so lucky to have farmer owned co-ops. However, corporate governance training sometimes confuses board members on where their loyalty lies: is it towards the co-op (at all cost) or the farmers that own the co-op?

Farmers are the co-op so all must be done in line with what is best for the farmers. Those in management are employed by the farmer-owned co-ops to complete a job. Management must take the actions on the ground, but it is up to the farmers to build a vision and a roadmap and hold management accountable.

How are we training the next generation of co-op directors – the outer boards? Are they informed, trained and up to speed on the business challenges?

As dairy farmers have grown in scale, individual businesses are silently becoming more powerful whether they like it or not. However, as individuals they are still limited and it’s only by actively engaging with other farmers can they wield real influence.

Clear vision required

The ongoing consolidation of beef processing facilities on top of an already consolidated sheep processing sector again shows why livestock farmers need a clear vision for where they are going in business. Producing more just for the sake of it is a non-runner.

Farmers need clear routes to added value for their produce, whether that is through protected geographical status or otherwise.

It’s fine to have read, understood and maybe even agreed with some of what’s written here – but what have you done as a discussion group or a farm organisation to forward the cause for better leadership?

Have you invited your local co-op board member out to a farmer meeting to address you as a group? Have you started a conversation with a purchaser or farm organisation rep that is more than just a phone call to whinge or give out?

Remember, these people have given up their own time to represent you. However, to make them very successful in their role, it takes pressure, encouragement and support from real farmers to do the right thing.

If you take the attitude that they are only out to line their own pockets then that sort of apathy will seep into their decision-making.

If you take the time to engage then you can drive real leadership in the right direction.

This week's cartoon

\ Jim Cogan

Dawn & Dunbia: transparency key to earning farmer trust

With Dawn Meats taking complete control of the Dunbia group, which was established by the Dobson brothers, it means beef and sheep processing in Ireland and the UK is now dominated by three large companies.

Strong, large companies with the ability to deal with large supermarket groups and large global buyers isn’t in itself a bad thing for Irish farmers. However, what is unacceptable is that the main players in Irish meat processing choose not to reveal information on their profitability which, though perfectly legal, means farmers have no way of knowing how much of a margin factories make on the cattle and sheep they supply.

If factories care about building farmer confidence in their industry, they should publish at least an annual report documenting financial performance.

Failing that, Government should make transparency a condition of any support it provides to the sector as it can only be positive.

For the primary producers who have invested so much in stock and facilities, it is very difficult to build loyalty given the absence of transparency.

The contrast with the collective exporting of Kerrygold butter is stark. During the Farm Tech Talk this week, Ornua US boss Iarlaith Smyth said all product Ornua sell into North America is branded Kerrygold. There is no own label or fudging on country of origin.

Ornua is selling butter into 26,000 US stores from basic entry level to very high standard stores. The video is worth a watch irrespective of your views on Ornua or otherwise. Smyth claims Kerrygold butter is the No2 branded butter in the US. That’s in a sector that is worth €3.6bn. You can watch the video at www.ifj.ie/farmtechtalk

Sheep: lift in prices brings confidence to sector

The lift in sheepmeat markets this year is generating a lot of positive sentiment in the sector. The positives far outweigh the negatives at the moment. Hopefully the blip in processing at one factory due to COVID-19 is only temporary and some of the lost ground can be regained.

Wool markets are strategically more challenged. With lamb sale prices running up to €20 per head ahead of last year for some farmers, plans are afoot to expand or at least reinstate breeding flocks for 2021.

Early indications from the prices achieved at the first of the breeding sales reaffirm these intentions.

COVID-19: social distancing at marts

Farmers have gotten used to dealing with strict COVID-19 measures in marts around the country but must remain vigilant. \ Philip Doyle

We’ve had a number of calls from farmers on the lack of social distancing at some marts. While understandably eager to buy and sell, everybody is susceptible to this deadly virus and there is an onus on everyone to do their part. All three parties – the mart management, the Department and the farmers – have a role to play to keep social distancing top of the agenda.

Methane: taking a different approach in New Zealand

New Zealand is aiming to reduce biogenic methane emissions by 24% to 47%. If current trends since 2016 continue, greenhouse gases per unit of meat and milk in New Zealand will have reduced by 30% by 2050. We understand work has already begun on a joint action plan on emissions and climate change with all farmers. Irish farmers, take note.

Beef: €50m payment

The €50m payout (€100/head) to beef finishers is a good first step for Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary and his colleagues. It is to be expected that there will be some calls for a linear increase per head if the scheme is undersubscribed in line with the rules of a linear cut if the scheme is over subscribed.