Inspections, Brexit and milk prices were just some of the topics covered at last week’s Agricultural Science Association (ASA) annual conference.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan said that there will be less human interaction during farm inspections and less inspections in general post-2020.

Commissioner Hogan said that new technology was being developed to remove the need for human interaction, in terms of inspections on farms.

“Farmers do not like people coming on to their land in relation to inspections over the years and I am blue in the face listening to farmers talking about the need to remove the human interaction of inspections, so we are developing new technology.

“It is not Big Brother, but it is about improving the system of control that has less human interaction and less inspections. I think farmers will welcome that,” he said.

Listen to "All the reaction from the ASA conference" on Spreaker.

Brexit warning

Meanwhile, Niall Browne of Dawn Meats issued a Brexit warning, stating that now is not the time to be complacent and stick our head in the sand when it comes to Brexit.

Browne said that from an Irish beef industry point of view, a good Brexit for Ireland would be an EU27 trade agreement that is tariff- and barrier-free, with free and unfettered access to Britain.

“Any disruption to current supply chains will have negative consequences for farmers, consumers and businesses.”

Milk price

Also speaking at the conference was chief executive and director of Glanbia Ireland Jim Bergin, who said dairy farmers can expect a solid year of milk prices in 2018, with markets expected to make good returns, although there are factors which could negatively influence the price.

Bergin said that the most immediate effect (on price) is weather, followed by what’s happening in Europe, given that milk production in France and Germany has recovered well after culling following the dairy downturn of two years ago.

He said the current instability in the dollar is his “biggest factor” in determining milk price in 2018.

Following the conference, Derrie Dillon of Macra na Feirme was appointed president of the ASA.

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