Brexit and fodder fears under the spotlight at Mallow meeting
THE thorny issue of Brexit and its possible implications for the Irish agricultural sector will be just one of the issues to come under the spotlight at a public meeting set to take place in Mallow next Monday evening.
The meeting, which has been organised by Bweeng dairy farmer Donal Barrett, will get underway at 7.30pm in the Mallow GAA complex at Carrigoon.
Speaking to the Corkman Mr Barrett said the meeting will be addressed by a number of keynote speakers including Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe, Macra president James Healy, Teagasc advisor John McCarthy, the Fianna Fáil food and horticulture spokesman Jackie Cahill TD and Oireachtas agriculture committee member Senator Tim Lombard.
He has issued an open invitation to farmers from across the Dairygold catchment area to attend the meeting, saying they will be given the chance to raise specific issues of concern to them with the speakers over the course of the evening.
“Brexit in particular is a key concern to many farmers’ as we do not really have any real clarity on how it will impact the Irish agriculture sector in the future,” said Mr Barrett.
He said that the contradictory messages coming from the British establishment on the issue have caused huge confusion about how Brexit will play out and the potentially catastrophic impact it could have, not just on the Irish agricultural sector, but on the Irish economy as a whole.
“Farmers are already feeling its impact with the price of beef and stock hitting the floor. We are concerned that our very livelihoods could be under serious threat and want to know what is being done to protect our industry into the future,” he said.
“This meeting will give farmers a chance to air their concerns and seek clarity on how the powers that be are working to protect their interests.”
Mr Barrett said another issue that will be high on the agenda as we move into the winter season will be the fodder situation.
“While the fodder crisis may no longer be making headlines, it is still of grave concern to many farmers as we enter the winter, with some facing the very real prospect of not having enough feed to see out the season,” said Mr Barrett.
For that very reason managers and agri advisors from the Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB and the Credit Union have also been invited to address the meeting.
“Many farmers have been put under huge financial pressure because of the fodder crisis. While some measures have been put in place to address the problem, farmers need assurances that there will be help at hand to ensure they can manage their herds over the coming months,” said Mr Barrett.