IFA must be careful – it is in danger of winning the battle but losing the war
FOR the past two days, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has led farmer protests outside Aldi and Lidl distribution points and says it will continue to protest until beef farmers get a significant price increase.
Beef prices are poor at the moment, some €180 a head behind the UK price, impacting on farmers’ incomes. It has been almost 18 months since beef prices were above €4 a kilogram, a position where farmers actually earn a margin. Yesterday ABP, the beef processing group, confirmed the beef price it pays to farmers will rise on Monday.
It comes after pressure from farm organisations for a price rise due to the strengthening of the market in the UK and across Europe.
But why has the IFA started to blockade German retailers Aldi and Lidl now after farmers held up Dublin city centre last week?
The IFA says Irish beef prices here have been well behind the EU and UK, and retailers have a powerful grip on the food chain and cannot shirk their responsibility to farmers.
And while there is no arguing with the premise of the IFA’s position, there is more going on that has the IFA making the headlines this week.
Unknown to most outside the farming community is that the recent strife in the sector has come at an extremely sensitive time for the IFA.
Its members are currently voting to elect the IFA’s 16th president. But while the campaign rhetoric has been some of the most dramatic heard in an IFA presidential election, it seems to have failed to excite the electorate. All signs point to a historically low turnout.
The IFA has long been regarded as the country’s most effective lobby group. Over the years it has drawn its strength from being able to use its vast membership numbers to pressure politicians.
However, in recent years the IFA has been battered by internal strife and a host of breakaway groups. These groups have eroded the IFA’s ability to dominate farm politics and also weakened farmers’ confidence in its ability to get the job done in its dealings with the Government and industry.
The most significant and damaging splinter from the IFA has been the Beef Plan Movement’s (BPM) emergence.
It struck at the heart of the IFA organisation by taking decisive action when it shut down beef processors for weeks this summer.
Its abrasive approach led to a feeling among some farmers that increased militancy is the only way to improve their lot. This was further highlighted when farmers brought their anger and tractors to Dublin and shut down the capital’s centre for two days.
These actions have weakened the IFA’s role in farmers’ eyes and there is no doubt the need – to quote one seasoned farm politics observer – “to be seen to be doing something” has been a key element of the IFA’s latest action.
The IFA knows that by moving its protests around and only blockading a facility for 12 hours it can get plenty of media coverage without the danger of legal action, a significant element in ending the BPM protests.
It also knows the publicity generated may give a bump in the number of its members who vote this week as it is seen to be taking strong action. It also comes at a time factories have indicated imminent price rises.
A shrewdly thought-out and planned campaign could help tick a lot of boxes for the IFA.
It may be misjudging the court of public opinion, though. Farmers have long enjoyed support from the public, with many Irish people still having a connection or at least an affinity to the land. But times are changing and fewer people understand the real issues facing farmers, while strong messages around climate change and veganism have left farming branded by many as a ‘dirty’ industry.
Another farmers’ protest this week may help the IFA garner a few extra votes from members and perhaps even a price increase for beef farmers. But it runs the risk of farmers looking like the boy who cried wolf in the eyes of the public.
The IFA needs to be careful it doesn’t win a battle but lose the war.