Sinn Féin LEA candidate outlines her vision for farming

Sinn Féin local election candidate Evelyn O’Keeffe, Charleville, running in the Kanturk LEA, is calling on the government to reverse the 2024 budget increase in carbon tax and fuel excise, including for agri-diesel, to help farmers in the current crisis.

Evelyn says: “Sinn Féin wants to deliver a new vision for Irish Agriculture, one that embraces a positive approach to farmers and farming families, as they are the custodians of the land and they, above anyone, have been the ones protecting it for generations”.

Evelyn believes that, at a time when much is being asked of farmers, it is crucial that we support farmers and help them to deliver and thrive into the future.

Talking to farmers, they have spoken to Evelyn about stress being part and parcel of most farmers’ day to day lives. With this in mind, and the current long extremely wet few months, farmers are currently under immense pressure, both mentally and financially.

Evelyn said: “The Government needs to act now. The current Government needs to step out of the reactive mindset that we see time and time again and be proactive in their approach to the farming community.

“They need direct action, not another talk shop or committee. Not being able to get cows out to grass and/or sow crops that should be in the ground by now, these situations will have huge financial implications later in the year for these farmers

“Mental health supports and the easing of financial pressures on farmers should be implemented with immediate effect. The reversal of the 2024 budget increase in carbon tax and fuel excise, including for agri-diesel would be a welcome start”.

She also feels that the slurry dates need to be looked at. “Slurry spreading depends on the weather. The restrictive nature of forcing farmers to calendar farm with our unpredictable weather is causing huge stress. Take this year for an example, earlier in the year, there was good frost and fields were dry in some parts, slurry could have been spread safely. But now it is too wet to spread.

“Each year is different. A more adaptable and local approach to slurry spreading needs to be looked at.

“Farmers’ mental health is important. We ask our farmers to look after the environment and we should listen to them when they are telling us the current slurry calendar farming isn’t good for farming or the environment.

Evelyn also welcomes her party’s policy to “ensuring fair prices and transparency in the agri-food supply chain, supporting innovation on family farms to future proof it for the next generation of farmers.

“Payments for farm schemes need to be paid on due dates, this has caused undue stress on farmers and farming families. The TB programme needs to be well resourced, and Sinn Féin advocates for a fairer CAP.”

She feels these policies will help reduce stress in the day to day lives of the farming community.