FF and Agriculture

road_high

What people think of this current govt and their attidude to agriculture?
It hasn't been great IMO; they have presided over the loss of our Sugar Industry and the flight form the land has accelerated under them.
Wonder how farmers will vote next time? I'd say FG will make big gains.
Tom Parlon, the self-appointed 'farmers friend' will I hope loose his seat.

I think its attitude is about the same as any other government's.
Government is about compromise,especially coalition.


That said, if theres a minister in this government that made a haims of Agriculture,its Dick Roche(him and Teagasc) and his ridiculous interpretation of the nitrates directive.He wont be getting my vote thats for sure.I mean how is Agriculture in this country to compete on a level playing field with the rest of the world who are just as intensive and have none of the restrictions?

Dont get me started on the paperwork that Ireland in particular has invented that even the rest of Europe doesnt impose as strictly and is non existant with our Non EU competitors.

As for the sugar industry,You can blame Mandelson for that.We're just a small voice in Europe now, theres no more of this punching above our weight.

maidhc

I think FF, and most other political parties are loosing interest in farming and farmers. The percentage of GNP is falling all the time, and there are fewer and fewer farmers to cast votes.

The failure to make any movement on alternative energy is appaling though, and as said above the obnoxious attempt at transposing the nitrates directive is unforgivable.

In fairness to Parlon, since he joined the PDs their tent at the ploughing has improved dramatically. Last year they had lovely coffee and top class biscuits!

Manoffeeling

Big changes since this thread was posted.

Tipp Man

Well ff have a right bloody socialist in Agri now

He'd be better off in Sinn Fein or the socialist party

freedominacup

Tipp Man wrote: »

Well ff have a right bloody socialist in Agri now

He'd be better off in Sinn Fein or the socialist party

Nope he fits right in with FF policy and tradition. He's only trotting after his grandad.

maxxuumman

I remember before the last election, just as agriculture was starting to get it's feet under itself, being maddened by posters of Mr Martin walking through fields canvasing to farmers. Prior to that the only thing they thought a field was good for was a building site. A few years earlier when farmers were working 7 days a week to scrape a living, we were being laughed at by the Celtic Tiger crew.

badshot

maxxuumman wrote: »

I remember before the last election, just as agriculture was starting to get it's feet under itself, being maddened by posters of Mr Martin walking through fields canvasing to farmers. Prior to that the only thing they thought a field was good for was a building site. A few years earlier when farmers were working 7 days a week to scrape a living, we were being laughed at by the Celtic Tiger crew.

spot on

freedominacup

Stop picking on FF now lads or Rancher will be along and we'll all be subjected to a bit of "re-education" FF style where we'll learn the error of our ways a be properly indoctrinated in the correct interepretation of FF policy.

moy83

Has anyone been to o Cuiv's meetings about the SFP ?

rancher

freedominacup wrote: »

Stop picking on FF now lads or Rancher will be along and we'll all be subjected to a bit of "re-education" FF style where we'll learn the error of our ways a be properly indoctrinated in the correct interepretation of FF policy.

How do you reckon I'm a FF supporter.......big mistake

bbam

Anyone worried about the increasing popularity of the shinners?
Haven't they muted the fairness of land taxes irrespective of profit?

I think the current government are less interested in all things Agri, not that anyone has properly supported it in quite a while.

mf240

bbam wrote: »

Anyone worried about the increasing popularity of the shinners?
Haven't they muted the fairness of land taxes irrespective of profit?

I think the current government are less interested in all things Agri, not that anyone has properly supported it in quite a while.

Theyll find it very hard to get another party to go in with them.

Labour will be punished hard at the next election if they continue to be seen to be just making up the numbers for F.G. this might help the shinners a bit.

Conmaicne Mara

moy83 wrote: »

Has anyone been to o Cuiv's meetings about the SFP ?

No, but I wouldn't mind attending one to hear what's going on.

Tipp Man

bbam wrote: »

Anyone worried about the increasing popularity of the shinners?
Haven't they muted the fairness of land taxes irrespective of profit?

I think the current government are less interested in all things Agri, not that anyone has properly supported it in quite a while.

God help us if and when shinners get power

They are dangerous and will ruin this country even more

whelan1

Tipp Man wrote: »

God help us if and when shinners get power

They are dangerous and will ruin this country even more

agree 100% but what do ye suggest realistically to improve the current situation?

pakalasa

I can see another political party being formed in the near future. There's a vacuum there at the moment, that most reasonable people fear will be filled by SF.

Dont be daft

maxxuumman wrote: »

Prior to that the only thing they thought a field was good for was a building site. A few years earlier when farmers were working 7 days a week to scrape a living, we were being laughed at by the Celtic Tiger crew.

So true. And now they're singing our praises as the exports literally keep the country going.

bbam wrote: »

Anyone worried about the increasing popularity of the shinners?
Haven't they muted the fairness of land taxes irrespective of profit?

The land tax is only a matter of time, not of political party. Labour would do it right now if they had the Dail to themselves.
Once the property tax is well established its a natural progression to start taxing land.

pakalasa wrote: »

I can see another political party being formed in the near future. There's a vacuum there at the moment, that most reasonable people fear will be filled by SF.

Michael McDowell has hinted that he would be interested in helping one to become established. Whether he'd lead it is a mystery.
Whether they'd place any emphasis on farming is an even bigger mystery.

whelan1

do ye think there will be a general election this year?

20silkcut

Would rather see ff and FG in coalition and give us a decent government with parties of somewhat similar ideologies.

whelan1

according to lmfm today mairead mc guinness will contest for fg for the seat left vacant by the death of shane mc entee

epfff

whelan1 wrote: »

do ye think there will be a general election this year?

Nope
no side has the heart for it

saranac1

I was at an o cuiv sfp meeting, it was productive and informative, he is very concerned with European views on protecting important structures like new grange burren etc and if we don't protect them serious fines coming. He's all for pillar 2 but it depends on the budget and finance bill in new year and how it will affect sfp and young farmers getting started pre 2014

moy83

saranac1 wrote: »

I was at an o cuiv sfp meeting, it was productive and informative, he is very concerned with European views on protecting important structures like new grange burren etc and if we don't protect them serious fines coming. He's all for pillar 2 but it depends on the budget and finance bill in new year and how it will affect sfp and young farmers getting started pre 2014

Who else was speaking at it ? O Cuiv talks a great game about anything but I wouldnt take everything as gospel from him either .
Was there anyone from the United Farmers Accosiation speaking ?

Conmaicne Mara

I'd love to compare & contrast. Attend one of his meetings in Galway, and another well away from Galway. Is there a list of them I wonder or are they over?

moy83

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

I'd love to compare & contrast. Attend one of his meetings in Galway, and another well away from Galway. Is there a list of them I wonder or are they over?

I would be pretty sure that he wont be down the sunny southeast telling the big farmers that they dont deserve a penny because the poor small farmers in the west need all the envelope from europe

Manoffeeling

20silkcut wrote: »

Would rather see ff and FG in coalition and give us a decent government with parties of somewhat similar ideologies.

Do you not know what has happened here in the last few years?

hugo29

bbam wrote: »

Anyone worried about the increasing popularity of the shinners?
Haven't they muted the fairness of land taxes irrespective of profit?

I think the current government are less interested in all things Agri, not that anyone has properly supported it in quite a while.

Yes very worried, if they ever got a sniff of power the country would go down the tubes

hugo29

whelan1 wrote: »

do ye think there will be a general election this year?

I hope not, give sf time to mess up, was always wondering why the ifa don't form a party,

Conmaicne Mara

moy83 wrote: »

I would be pretty sure that he wont be down the sunny southeast telling the big farmers that they dont deserve a penny because the poor small farmers in the west need all the envelope from europe

It would be an interesting exercise all the same. Not sure he'd be that bad, but I'd be interested in hearing what's added in or taken out, depending on location.

freedominacup

moy83 wrote: »

I would be pretty sure that he wont be down the sunny southeast telling the big farmers that they dont deserve a penny because the poor small farmers in the west need all the envelope from europe

Where are these big farmers in the sunny south east. We farm 150 acres all of which was bought by my father or myself on the open market. Wehave a substantial SFP but it all goes on bank repayments. Why should I have a moments concern for any imagined disadvantages western farmers believe they have? and why should they get any access to the SFP we generated here? We had 10% of our milk quota robbed in '84 to be sent Wesht and they still haven't managed to fill the f**kn thing:mad:. Could I even get a chance to buy it back? Not on your Nelly. So basically if you wanted a bigger SFP you should have worked harder in the nineties but hands off mine I earned it you didn't. After 2015 I'll probably feel a bit different if even the reasonably benign scenarios come to fruition for the post quota world. Until then hands off go and get your own.