Does our Minister for Agriculture give a toss?

Bleating Lamb

Our Minister for Agriculture is a young up and coming politician but I think he might just be in the wrong portfolio.Heard from a reliable source that around time he was meeting with Farming groups with his advisors to discuss current problems in beef farming with thousands of over fed bulls been delayed getting killed by factories deliberately manipulating the kill rates he commented that beef farmers needed to learn about supply and demand.......even though they were actively encouraged to rear bull beef.
The minister seems to be more into Ear to the Ground type farming and its all about 'Agri business'.....and to hell with livestock farming.

Conmaicne Mara

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Those are his interests, entirely.

Minister for the Agri Food Industry, supported by the Irish Agri Food Association and the Irish Agri Food Journal.

No interest in my sector for sure as he never turns up at a hill farming event. Get the feeling farmers are just something to be used to make a job for someone somewhere else, be it red tape, H&S, or whatever.



Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd breathe.

J.O. Farmer

Something makes me think he might have some interest in the agri-food industry.

grazeaway

Depends on whose ear he is listening to. The ifa were delighted to "their man" in the job. Also his brother is one of the top boys in green core. And he does look good in a suit at photo ops.

I'm sure as long as the people of cork south keep voting him back in he'll say he is working for them.

As for your question, I'm sure as a politician he does give a toss. But what for is a different question!!! Irish politicians are not exactly renowned for thier selflessness. Covney is always quick to point out other faults but like all good party boys is able miss those around him.

yessam

The Minister's concerns about factory exports will always be ahead of farmers welfare.

bbam

Like any minister given a portfolio... he'd sell us all out to make himself look better to the boss so he can get a better class of portfolio in the reshuffle.

grange mac

grazeaway wrote: »

Depends on whose ear he is listening to. The ifa were delighted to "their man" in the job. Also his brother is one of the top boys in green core. And he does look good in a suit at photo ops.

I'm sure as long as the people of cork south keep voting him back in he'll say he is working for them.

As for your question, I'm sure as a politician he does give a toss. But what for is a different question!!! Irish politicians are not exactly renowned for thier selflessness. Covney is always quick to point out other faults but like all good party boys is able miss those around him.

I can tell you he wants everything from Bandon south west to the Mizen Planted as he couldnt care less about the hundreds of small farmers in that area...he just cares bout the big boys with tillage/Dairy!!

He dont give a dam about the small farmer! But what would I know im just a small farmer!

blue5000

I think once upon a time cj haughy was a minister for agriculture, this one is no better. All he's interested in is being the next leader of fg party

kevthegaff

Yep i have to agree small farmers arent looked after well, lads bringing in crazy SFPs and then small farmers getting tiny increments on the new system

Conmaicne Mara

blue5000 wrote: »

I think once upon a time cj haughy was a minister for agriculture, this one is no better. All he's interested in is being the next leader of fg party

He sure was and my father will hold that against him for ever more. After he came home from Canada and the USA in the early sixties that prick wouldn't give him a herd number, while shall we say certain types of soldiers were getting them no issue.

Mac Taylor

To be fair to the man he couldn't give a crap about farmers especially small and part time farmers. As a pt farmer, I am a complete waste upon this land, depending on the type of land, we should sell up to the dairy boys, tillage lads or plant it. (don't get me wrong, nothing against these enterprises.) Farming is big business which if it could be done without farmers all the better. This gov has no interest in maintaining rural Ireland. jeez, nothing like a late nite rant before bedtime!!!!

Username John

Mac Taylor wrote: »

To be fair to the man he couldn't give a crap about farmers especially small and part time farmers. As a pt farmer, I am a complete waste upon this land, depending on the type of land, we should sell up to the dairy boys, tillage lads or plant it. (don't get me wrong, nothing against these enterprises.) Farming is big business which if it could be done without farmers all the better. This gov has no interest in maintaining rural Ireland. jeez, nothing like a late nite rant before bedtime!!!!

Did you sleep sound after the rant Mac?

Dozer1

unfortunately for the vast majority of small farmers our days are numbered, regardless of what we believe we are price takers and I don't believe for a second that any minister of any party will give 2 hoots about us.
A few more winters like 2012/2013 and there will be plenty trees and for sale signs.

Inputs are on the rise and any price in the factories isn't going to cover it.
We can't scale as we have fragmented land parcels and every dairy lad around you is waiting to expand.

Cavanjack

The minister can have his say next Tuesday. Ifa Protest at dept of agriculture on beef cuts and spec cuts.

Wooly Admirer

Agri employment up 29.8% or 26,800 on last year. Link to CSO report here http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/latestheadlinefigures/qnhs_q42013.pdf

Not saying this is all down to Coveney, but growth is what its all about. There's plenty I would like to see him do, but its impossible to keep every farmer happy. Every decision favours some, and not others - he's got to try and spend money where it'll deliver the biggest return.

The minister can't be blamed for some having small fragmented farms - that's not his departments fault, nor is it his fault that inputs are rising - this is business......

Mac Taylor

Username John wrote: »

Did you sleep sound after the rant Mac?

John, yep slept like a baby, not sure whether it was the rant or the fact that I was whacked!!!!!
No rants tonight, feeling at one with myself!!

Lano Lynn

have to dissagree ,the minister could and should do plenty about fragmented holdings,while the state is an economic basket case it is remarkable that the agricultural sector is preforming so well ,it is shameful that it is not being shared equitably .
we have had some dreadful ministers in the past (I personally curse the name of joe walsh most days)
coveny for all his failings could do a lot with a little and not waste the oppertunity of a good crissis.
while he has had his plate full with EU cap shuffle ,but niether he or any of his predicessors tackled land use policy or adequately addressed farm fragmentation,by minimising legal costs etc,the systematic gouging of primary producers by nonsensical regulation and charges,
(the new GLAS programme is broadly the same as AEOS but you have to hire an advisor to apply for glas...typical job creation.)
now that they have found where the horse meat came from perhaps simon would like to find out where the extra kilos of lamb goes to from 'overweight' lambs that we don't get paid for!
there is plenty the minister could do and I am disapointed that a young and potentially capeable minister has not broken the stale failed examples of the past.

larrymiller

Dozer1 wrote: »

unfortunately for the vast majority of small farmers our days are numbered, regardless of what we believe we are price takers and I don't believe for a second that any minister of any party will give 2 hoots about us.
A few more winters like 2012/2013 and there will be plenty trees and for sale signs.

Inputs are on the rise and any price in the factories isn't going to cover it.
We can't scale as we have fragmented land parcels and every dairy lad around you is waiting to expand.

Lads what would yee call a small farmer acres wise?

Miname

Lano Lynn wrote: »

have to dissagree ,the minister could and should do plenty about fragmented holdings,while the state is an economic basket case it is remarkable that the agricultural sector is preforming so well .

Realistically now what can the minister do about fragmented holdings , i also keep hearing this about the ag sector doing well, who within the sector is doing well, it may have looked to be performing but realistically it was just a feel good story cooked up to take peoples minds off the recession.

Dozer1

In case I wasn't clear Wooly I wasn't blaming the minister for fragmented farms, or the rise in input costs, like you say its business and that was my point, in business the smaller guys who can't compete will be closed down sooner or later.

My point was that it didn't or doesn't matter what the minister does, farmers for the most part won't agree to consolidate holdings with long term leases or land swaps. So those who aren't making a wage from it will go out of business either by choice or not.

post 2015 something similar might happen some of the smaller COOPs also if they don't consolidate

patjack

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry......... ......agri food industry.........

Those are his interests, entirely.

Minister for the Agri Food Industry, supported by the Irish Agri Food Association and the Irish Agri Food Journal.

No interest in my sector for sure as he never turns up at a hill farming event. Get the feeling farmers are just something to be used to make a job for someone somewhere else, be it red tape, H&S, or whatever.



Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd breathe.

Would echo these sentiments,

He has no appreciation for farming in isolated, disadvantaged areas, and how the these areas need active farmers. His premise is basically, if you can't farm intensively then I am not going to help, and the "agri-food industry" is better off without you. He sees no value in mucksavages like me and others on here who farm hills and bog and look after his SPA' s and SAC's. He doesn't see our contribution to tourism, the social economy of rural Ireland. Unless your milking 150+ cows, farming 300 acres+ tillage, keeping 250+ sucklers, etc. well then your not wanted in Coveneys vision for the future of Irish farming.

I have written to previous Ministers for Agriculture over various issues and have always got a response, be it good or bad. I wrote to Coveney, I think he used it to wipe his ass, because he didn't reply.

I though Mary Coughlan was bad, jeez Coveney you top the bill!!

Muckit

Anyone listening to his interview on radio 1 this morning? Only got the tail end

on the river

he should be called the 'minister who will take enda's Job'

ZETOR_IS_BETTER

Muckit wrote: »

Anyone listening to his interview on radio 1 this morning? Only got the tail end

I only caught a snip (open to correction) of his comments about the bull beef situation, but one of his comments to the current situation was that exports were up 11% in the agri sector.

Great ability to spout rubbish

Lano Lynn

Miname wrote: »

Lano Lynn wrote: »

have to dissagree ,the minister could and should do plenty about fragmented holdings,while the state is an economic basket case it is remarkable that the agricultural sector is preforming so well .

Realistically now what can the minister do about fragmented holdings , i also keep hearing this about the ag sector doing well, who within the sector is doing well, it may have looked to be performing but realistically it was just a feel good story cooked up to take peoples minds off the recession.

got to agree with your second point.farmers are not doing well at all I have never seen so little farm building in progress.

on fragmented holdings ,
first face down the vested intrests that make most out of land mobility,banks & legal.
broaden farm partnerships similar to french systems.
cut nonsensical paperwork.
preferential loans & tax incentives.
a land use policy like denmark.

yellow50HX

ZETOR_IS_BETTER wrote: »

Great ability to spout rubbish

Sure what else would you expect, he is after all only a politican

Conmaicne Mara

patjack wrote: »

Would echo these sentiments,

He has no appreciation for farming in isolated, disadvantaged areas, and how the these areas need active farmers. His premise is basically, if you can't farm intensively then I am not going to help, and the "agri-food industry" is better off without you. He sees no value in mucksavages like me and others on here who farm hills and bog and look after his SPA' s and SAC's. He doesn't see our contribution to tourism, the social economy of rural Ireland. Unless your milking 150+ cows, farming 300 acres+ tillage, keeping 250+ sucklers, etc. well then your not wanted in Coveneys vision for the future of Irish farming.

I have written to previous Ministers for Agriculture over various issues and have always got a response, be it good or bad. I wrote to Coveney, I think he used it to wipe his ass, because he didn't reply.

I though Mary Coughlan was bad, jeez Coveney you top the bill!!

I know you were replying to my own post but I couldn't have put it a lot better myself.

One thing I'd nit pick with is the disadvantaged areas, which are something like 73% of the country I think. The payment bands are too narrow when one reflects on the stock carrying capacity of the different land types within DAS. It does need reform but I am wary of what initial shape that may take under this minister.