No quitten we're whelan onto chitchat 12.

The central problem with ALL farm organisations in this country is that what suits me doesn't suit you, him or her. With the overall number of farms dropping and scale increasing, this will continue to get worse. Smaller numbers who are impacted by one measure or another will lead to smaller weaker protests.

7,500 out of 120,000 farmers affected by nitrates by the article above, yet it was a headline issue because the ICMSA are probably the most formidable organisation left. Their membership is all at the same game and want more or less the same things.

Beef farmers are diverse, with suckler lads summer grazers, 7 month men and contract rearers all kinda included in that group.

Sheep farmers vary from the lad with 30 heavy lowland ewes around the house to people with 600 mountain ewes. Their goals are different, their acreage different, their payments different.

Tillage are a smaller quieter group, with again different interests.

Horticulture and extreme smallholders aren't really represented.

Organic farmers another group.

To add complexity, some of us fit into 2 or 3 brackets. I'd be in mountain sheep and sucklers, but also rare breed and Organic, as well as being the worst type of all - part time.

A lot of the big dairy and Beef farmers dont see us as 'farmers' at all, more like rats scurrying away with "their" payments because of convergence.

There is absolutely no hope that one organisation can represent us all. The IFA purported to at one time, but never really gave a toss about small holders in Leitrim or mountain farms in Kerry which is why most frim these type of operations left.

I used to think that the solution was a 'family farm' movement, but the biggest feedlot or 300 cow dairy farm is usually owned by a "family" even if the sons and daughters couldn't find it to visit.

I don't know….

well earned. Enjoy yourself

We recently moved into our "McMansion". 2300sqft. Too big - for sure but it's what we wanted, saved for, and built. We designed it ourselves - inside and out. We used our own equipment or borrowed what we could. Her father organised the trades men who were all 100% and paid out the gate each Friday. Only exception was the electricians who after more than 30 months since starting still haven't finished. **** them - they ain't getting back. We have 60% of it mortgaged, and the rest paid for through savings over the past 12 years. 12 years in which we paid rent, got married, had 2 kids (one which was born when the roof wasn't on), changed both cars and had a few holidays. Neither of us would be classed as "high paid" but do earn over the average. And that didn't happen by fluke either. We worked damn hard in school/college and in employment to ensure we couldn't not be paid well. Our only borrowing is the mortgage. We don't smoke, rarely have pints, odd takeaway and don't snort powder up the nose either. Don't have fancy phones, multitude of subscriptions or any crazy waste. And we live comfortably.

I didn't say none, rarely for pints but takeaway a bit more often. Might even have one tonight

The person supposed to have taken their own life following their part in the protests in Dublin was supposedly from co Meath.

Is that eejit still rage baiting. Thought he was gone years ago. 🤣🤣

It Just shows how low these guys will go with their disinformation. It's tough when we have to rely on the IFJ for the truth.