Incomes of farming families need to be protected with support sought from the Department of Agriculture to aid workers in this sector negate the impact of Brexit.
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue (FF) has been urged to the outline “the funds initiatives and schemes with timelines that will be put in place to support, enhance and protect farm family incomes, post Brexit,” by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF).
Greater concentration and attention must be placed on the impact to farm families incomes, the Corofin native told a recent meeting of Clare County Council. “In 2018 the good news was farm income increased by 11%, the beef farmer income was €9,180 which isn’t going to make a farm family too rich I’m afraid, since then we’ve had Brexit and interruptions with trade and CETA. Beef is making €3.80 on a good day per kilo but it needs to make €4.50 to leave a profit”. He said a “monetary value” on the management of lands by farmers has been forgotten.
“It is about valuing what we hold dear, we must value farm families for adding to the vibrancy of rural communities. It is the law of unintended consequences while encouraging investment into our country we could damage our identity in communities which farmers form part of,” Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) commented.
Expectations have been surpassed since the New Year for farmers, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) admitted with the move to online not having the forecasted negative affect. “The Government need to channel the money where it is needed most”. Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) also voiced his support for the proposal, “Dependency on all the schemes is critically important. Farmers are custodians of our environment”.
