IFA candidate joins farm income debate

“Groups and bodies making money on the back of farmers need to step-up and do more to secure our future.”
This was the views of Brian Rushe who is in the running to be the next deputy president of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
Rushe was reflecting the increasing anger at farm level, particularly from beef farmers, that more needs to be done to protect the income of family farms across the country,  
“I am acutely aware of the horrendous time our beef farmers are having at the minute. They feel isolated and exposed and their anger has come to the top in recent weeks," he stated.
“I recently saw another self-congratulatory photo opportunity from Bord Bia. This time a group of chefs from Korea were brought to Ireland to see how Irish beef has been produced, and we were told that ‘they were all very impressed with the Irish grass-based system’.
“This was all part of a marketing campaign being run in Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines – three huge and potentially very lucrative markets. These markets are secured on the back of taxpayers and farmer levy money, farmers’ hard work and our image, as that is what’s used to sell and market this beef.
“Farmers have an obligation to be completely transparent in everything we do, from the day an animal is born to the day it’s sent to the factory, the farmers’ contribution to the supply chain is 100% transparent; yet the processors who benefit most from these markets are secretive, hiding their profits and offering no such transparency.
“Without farmers there is no food and drink exports, no Origin Green, no trade missions and no supply chain jobs. Government and Bord Bia would do well to remember this the next time they step in for a photo opportunity,” Rushe said.
Brian Rushe farms in Co Kildare with his wife Rebecca and sons John and Rhys. As part of his election manifesto, Rushe said he is fighting for a sustainable farm income for all farm families in Ireland,