Farming - Thurles Information

Tipperary’s Tim Cullinan Elected 16th President Of IFA

Mr Tim Cullinan, a pig farmer from Toomevara, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, has been elected the 16th President of the Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA) yesterday evening, Tuesday December 17th, at Castleknock Hotel, in Dublin, after initially an extremely close fought race.

Mr Cullinan eventually ended up winning comfortably, from Cork dairy & beef farmer, Mr John Coughlan, following the transfer of votes from Mr Angus Woods, latter who was the first casualty of the close-knit election.

Turnout for the voting, over the last number of weeks, was 22,998 or 32.4% of the Association’s 72,000 members.

Mr Cullinan lead on first preference votes of 932, following the first count of 22,998 votes. Mr Woods was only 253 votes behind Cork dairy and beef farmer Mr John Coughlan, when voting in the first round concluded, prior to the count of transfers.

A huge turnout in his home county of Tipperary, insured Mr Cullinan’s final comfortable win.

Long acknowledged as a driver for reform within the IFA association; securing improved beef prices will be Mr Cullinan’s number-one priority, during his tenure as new president-elect.

Agri-Porn – Irish Farm Calendar Likely To Create Greenhouse Gasses

Now in its 11th year, the Irish Farmer’s Calendar has hit the Christmas Markets, showcasing twelve of Ireland’s most handsome hunks, each involved in farming; modelling in a variety of ‘cute’ poses, demonstrating in full their ‘original agricultural charms’.

These daring male models, all 100% quality approved pure Irish beef, traceable farm to fork; are proud natives of counties, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Dublin, Limerick and Down.

The calendar; proceeds of which go to support Bóthar, was photographed at Corballis Farm, Donabate, Co. Dublin, The Hazel House Craft Café and Pet Farm, Tibradden, Rathfarmham Co. Dublin and Nore Valley Park Pet Farm in Co. Kilkenny.

Orders are already flooding in from Canada, USA, Japan, Russia, UK, Italy and France. Right now, for just €11.99 (plus postage) one of these calendars, featuring twelve shirtless, sensual and seductive photos of tanned men, each in their full glory, can be yours, delivered under plain wrapper.

Note Health & Safety Warning For Women: To avoid unnecessary accidents in the home, single women, who may be tempted into purchasing one of these calendars, are advised not to suspend same in close proximity to the Cooker or in the near vicinity of the Ironing Board. After all, lack of concentration can lead to scalds or dry burns to the skin’s surface.

TD Michael Lowry Calls For Solution To Beef Crisis

Independent TD Mr Michael Lowry pictured here with protesting farmers outside the ABP beef processing plant in Nenagh, North Co.Tipperary.

Independent Tipperary TD Mr Michael Lowry has called on all parties involved in the escalating beef dispute, to find a resolution to this current impasse, which is creating havoc within the entire beef industry.

Taking to Thurles.Info this morning, Mr Lowry stated, “I fail to understand why the recent beef forum did not fully address the central issue; which was and remains the increase in price for beef producers. This ongoing saga is and always was, an issue regarding underpayments to these primary producers”.

“It is not sustainable to expect beef producers to continue to operate at a financial loss. It is also unethical to have a small and select group of processors controlling the beef producing industry, while creaming excess profits. There needs and must be, not just fairness, but equity and balance in relation to the distribution of profits within the industry,” continued Mr Lowry.

“I have requested the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Michael Creed, to again intervene in this crisis and to find a more equitable and indeed a final solution to this most contentious of farming issues. There is no doubt that beef producers are currently in a loss-making position and this situation cannot be allowed to continue. This current stance is not sustainable and its continued consequences are causing severe hardship amongst the farming community.” Mr Lowry concluded.

Meanwhile, farmers are maintaining their presence outside of meat plants here in Co. Tipperary, with unofficial protests resuming today at the ABP plants in both Cahir and Nenagh; despite the granting of High Court injunctions yesterday, against those farmers protesting.

Beef Plan Protester Struck By Vehicle At Tipperary Factory.

As the Beef Plan Movement progress their protest plans outside various beef plants around Ireland; yesterday the Tipperary Chairman of the movement, Mr Joe Trehy, was removed to hospital following an incident outside an ABP Food Group factory, at Kilcommon More (North), Cahir, in Co. Tipperary.

Mr Trehy was hospitalized having been hit by a Jeep and trailer, latter trying to enter the meat factory, where a peaceful protest by Beef Plan Movement members and farmers had been taking place, since Monday last. Mr Trehy, who complained of back and neck injuries, is understood today to be recovering satisfactorily.

The Beef Plan Movement and farmers speak of frustration and aggression after, over two weeks on from their Beef Plan’s protest outside parliament buildings at Leinster House in Dublin, the group state that there has been absolutely no correspondence from the Agriculture Minister Mr Michael Creed TD; his assistant Mr Andrew Doyle TD or any Department official.

Lowry Will Oppose Mercosur Deal

“The Mercosur deal which would allow Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina to access EU markets is a bad deal for our Irish farmers”, Tipperary Independent Deputy Michael Lowry stated yesterday.

The Deputy continued, “This deal will result in what is estimated to be an extra 99,000 tonnes of beef emanating from these four South American countries, causing untold damage to our Irish beef farming sector”.

“I have already informed the Minister for Agriculture Mr Michael Creed that Ireland should not endorse this agreement in its present format. Although the EU has promised to protect food standards and environmental factors as part of the deal on imported beef, farmers here are already feeling uncertain about the fallout of a potential no Brexit deal”, he continued.

Deputy Lowry further stated, “We will need to see our Minister for Agriculture and our Taoiseach fight for the Irish beef farmers at EU level. How can we enforce a guarantee against the risk of undocumented and potentially infected animal breeds, should this deal be ratified. We must not overlook the issues regarding standards when it comes to beef coming from Brazil. Traditionally Brazil has been permitted to export its beef, despite standards not reflecting those of the EU.”

“The environmental impacts in terms of the carbon footprint used by exporting this amount of beef , as well as the problems associated with deforestation in Brazil, means that this deal, if ratified, is even more damaging to the environment than it is to our Irish beef sector. Brazil currently maintains record levels of deforestation”.

Concluding Deputy Lowry stated, “I do recognise that the Mercosur deal does potentially opens markets for Europe’s motor industry, financial services and telecommunications; signalling hugely beneficial opportunities. However, our Government needs to be mindful of the market disruption to our own agricultural sector, which will undoubtedly cause huge financial losses to our beef producers. Our rural communities are already at risk with falling beef prices, and the overall uncertainty of Brexit. Therefore, I have called on the Government to vehemently oppose the ratification of this Mercosur deal on behalf of farming communities in Tipperary and countrywide.