Feb 28, 2017
An epicenter of food, fellowship and folk music
LAKE CITY, Minn. — The Oak Center General Store looks like every general store you've imagined existed "back in the day."
Just off U.S. 63 as you travel north from Rochester to Lake City, there's a standalone building with large windows and solar panels on the front façade. Inside you'll find produce, coffee beans, miscellaneous items and, usually, Steven Schwen. If he's not in the building, he's probably around the farm working.
At least that's what the note at the checkout counter says, along with a request for customers to figure their own total and leave it on the counter.
That wouldn't fly in most stores, but here, it does. That's because the Oak Center General Store is much more than a throwback to another era; it's a farm, a gathering space, and a place where protecting and preserving the earth is not an afterthought, but its main purpose.
Steven has lived at the store since 1976. A self-described hippie, his faith in pesticide-free produce and cooperative ideals __have been the driving force in his life and a stable foundation for his lifestyle and political ideology.
For the last 40 years, Schwen has maintained a dedication to the store, the farm, and all it stands for. In the '60s, he left his third year of medical school at Mayo to focus on "creating a healthy cooperative food system," he said.
"There was so much hope and optimism for a utopian transformation after victories in civil rights, and the end to the war in Vietnam," Schwen said. "It seemed the forces of conscience and reason, (and the) stewardship of the Earth were in motion...I was joining in the wave of people trying to find ways to change the world for good," a philosophy he still tries to follow through his lifestyle and relationships.
There has been a lot of communal activity at the store, a veritable epicenter of education and camaraderie. Paul Wellstone visited often before he was elected to the Senate. Congressman and Senator Gene McCarthy held two different poetry readings at there. There __have been weekend-long conferences on holistic medicine (along with being a master woodworker, Steven is certified in homeopathy), alternative energy and organic farming, which included workshops on grafting, greenhouses and horse-based farming.
From this flourish of activity, music has risen above. What began as a concert to raise money one month has turned into a weekly folk forum from October through April. Summer months are used for farming and selling at farmer's markets.
"Music took over because musicians were begging to play here," Schwen said. "I didn't have to go through a whole lot of effort to line stuff up."
All he needs is volunteers for the events, and he usually has plenty of willing and regular helpers, from ticket sellers to dishwashers.
Past musical performers include Dean Magraw, Erik Koskinen, Pop Wagner and Charlie Parr. Upcoming shows include Chris Silver and the Good Intentions, Katey Bellville and the Barley Jacks. For a full schedule, visit oakcentergeneralstore.com/events.
There's more than just music on those Saturday evenings, there's a generous meal to kick everything off. Tickets are $15, or whatever you can afford to pay. The shows aren't about making money, they're about providing a space for a community of people to gather, eat, drink and enjoy music.
Schwen's passion for life and community building is clear in everything he does. Oak Center General Store is much more than just a farm or a shopping destination or a trip back to the past; it's a physical manifestation that there is more to life than climbing the corporate ladder or earning a bigger paycheck.
"Where there's a need, if you shine the beacon, it's like a lighthouse. We've attracted the people who want to help this planet," Schwen said. "They've come together, and it's been magical for my family, it's been magical for the community, it's been magical for the musicians that play here. It's a holistic way to have a gathering, it's not just a venue for profit. That's what people understand right away when they come."
Allison Roe is the editor of Radish Magazine, a Post Bulletin Co. publication.
Feb 18, 2017
Skinned grain is ‘not a new phenomenon’ but what causes it?
Skinned malting barley grains are not a new phenomenon, according to Teagasc’s Ciaran Collins, as they __have always been present.
“We __have spoken a lot about skinning in the last 12 months and I nearly have to think to myself did skinning just start to occur last year or the year before.
“We have always had skinning,” he said, and it has been happening for a long time, but the difference now is the implications it has for the malting industry.
Collins, a tillage advisor based in Fermoy, spoke at the recent Teagasc Malting Barley Seminar where he presented work on skinning from the SRUC in Scotland.
What is grain skinning?
Skinning occurs when the husk becomes detached from the underlying endosperm leading to irregular germination during malting, he said.
“This makes water uptake and the conversion of starch into sugars more variable and it is that variability that the maltsters say is the biggest issue.
“In the worst case scenario you could have a grain with no husk at all and it may not even germinate.
Skinning leads to the loss of malting efficiency, variety failure is a big cost breeders and rejection at malting is obviously a big loss to farmers after the investment that has been made in growing the crop.
What causes skinned grains?
Collins also discussed a number of factors that have been show to increase the presence of skinned grains in a harvested malting barley crop.
Citing work carried out by Dr Marie Brennan, Collins said the weather has an impact on the level of skinning seen in malting barley grains.
He said that high humidity and low sunlight levels 19 days after flowering can affect the process of adhesion, while wetting and drying of the mature grain can also have a negative impact on the adhesion of the husk to the grain.
New malting barley varieties, he said, are also more susceptible to skinning but there are seasonal variations as well.
Looking at UK data, Collins said that modern varieties tend to have a weaker husk adhesion and as a result they are more prone to skinning.
The Teagasc representative also cited trial work which showed that the proportion of skinned grains increases as the nitrogen fertiliser level is increased from 120kg/ha to 150kg/ha.
Generally you get a higher percentage of skinned grains as the Nitrogen levels increases, but it’s not black and which as site location may have a role to play
On the issue of sowing date, Collins said earlier sown crops tend to have lower skinning percentages than crops sown and harvested later.
“Late harvested crops tend to have increased levels of skinning.”
Moving to the combine, Collins said research work has shown that the skinning increases, both in susceptible and resistant varieties, when the drum speed is increased.
“At 1,000RPM you are looking at a range of 8-12% skinning for resistant grain varieties and 20-30% in susceptiable varieties
“In both cases as the drum speed increases the percentage of skinning increases irregardless of whether the variety is resistant or susceptible.”
He added that a similar pattern is also seen when it comes to concave settings on the combine.
Updated: Dog that killed over 50 sheep in Wexford shot dead
A dog which has killed over 50 sheep in Co.Wexford and injured countless more has been shot dead.
A farmer shot the animal last night, February 16, after he returned to the scene of where he found some of his sheep dead, only to find the dog there again.
Wexford IFA Chairman, James Kehoe, said that the damage caused by the dog is estimated to be nearly €10,000.
“The dog warden is on the way to see if the dog is micro-chipped.”
He also said that the events over the past number of weeks are going to __have consequences further down the line, with some sheep reportedly being unfit for human consumption due to the tainting of their meat, caused by stress.
Last week, Kehoe said that farmers had tried everything to contain the dog, including trying to shoot it, to no avail.
He said that he had also contacted the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Paul Kehoe, to see if it would be possible to get the army involved in the matter.
It’s the dog owners responsibility, it’s not the dogs fault, the owners are responsible for keeping the dog under supervision. It’s unfortunate when they attack.
The dog was roaming around in a two-to-three mile radius attacking sheep before the farmer shot it last night.
IFA National Sheep Chairman John Lynskey has said that marauding dogs can inflict horrendous damage on a sheep flock.
With the country’s 30,000 sheep farmers preparing to lamb down 2.5m ewes over the coming three months, this is a very busy and anxious time for farmers, he said.
There is clear evidence that flocks are more vulnerable to dog attacks at this time of year, he added.
Video: Silage addiction draws one young Irish man to Australia and back
An addiction to contracting and the silage season has drawn Irish man Niall Donohue to Australia and back in the space of a couple of months.
The Co. Galway native spent the past few seasons working with local contractors before taking the decision to travel to the other side of the world to see how it’s done in Australia.
After finishing his Leaving Certificate exams in 2016 the 19-year-old decided to fulfil one of his dreams and make the trip to Australia, an experience which delivered above and beyond his expectations.
I’ve always wanted to travel to Australia since I was young and last year I said I might as well go now before college, while I’m young and __have the chance.
Donohue worked with Rural Harvesters briefly before getting a job with Monk and Sons Agri Contractors, in Warrnambool in southern Victoria.
Travelling out after the Irish contracting season came to an end in 2016, Donohue spent close to four months working in Australia before returning home in mid-January.
Daily Routine
The Co. Galway man found himself primarily drawing silage and mowing, with the scale of work dwarfing the size of operations here in Ireland.
“I started off on a New Holland T7.270 drawing silage from the chopper and then moved onto a Fendt 824 with a set of Krone triple mowers.
At silage we usually aimed to be out in the field by around 6am, but this often varied depending on the job and the weather.
“Generally we finished around midnight but this often varied too depending on if we had a job finished, sometimes we had to work a few hours later to get the work done.
“The days are long but I know nothing better to be honest, silage is all I’ve known and worked at. So I’m used to the long hours and take no notice of them anymore,” he said.
Working with a group of close to 20, 13 of which were Irish, Donohue often found himself working long hours to get work finished on time.
“Over here you get payed by the hour, unlike at home where it’s a daily rate at silage. So it’s worth staying working long hours when you know you’ll get rewarded for it when the pay cheque comes.
“I remember driving more or less non-stop for nearly 42 hours, with a few breaks, when we were pushed for time to get a job finished.
“The largest job we worked on was a pit of 800ac, which took close to a week to complete,” he said.
Machinery Fleet
Donohue found himself working for a contractor who had a fleet of impressive machines, which included three 900 series Fendts, two 800 series Fendts, five Claas tractors and two John Deeres, as well as a few rented tractors.
Alongside these tractors he also ran a number of Lely Welger balers and silage wagons, a Claas Jaguar 890 self-propelled harvester, two tube wrappers and a number of trucks for drawing silage.
However, the scale of the work in Australia and the rough terrain takes it’s toll on the machines a lot faster there than they would in Ireland, Donohue said.
“The Krone mowers I had were brand new and falling apart. They had mowed 14,000ac, so they had their work done.
The mowers were in the same condition after one season as mowers here in Ireland would be after having four or five seasons done.
Homeward Bound
At times, working in a foreign country so far away from friends and family was tough, Donohue said.
“The weather and pay was good in Australia, but at times you would miss the craic at home, especially when you would be talking to friends and family at home.
I made friends for life out in Australia and I’ve seen more than any picture or video could show me.
Donohue would encourage any young person thinking of travelling out to the likes of New Zealand or Australia to go for it, but warned them that the work would be tough and conditions would be challenging.
Temperatures were often up around 30 degrees and reaching as high as 40 degrees on some days, he said.
Having recently returned home, the young Co. Galway man has yet to decide on his plans for the future, but it will involve contracting in some form or another.
“It’s a disease really, you could never get away from it fully. I also __have the option of studying Mechanical Engineering in GMIT.
“But there is a possibility that I will go out to Australia again to work for another season or two,” he said.
Young farmers urged to apply to become Rose of Tralee Escorts
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is looking for young farmers to apply to become Rose Escorts for this year’s festival.
Applications to become a Rose Escort are now being taken, with the deadline set at Thursday, March 16.
Men between the ages of 21 and 31 are encouraged to apply and Rose Escort Programme Director Colm Croffy believes men from farming backgrounds __have qualities that would make them ideal Rose Escorts.
“There is always a great mix of lads involved every year, but at least 10% of the Rose Escorts would be from a farming or rural background.
“Lads from a farming background wouldn’t be shy, they have great social skills and are polite, generally.
Conversational skills honed in the mart or from calling to farm gates means there is no social setting that would spook them.
Over the years there __have plenty of Rose Escorts who came from a farming background or who have worked in the agri-sector, Croffy said.
“There has been lads from Macra na Feirme, full-time farmers, lads who worked in agri-business, lads from Teagasc or students who work on the family farm at the weekend who have been Rose Escorts.
“In some cases, the guys from a farming or rural background have a bit more stamina than those from the city and can find it easier to keep up with the hectic pace of the festival,” he added.
Festival Experience
The festival experience was brilliant, according to Joe Butler from Inniskeen in Co. Monaghan was one of the Rose Escorts in 2016.
“It’s funny going into such a large group where you all just click and get on. Of course there was a few jokes among the farmers that the city lads didn’t get.
Being a farmer you’re used to the long hours, early mornings and spending most of the day on your feet.
Butler, who works for Teagasc as an Educational Officer in Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Co. Cavan, encouraged any young farmer thinking of applying to go for it.
“It was an absolutely brilliant experience. The craic was 90 and you make friends for life during the festival,” he said.
Application Process
A €25 fee is required as part of the application process, while accepted applications will also have to make a €1,500 subscription to the festival which can be obtained through sponsorship or fundraising.
Applicants must be Irish, or have Irish origins, and must never have been married. These applicants will have to attend an interview weekend and following this the chosen Rose Escorts will take part in a bootcamp weekend.
In 2016, the number of Rose Escorts needed for the festival increased from 32 to 65 due to changes in the format of the festival.
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is scheduled to get underway on Wednesday, August 16.
Video: Farm inheritance to take centre stage on Ear to the Ground
The question of who gets the family farm is set to be discussed on tonight’s episode of Ear to the Ground.
Protecting ancient Irish heritage sites and the recent FTMTA Farm Machinery Show are also set to feature on this week’s episode.
In recent weeks the role of women in farming has been a hot topic of discussion.
Helen Carroll will travel to Kilbeg in Co. Waterford to meet Geraldine Power, who now runs a farm that was passed on to her by her bachelor uncle.
Tonight’s episode will examine whether it is really that unrealistic for women to run a farm and what happens in an instance when there isn’t an immediate ‘next generation’ to pass the farm on to.
Now Power, who is farming full time and also doesn’t __have children, is considering whom, in time, will take over from her.
She spoke with Helen about the need for farmers to __have the hard conversations about inheritance and making wills.
Meanwhile, Ella Mc Sweeney will make the trip to a bog in Co. Westmeath to ask why nothing has been done to protect an ancient wooden bog road.
These bog roads were stretches of wood laid down across bogs to be used as roads for Iron Age people.
The bogs in time consumed them and preserved them, but what happens when one of these roads is unearthed as part of a commercial peat harvesting operation?
In the case of a 3,000-year-old road on a bog in Co. Westmeath, discovered over 10 years ago, the outcome is looking bleak.
Darragh McCullough was in Punchestown to report from the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show and to see what machines were attracting the most interest from farmers.
New tractors hold a fascination for farmers big or small, and the Farm Machinery Show in Punchestown is Ireland’s biggest ever-indoor display of agricultural equipment and technology.
Despite several years of poor returns, tillage farmers appetite for newer, bigger more sophisticated tractors remains undimmed.
At the moment Irish farm machinery manufacturers are battling the headwinds of Brexit and currency swings to claim a share of export markets around the world.
Darragh will speak with the inventors of a new product that could save lives on Irish farms, replacing the traditional PTO system with a hydraulic one on vacuum tankers.
Ear to the Ground will be aired on RTE 1 at 8.30pm tonight and will also be repeated on Sunday.
Farmers in the west won’t be left behind in the review of ANCs -INHFA
Farmers in the west of Ireland will not be left behind in the review of the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANCs) – that was the strong message that came from last night’s Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) meeting in Co. Mayo.
It was standing room only at the meeting, with almost 500 farmers in attendance at Hotel Newport in Newport.
Fianna Fail TDs Lisa Chambers and Dara Calleary were in attendance at the meeting, along with Sinn Fein’s Rose Conway-Walsh and Independent MEP Marian Harkin.
Opening the meeting, John Moran, INHFA Mayo Chairman, said that farmers in the west mean business on the ANC review.
“This money is ours, it’s for our land and we’ve got to show the politicians that we mean business. We’re entitled to this money.”
Colm O’Donnell INHFA Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Chair said that during the last CAP reform, farmers in the west did not __have a voice at the bargaining table.
“That’s evident because of the small amount of redistribution. Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolas [Phil Hogan’s predecessor] proposed a flat rate payment for every farmer in the country – but that didn’t happen.
“The ANC was originally designed for the counties west of the Shannon and Donegal and became extended over time. Now with the scientific review, we’re saying that science should win out and that the payments are targeted at the areas that __have the natural constraints on their land.”
EU Monitoring Committee
The EU Monitoring Committee on the Rural Development Programme, which will discuss the review of ANCs and consult on the digital maps which are to determine land constraints, is made up of stakeholders, people from the European Commission and Parliament, the Government and the farm organisations.
However, to date and despite being established for two years and a membership of almost 6,000 and growing, the INHFA’s request to sit on the committee has been denied by the Minister for Agriculture, O’Donnell said.
“The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee has written to the Minister saying that the INHFA should become an equal partner and stakeholder on that very important committee.
“It will eventually have a say on what format this ANC goes back to be amended in the RDP.
When this ANC review is being put through that committee, if we’re not on that committee then we’ll be outside the door when that decision is taken, because we’ll not let it go back to Brussels [without having our say on it].
O’Donnell also said that the association will have to have an opportunity to discuss any new areas that may come in under a specific constraint before the maps, which have the biophysical criteria superimposed on them, go back to Brussels.
The maps are still being drafted by the Department of Agriculture.
INHFA’s message on the ANC review is simple: the ANC payment must reflect fairly the constraint experienced.
O’Donnell said that the ANC Scheme does exactly what it says on the tin for poor land and that’s why INHFA has got to target the payments there.
“This is the payment that we are entitled to and INHFA won’t be giving up on that fight [to ensure farmers get what they’re entitled to].
“We will not put up with a situation where the constrained lands don’t reflect the payments.”
INHFA’s ANC Proposal
The association has called for a doubling of payments under the review of the scheme, will require increasing the ANC budget to €300m.
INHFA has developed a three-point plan on ANC’s on what it believes should change in the review:
- Front loading payments on the first 20ha at a rate of €250/ha.
- Increasing the rate per hectare on the next 14ha to €170/ha.
- Increasing the overall number of eligible hectares from 34 to 40 with a payment rate of €70/ha on the remaining 6ha.
Tax relief for landowners to lease land to sports clubs ‘difficult to justify’
A tax relief for landowners to lease land to sports clubs would be difficult to justify, according to the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan.
Minister Noonan was responding to a parliamentary question this week from Fianna Fail TD Billy Kelleher.
Deputy Kelleher asked Minister Noonan to clarify if there are any incentives for landowners to lease their grounds to sports clubs on a long-term basis and, if not, whether he had any plans to introduce such measures.
The Minister for Finance confirmed that there are currently no tax incentives for landowners to lease land to sports clubs on a long-term basis.
Minister Noonan noted that the provision of such measures would be difficult to justify for a number of reasons, but added there is an alternative long-term leasing incentive currently available.
There is a similar incentive, however, which provides tax relief for certain income from the long term leasing of agricultural land under Section 664 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.
“That tax relief has a very specific policy aim of accelerating land mobility and productivity through making additional agricultural land available to farmers on a medium to long term basis for husbandry purposes.
“The Deputy will note that my Department has published guidelines for tax expenditure evaluation which need to be considered in relation to any new proposals for tax expenditures,” he said.
- What objective does the tax expenditure aim to achieve?
- What market failure is being addressed?
- Is a tax expenditure the best approach to address the market failure?
- What economic effect is the tax expenditure likely to have?
- How much is it expected to cost?
“Having regard to the above questions, my initial view is that it would be difficult to justify the provision of a tax relief for the type of land leasing suggested by the Deputy,” he said.
CETA deal is ‘a devastating blow to Irish agriculture’
The passing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada by the European Parliament this week is a devastating blow for Irish agriculture, Sinn Fein’s Martin Kenny has said.
Kenny, Sinn Fein’s Spokesperson on Agriculture, said that the Parliament’s vote for the deal is also a devastating blow also for farming families and rural Ireland.
“Irish beef farmers are facing a very bleak future because Fine Gael MEPs failed to stand up for them by voting in favour of this disastrous deal.
“Canada has been approved to supply the EU with 50,000t of beef which equates to hundreds of thousands head of cattle. Irish beef prices are only going to go one way and that is down.
“An EU Commission study has predicted a ‘steep drop in beef meat prices by between 8-16%’ as a result of CETA and similar trade deals.”
Kenny said that it will be the farmer producing weanlings and store cattle who feel the price cuts first and the factories will use it as an excuse to drive the prices down.
Small farmers in the west of Ireland will not be able to compete with this and will no doubt go under as a result.
“All farm organisations need to come out in strong opposition to this deal and when this deal comes before the Dáil, my colleagues in Sinn Fein and I will strongly oppose it.
“While Fine Gael MEPs shamefully chose to support CETA over the interests of Irish farmers, I hope this Government has the guts to stand up and reject this deal and ensure the survival of the Irish agri-sector.”
Now that the European Parliament has agreed on the deal, it has to come before the Dail and other national parliaments of Member States for debate before CETA can be fully-approved.
Want to be in with a chance to win a pedigree Charolais heifer?
A pedigree Charolais heifer is to be raffled off in the coming weeks by the Agricultural Science Society (AgSoc) in University College Dublin for charity.
The heifer, which was donated by the Irish Charolais Cattle Society (ICCS), will be raffled off to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Embrace Farm.
Embrace Farm is an Irish charity set up to support people that __have been injured in a farm accident and to support the families that __have lost a loved one in a farm accident.
AgSoc holds an annual raffle to raise funds for various charities and it is run by Agricultural Science students and Auditor Sean Holian.
Maire comes from one of the oldest pedigree Charolais herds in Ireland, Skidoo, according to the ICCS.
She is a daughter of the high index sire Blelack Digger and Skidoo 96 Ivory.
The donated heifer has a five star replacement index of €87 and terminal index value of €120.
Anyone wishing to support this cause can do so by purchasing raffle tickets, which will be sold at various marts and agricultural events around the country in the next few weeks.
To mark the partnership, the UCD AgSoc will place the ICCS logo on its annual jackets and t-shirts which are worn by over 1,000 young farmers in UCD each year.
AgSoc donates record €42,000 to three charities in 2016
At the end of the academic year in 2016 the UCD AgSoc donated a record sum of €42,000 to three charities.
AgSoc raised the money through numerous fundraisers including events in Dublin city, Ag week and the raffling of a pedigree Angus heifer.
In 2016 the AgSoc committee chose to donate €32,000 to Console, as well as a further €5,000 being donated to both East Clare Saint Vincent de Paul and CRY – Cardiac Arrest in the young.
Video: Firefighters use unorthodox measures to rescue trapped lamb
Firefighters in Northern Ireland had to employ a number of unorthodox measures to rescue a lamb that was trapped underground.
Members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) were called out to a rescue on February 16 where a two-week-old lamb fell through a manhole cover.
The lamb then became trapped several metres down a narrow horizontal pipe, which was several feet underground, according to a post on the NIFRS West Facebook page.
Up to five firefighters from the Fintona Station in Co. Tyrone arrived on the scene and were faced with ‘a bit of a head scratcher’ as to how to rescue the lamb.
The team’s Crew Commander, tried his best ‘mother sheep impression‘ in an effort to the coax the animal back up the pipe.
Posted by NIFRS West on Thursday, February 16, 2017
According to the post this method had limited success, so the crew members turned to modern technology and used a phone app to imitate sheep sounds to coax it out.
The crew then took the decision to call in local sheep farmer Harold Crawford and his trained sheep dog, which went up the pipe and retrieved the lamb and brought it to safety.
The NIFRS also assured the public that both members and the fire appliance was available for emergencies throughout the rescue.
“Usually when we post about incidents like this we attract the occasional comment about waste of resources etc, so just to assure everyone that the appliance was available for emergencies throughout.
“We liaise with other agencies, such as the Ulster Society Prevention Cruelty to Animals, and an officer attends incidents such as this to assess, we only commit resources if it is warranted,” the Facebook post said.
Pregnant women advised to avoid animals that are lambing or calving
Pregnant women who come into close contact with sheep or cows during lambing and calving are advised that they may risk their own health and that of their unborn child from infections that such animals can carry.
The annual advice comes from both the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Health and Safety Executive NI (HSENI).
Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, said that although reports of these infections are extremely rare, it is important that pregnant women are aware of the risks and take appropriate precautions.
“It is also important to note that these risks are not confined to the spring, when the majority of lambs are born, and the risks are not associated only with sheep: cows and goats that __have recently given birth can also carry similar infections.”
- Not help ewes to lamb, or provide assistance to a cow that is calving or a nanny goat that is kidding.
- Avoid contact with aborted or new-born lambs, calves or kids or with the afterbirth, birthing fluids or materials (e.g. bedding) contaminated by such birth products.
- Avoid handling (including washing) clothing, boots or any materials that may __have come into contact with animals that have recently given birth, their young or afterbirths. Potentially contaminated clothing will be safe to handle after being washed on a hot cycle
- Ensure contacts or partners who have attended lambing ewes or other animals giving birth take appropriate health and hygiene precautions, including the wearing of personal protective equipment and clothing and adequate washing to remove any potential contamination.
Pregnant women are being advised to seek medical advice if they experience fever or flu-like symptoms, or if they are concerned that they could have acquired infection from a farm environment.
Farmers and livestock keepers have a responsibility to minimise the risks to pregnant women, including members of their family, the public and professional staff visiting farms, according to the HSENI.
High Court overturns decision to award €40,000 in damages to hillwalker
The High Court has overturned a decision to award a hillwalker €40,000 in damages for injuries sustained after a fall on the Wicklow Way.
The damages were claimed against the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) after the hillwalker fell on a boardwalk on the walk in 2013.
The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State for Regional Development, Michael Ring TD __have welcomed the decision.
The Minister and their officials will now take time to consider the details of the ruling and its future implications for Ireland’s National Parks and their recreational remit.
It would be inappropriate to comment further until such deliberations __have taken place, a joint statement from both Ministers said.
“This should help to ease the concerns of farmers. Public liability insurance cover is provided to private landowners who permit waymarked walking trails to be developed across their land.
“The commitment in the Programme for Government to increase funding to €4m and bring in an additional 2,000 farmers must now be acted upon.
“While the judgement relates to property owned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it also has relevance for private land owners, mainly farmers, where hill walkers ramble off designated routes.”
‘Dairy calves are coming down the track regardless of what we do with sucklers’
Dairy calves are coming down the track regardless of what farmers do with sucklers, Patrick Kent, the President of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has said.
Speaking at the associations AGM in Portlaoise last night, he said that some farmers suggested that ICSA’s policy to reduce sucklers was wrong because the gap would be filled by extra dairy calves.
However, Kent said that this “is simply wrong”.
“Dairy farmers make decisions based on milk price; nothing else. So in addition to less sucklers, we need to talk about what to do with these extreme dairy breed crosses, and for that matter, mediocre quality traditional breeds from these dairy animals.
“I want to be clear on this. Within the traditional breeds there are great cattle, with fantastic attributes and excellent quality meat.
“But from a beef point of view this is a disaster. Dawn Meats told the truth when they let it be known that the Teagasc recipe for 270kg carcasses was unacceptable to them.”
The ICSA President said that if we can get these calves exported to the Netherlands in big numbers that is one solution.
Perhaps there is scope for veal or similar here. Or do we __have to contemplate using knackeries and examine the most humane and efficient way of doing this?
“It’s not something that our members like talking about. But the reality of the obsession with New Zealand dairying methods must be explained in full, if we are to be honest.
“‘In New Zealand, no farmer tries to make a go of turning these kind of bobby calves into beef or even veal,” he said.
In January former ICSA Suckler Chairman, Dermot Kelleher, said that Ireland needs a €200 per suckler cow incentive to reduce numbers in light of oversupply of beef in Europe and the complete lack of profitability in the suckler sector.
He said that we need to learn from the strategy applied at EU level to deal with the dairy crisis in 2016 where the strategy was a rational move to reduce production to deal with the supply/demand imbalance.
ICSA proposes that this incentive should be available on an EU wide basis at a rate of €200 per cow per annum for up to five years on a voluntary basis.
Such a scheme would be based on a reference year of 2016 and the payment would be linked to the reduction in calves registered compared to 2016.
Valentine’s Day: 7 realities of going out with a farmer
Valentine’s Day is upon us, the annual day where cards, flowers and chocolates are exchanged, but if you’re part of a farming couple does the same hold true?
Are you more likely to get a pet lamb as a present and a solid evening of watching CCTV from the calving shed or will your significant other be taking you out for dinner in a fancy restaurant?
One thing’s for sure, there are seven realities that probably hold true if you’re going out with a farmer this Valentine’s Day:
1.They are never on time
Valentine’s Day falls at one of the busiest times of the year on farms – calving and lambing time.
This is not ideal timing if you think your significant other will be able to tear himself of herself away from the maternity ward for a few hours to spend time with you.
Chances are you’ll be halfway to a restaurant for a slap-up meal and the phone will ring to say that your boyfriend/girlfriend is needed to help a cow calving.
2. You __have limited movie choices
If you thought you’d be curling up on the couch watching The Notebook on Valentine’s Day, think again.
It’s more likely that the two of you will be watching live footage from the calving shed on the television – waiting for the next cow to calve.
It’s more 50 shades of hay than 50 shades of grey!
3. Unique Valentine’s Day gifts
Flowers and chocolates may be the standard ‘go-to’ gifts for Valentine’s Day for the ladies.
But, when he’s giving you a pet lamb as the ideal Valentine’s Day gift you know it’s true love.
4.’Taking a break’ in May and June
Anyone who’s going out with a farmer knows that seeing them in May and June is a rare occurrence, if the weather stays fine.
Silage season, one of the most important times of the year, takes place and farmers across the country will be flat to the mat cutting grass for silage.
So don’t expect them to be around in the evenings after work or college – they’re still out in the field cutting away, with Rhythm Is A Dancer blaring in the cab.
5. Standing in the gap
Standing in the gap and holding the gate are two of the most important jobs on the farm when moving cattle.
You don’t want half the herd over in the neighbouring field.. or worse in your ‘blow-in’ neighbours garden.
Never underestimate the importance of standing in the gap.
6. Romantic dinners at the mart
If you’ve got notions of going for a Michelin star meal this Valentine’s Day, or at the weekend, then think again.
The reality of going out with a farmer is that the closest you’ll get to that Michelin star meal is a good hearty meal at the mart.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
7. Marriage proposals will probably involve animals
If you’re expecting himself/herself to drop down on one knee this Valentine’s Day, then don’t be surprised if animals are involved in the marriage proposal.
If you’re in need of some farming-inspired ideas then we’ve complied a range of farming proposals that farmers __have done – just so you can be prepared if you’re thinking of popping the question!
Video: Farmer ditches modern machinery in favour of horses
A farmer in Co. Louth has decided to ditch modern machinery in favour of ploughing, cultivating and harvesting with horses.
For the past 10 years or so Gerry McShane, from Ballinfull, has opted to put his heavy horses to work every spring ploughing a small piece of ground to grow some oats.
This year his son, Gerard, decided to capture footage of him working in unison with his horses, Polly and Maggie.
“We’ve had heavy horse for about 10 years or more now. Every year we plough an acre or so at the bottom of the yard to grow oats.
“We __have five or six heavy horses altogether, so the oats will go towards feeding them,” Gerard said.
Throughout the year Gerard hopes to capture the different stages of cultivating, sowing, managing and harvest the oats.
Both his father Gerry and uncle John travel within a 50km radius of their home to visit different agricultural shows and events with their horses.
Through their hobby the brothers __have gathered a full collection of horse-pulled machines to carry out a range of tillage and grassland work.
“My grandfather, their father, would have worked horses right up until the 60s. It’s an old tradition.
They can remember sitting on his lap or watching him working with the horses, so there’s an element of keeping the tradition alive.
“We also farm some suckler cows and finish quite a number of beef cattle, as well as about 80ac of tillage land. So we have the bigger machines as well,” Gerard said.
Video: Dramatic footage of slurry tank crashing through a garden wall
Footage from CCTV cameras captured the moment a slurry tank crashed through a garden wall in Northern Ireland on Friday, February 10.
The accident occurred when the tractor pulling the slurry tank was involved in a road traffic collision with a car on the Belfast Road, Glenavy in Co. Antrim.
Reported at around lunchtime on Friday last, the footage shows a Volkswagen car colliding with the front wheel of a Massey Ferguson tractor.
No injures or further details were reported, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Following the crash, the Abbey slurry tank was sent flying through the garden wall at the front of the house, coming to a halt on its side on top of the remainder of the wall.
The tractor luckily remained on all four wheels and the driver can be seen getting down off the tractor quite quickly and seemingly uninjured.
The slurry tank reportedly missed the wall of the house itself by less than one metre.
It is believed the homeowner was in the property at the time of the accident and has said he was glad no-one was hurt
The road was reportedly closed for a time on Friday, while the car, tractor and slurry tank involved in the crash were taken away.
Some oil also had to be cleaned up before the road was allowed to be reopened.
Pic: Tractor driver to be prosecuted for carrying unsecure load
A tractor driver is set to be prosecuted for towing a low-loader carrying a dumper and excavator which weren’t secured properly, according to An Garda Siochana.
The tractor was stopped by Gardai in Co. Waterford yesterday, Febuary 16, due to no straps or chains being used to secure the load.
Unsecured or improperly secured loads pose a serious safety risk and should always be secured so that they cannot move or fall from the vehicle, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Waterford Traffic: Gardaí intercepted this tractor
carrying a load with no straps, completely insecure. Prosecution to follow. pic.twitter.com/O3N0YXPYWz— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) February 16, 2017
Travelling with an unsecured load poses a number of risks for both the driver of the vehicle and other road users, the RSA said.
- Loss of control of vehicle.
- Objects to fall on or hit people.
- Road obstruction or collision where a driver is required to swerve to avoid fallen items.
- Failure to secure loads properly may also result in financial losses due to damaged goods and vehicles, lost working time, clean up costs and legal costs.
The RSA insists that all loads must be secured even if the vehicle is only travelling a short distance or at low speeds.
The RSA has said that a load shall not be carried on a vehicle on a public road in such a manner that part of the load is liable to fall on the road.
A load must not drag on the surface of the road, so as to cause damage to the road or to be liable to cause danger, it also advises.
Operators or drivers should employ a load restraint method suitable to the load being carried, according to the RSA.
Load security is not just the sole responsibility of the vehicle driver. Employers, vehicle owners, drivers and loading and unloading staff all __have a role to play in ensuring loads are secure, the RSA said.
Cyclist injured after being hit by John Deere tractor hauling a slurry tank
Gardai in Navan, Co. Meath are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist, a male in his 50s, was knocked off his bike by a John Deere tractor hauling a green slurry tank.
A post on the Meath Crime Prevention Facebook page said that the incident happened on the Kells Road, around 5.30pm yesterday evening, February 15.
It is understood that the road traffic incident happened on the Kells side of the Navan Ford Centre.
The cyclist is reported to __have suffered some bruising and cuts but otherwise is ok.
Anybody who was passing along that stretch of road at approx 5.30pm yesterday and saw the incident or know who owns the tractor and tank are asked to give Navan Garda Station a call on 046-9021445.
Last year, an incident between a tractor and a cyclist caused a stir online, with the cycling community unimpressed with the tractor driver’s behaviour.
Featured on the Facebook page Stayin’ Alive at 1.5, which promotes safety among road users by asking drivers to give cyclists a 1.5m gap, the video shows the tractor overtaking a cyclist, but cutting in sharply onto the cyclist when it meets an oncoming car.
Cyclist Paul Knightly, who sent to clip to Stayin’ Alive at 1.5, said: “If I hadn’t braked, It would __have been a different story, I’m actually getting hit by the foliage on the ditch to avoid a collision, the rear wheel locked up and skidded on the mud, I was that far in.”
Also Read: You can watch the video of that near miss here
‘Some day could be your last day, if you’re not very careful’
The lack of farm safety awareness education in secondary schools has prompted a group of students to create their own awareness video.
The fifth year agricultural students from CBS secondary school in Roscommon hoped that the inclusion of stories from other young people would make it easier for people to relate to.
With over 5,000 views on Youtube, the farm safety video focuses on both the impacts a farm can __have and how these accidents can be prevented.
The project, which was sponsored by Acorn Independent Merchants, also secured the services of Leinster and Ireland rugby player Sean O’Brien as a narrator.
Topics such as moving farm animals, dealing with slurry, working with farm machinery and general safety around the farm are all discussed in the video.
The video includes a number of interviews with people who __have been affected by farm accidents, including a student in CBS secondary school and Independent TD from Co. Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae.
Healy-Rae spoke of the need for farmers to be very careful when moving livestock, following his own experience of a cow attack on his farm last March where he was knocked unconscious and was left with broken ribs.
Some day it could be your be your last day, if you don’t be very careful.
“I was bringing a cow and her new calf onto a straw bed, she was a very quiet cow always and this would have been her third or fourth calf.
“For no reason in the world, she just turned on me. When I say she turned on me, she was particularly vicious.
“In a very short length of time, it seemed like an awful long time, but in a very short length of time she had a lot of damage done.
If I was on my own, which nine times out of 10 I would be on my own, I would not have come out of the pen alive.
The secondary school students farm safety project also features an interview with Matt English-Hayden and Jim Hogan, who are neighbours.
Both men recount the day that English-Hayden’s son Donal was killed during a tragic accident involving a tractor and trailer on Hogan’s farm last August.
Rugby player Sean O’Brien, who narrated the video, spoke about the need to take plenty of care around cows at calving, the dangers of working with slurry as well as the precautions farmers need to take when handling bales.
Taking close to a year to complete, the finished video was launched on January 25 at CBS secondary school in Roscommon town.
Feb 6, 2017
20 sheep reported stolen from a farm in the North
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is appealing for information after 20 sheep were reported stolen from a farm in Co. Antrim.
The sheep were reportedly taken from the Sealstown Road area of Newtownabbey, just over 15km north of Belfast, late last week.
It is believed the the sheep were taken at some time between Wednesday, February 1 and Thursday, February 2, local policing team inspector, Inspector Buchanan said.
Nineteen Suffolk/Cheviot sheep and one pedigree ram were taken sometime between 8:45am on February 1 and 8.45am the following day.
Inspector Buchanan is calling for anyone with information or for anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact local police.
Recent theft of newborn lambs and in-lamb ewes
Last month, a farmer in Northern Ireland was left particularly upset after six newborn lambs were stolen from his farm along with two in-lamb ewes.
The theft was believed to __have occurred sometime on Monday evening, January 15, between 7pm and 10pm on a farm near the border of counties Down and Armagh in the Banbridge area.
According to the PSNI, the alleged theft involved people breaking into a premises and stealing the newborn lambs from beside their mothers.
As well as the lambs, the thieves are believed to have taken two ewes from a nearby field which were due to lamb in the coming weeks.
The theft took place at a farmyard on the Lurgan road, Banbridge close to the junction of Broken Bridge Road.
Steady as she goes for EU milk prices
European milk markets are expected to become more balanced in 2017, according to AHDB Dairy analysts.
This will provide more stability than has been seen over the past two years, said an AHDB spokesperson.
However, a robust export performance remains crucial.
This is the general view to come out of this week’s Eucolait meeting, which provided an overview of milk production and demand expectations for manufactured dairy products.
According to AHDB, global milk supplies are expected to remain below previous year levels in most of the key exporting nations in the first half of 2017, with the possibility of some growth in the second half of the year.
The spokesperson said that supplies coming out of Oceania will be limited for the first half of the year, as they move into the trough period.
“This will be compounded by continued challenges around grazing, arising from unfavourable weather conditions.
“EU production remains below previous year levels, although it is rising seasonally and the gap is closing. The US remains in growth, due to improving yields and stable margins.”
Demand for cheese and butter is expected to remain robust through 2017, with per capita consumption within the EU rising.
“The general consensus of those in the room was that current stocks of cheese and butter are relatively tight, which, along with lower milk deliveries, should help to keep markets better balanced than in the past two years.
“Cheese production is expected to continue to grow at an EU level, and the weak euro will help to maintain export sales. While growing per capita consumption in the domestic market will account for some of the growth, access to export markets will be crucial to keeping the market balanced.”
Butter production is also expected to grow in the EU, although with stocks believed to be relatively low, most of the additional production is likely to be used to satisfy domestic demand, according to the spokesperson.
“This will leave less available for export, keeping markets firm. The main risk to pricing in butter markets will come from the high prices leading to substitution by vegetable fats within the food manufacturing sector.”
Skimmed Milk Powder
Meanwhile, AHDB spokesperson said that the outlook for skimmed milk powder (SMP) markets is more complicated, due to the presence of high stock levels and the expectation of increased butter production, as the SMP is often produced alongside it.
SMP production was not expected to increase above 2016 levels through the year but without higher exports, there will be no reduction on stocks.
“Globally, there are likely to be lower exports of SMP from New Zealand, as milk is diverted to WMP and added-value products.
“Counterbalancing this was the view that the US may increase its SMP exports, as milk production continues to grow. Demand for SMP is still growing on a global level, helping to support the market, but price rises are expected to be limited by high stocks.”
CAB seizes 125 cattle from farmer over unpaid taxes
Approximately 125 cattle __have been seized from a Co. Kilkenny farmer by the Criminal Assets Bureau for unpaid taxes amounting to €1.2m.
The order was executed by the Revenue Commissioners on behalf of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) today, January 31.
The action today by the Sheriff on behalf of the CAB arises from a High Court judgement obtained by the Bureau against Mr Thomas McDonnell of Pollough, Skeoughvosteen, Co. Kilkenny for unpaid taxes.
The Bureau commenced its investigation relating to Mr McDonnell in 2006, a Garda statement said.
According to the Gardai, Mr McDonnell failed to discharge his tax liability and accordingly the Bureau commenced High Court Revenue proceedings for the collection of the unpaid taxes in November 2009.
The Kilkenny farmer defended these proceedings with the assistance of solicitor and counsel.
Ultimately, the Bureau obtained judgement in May 2013 and has in the intervening period sought to collect the sums outstanding.
Today’s action, which has been one of a number of actions by the Bureau since obtaining judgement in the High Court, has resulted in approximately 125 cattle being seized.
The Bureau will continue its work in a hope to engage fully with Mr McDonnell to discharge his tax obligations, the Gardai said.
Winter cereal crops starting to yellow
Some winter cereal crops __have started to yellow slightly over recent days, according to Teagasc tillage advisor Marianne Mulhall.
But this should not be seen as a reason for growers getting Nitrogen spread early, she said.
“It’s time enough for winter wheat and barley to receive their first dressing of fertiliser around the end of this month. Teagasc recommends that crops should receive 30% of their total Nitrogen requirements by the end of February.
“Those farmers who want to go a little bit earlier than this should restrict Nitrogen applications to no more than 30kg/ha. A compound such as 0:7:30 or 10:10:20 would be perfect for this.”
In the event of cold and wet conditions following this, the amount of fertiliser lost by way of denitrification and leaching will be minimal.
Mulhall confirmed that all winter cereal crops are looking well.
“Establishment conditions last autumn were excellent. The good weather also allowed farmers to get their on with their herbicide programmes, particularly where broadleaf weeds are concerned, with a degree of comfort.
“Crops needing further herbicide treatment should only be sprayed once plants are growing actively.
Mulhall confirmed that the recent dry spell had allowed significant numbers of tillage farmers to get on with winter ploughing.
This will put farmers in a good place when it comes to establishing spring barley crops. Sowing can get underway from mid-March onwards.
Mulhall said Teagasc Kilkenny will host two tillage events during February. Both of these are knowledge transfer (KT) approved by the Department of Agriculture.
The first of these is the Spring Cereal Event on Wednesday evening of this week (February 8). The venue is the Teagasc Office on the Kells Road, the starting time 7.45pm.
“A crop walk will take place at Teagasc Kildalton on Friday February 24. The starting time here is 11.00am,” she said.
‘A significant acceleration of GLAS payments is needed’
A significant acceleration of GLAS payments is needed in the near future, according to the IFA Rural Development Chairman Joe Brady.
Brady believes the process must speed up or it will be months before cases are cleared, with the most recent pay run confirmed to __have gone ahead last week.
“Payments made late last week to 323 farmers represent some progress but the numbers paid in each run need to increase substantially.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that farmers who joined the GLAS scheme almost two years ago, and who were promised payments last October are still waiting with no definite answers as to when they can expect to get paid,” he said.
Brady called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, to immediately pursue with the European Commission the IFA proposal that all farmers awaiting GLAS payments are now paid.
In addition, IFA has urged the Department that where particular measures in a GLAS plan are cleared, payments should be made to farmers on these qualifying measures, even where there are issues with other measures in the plan.
IFA Protests Over Delay in GLAS payments
These calls for an acceleration in GLAS payments follow on from an IFA protest, led by President Joe Healy, on behalf of farmers awaiting overdue payments last week.
More than 9,000 farmers __have yet to be paid, despite having completed the actions required, incurring significant costs and planning fees in doing so, Healy said at the protest.
Farmers have upheld their side of the bargain, complying with the scheme and carrying out actions, at significant cost and effort.
“The Minister and Department of Agriculture need to show the same level of commitment and ensure that payments are made immediately.
“We have seen a situation where 30% of the farmers that signed up to this scheme have not been paid, that’s not acceptable,” he added.
‘The only way we can fight this pipeline is through the courts’
Farmers and public representatives in Co. Tipperary __have vowed to mount a legal challenge against the proposed Shannon-Dublin pipeline.
That was the consensus of a public meeting on ‘The Preferred Scheme for a New Water Supply for the Eastern and Midland Region’ which was organised by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association.
The meeting, which took place in Ballycommon, Nenagh on Thursday February 2, was the first in a series of meetings set to be organised by the ICSA in the coming weeks.
Proposed plans suggest that the pipeline will travel 172km across counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare before reaching Dublin, affecting close to 500 farmers.
Mounting a Legal Challenge
People affected by this pipeline, as well as the different farming and development organisations, must tackle this project as a united front, according to Cllr Michael O’Meara.
“People have been talking about compensation, but no compensation will pay for this pipe going down through your land.
“You can put what ever figure you like on it. There will be a draw on your title deeds for the rest of your life and that is there for eternity,” he said.
Cllr O’Meara believes compensation is out the window and that a legal challenge must be mounted against the proposed project, an idea which was strongly supported by the majority of people in attendance.
There is no need for this water to go to Dublin. If there is no need for this water to go to Dublin the most important thing we can do here tonight is prove it.
“The only way you will prove it, ultimately, is in the courts. Whether we have to go to the High Court, the Supreme Court or the European Court, I believe this is possibly the only way this going to be won,” he said.
Fianna Fail TD, Jackie Cahill, promised those in attendance to use his position to get Irish Water to clarify the concerns of those affected by the proposed project but also supported the concept of a legal challenge.
“We have the mechanisms to lay down the hard questions. Once we’re supplied with information we can put down the questions and put the pressure on to get answers.
If the people of this area want to fight the hard battle to stop it, that’s what we’ll do. But it won’t be easy.
“If this job is going ahead it will be put out to tender and it will be more than likely you will have a foreign company coming in doing it.
“They won’t give a damn, they will want to get from A to B as quickly as possible. They won’t care what way the ground is left behind them or how it is put back,” Cahill said.
Meanwhile, the ICSA has declared that it will support farmers affected by the pipeline to legally oppose this project, but ICSA General Secretary Eddie Punch claimed farmers must work together in order to be successful.
“We have to work together, we have to make sure that no farmer is isolated and picked off one-by-one, this is the kind of thing that happens.
“I think that it is quite clear that a real question mark has to be raised over the validity of this project.
How do you justify a project to deliver water to a city, where it is quite clear now, that there is neither the political will nor the willingness of the people to pay for water in Dublin city.
“Lots of people pay for water in rural Ireland, but are we going to spend money, over €1 billion, sending water to a city that doesn’t give a damn about rural Ireland paying for water,” he said.
Live insects and hair found in food among consumer complaints in 2016
Live insects and hair found in food were among the consumer complaints to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in 2016.
Contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported by consumers, according to the FSAI.
In 2016, these reports included allegations of food contaminated with insects and glass, as well as other foreign objects.
Examples of food contamination complaints include:
- A live insect found in a packaged dessert.
- A long black hair in garlic sauce.
- A human nail in a takeaway meal.
- Glass in a dessert.
- Plastic rope in a takeaway meal.
- A cigarette butt in a bag of chips.
Other complaints regarding poor hygiene standards referred to dirty customer toilets, rats seen on the premises, dirty tables or floors and one case of a staff member at a deli sneezing into their hands and then preparing sandwiches without washing their hands.
Food complaints
The FSAI revealed a total of 3,202 food complaints were made in 2016, an increase of 17% on 2015 when 2,739 were received.
These complaints, which were received through the FSAI’s Advice Line, related to food, food premises and food labelling.
Food poisoning complaints reported the highest increase, up 45%, while poor hygiene standards were the second highest reported, with an increase of 34%.
Complaints about incorrect information on food labelling were up 15%, while the number of complaints about unfit food was up 7% in 2016, when compared with the previous year.
- 1,126 complaints on unfit food.
- 864 complaints on hygiene standards.
- 741 complaints on suspect food poisoning.
- 221 complaints on incorrect information on food labelling.
- 60 complaints on non-display of allergen information.
- 190 other.
All complaints received by the FSAI were followed up and investigated by enforcement officers throughout the country.
Meanwhile, the FSAI’s Advice Line also offers advice and information service.
During 2016 a total of 10,497 queries were received from consumers, people working in the food service sector, manufacturers, retailers, researchers and consultants.
Legislation on food labelling requirements, allergens and additives, as well as requests for FSAI publications, were among the most popular queries.
Consumers becoming increasingly vigilant
Statistics from the FSAI show that consumers are being more conscious about the food they consume and are being increasingly vigilant about food safety issues, Information Manager at FSAI, Edel Smyth, said.
There is a culture developing amongst consumers, which indicates zero tolerance towards poor hygiene standards and, in particular, food that is unfit to eat.
“As consumers in Ireland become more vocal about the standards they expect from food establishments, we are seeing a welcomed increase in the level of complaints we receive directly from consumers.
“We continue to encourage anyone who has had a bad food safety experience to report the matter to the FSAI so that the issue can be dealt with,” she said.
Approximately 39% of requests to the FSAI Advice Line in 2016 were received by telephone, while 52% were received through email or via the website.
The remainder of requests (9%) included attendance at events and through the FSAI’s social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
Presidential hopeful launches bid for top job in Macra na Feirme
Odile Evans launched her campaign to become the 36th President of Macra na Feirme in Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow on Friday night.
The current Leinster Vice President and National Treasurer declared her intention to run for Macra’s top job back in early January. She will run against Corkman James Healy for the position of Macra President.
Friday nights event marks the beginning of Evans’ campaign trail, which will see her canvass for support from Macra clubs around the country before the election results become known in early April.
On the night, Evans said she is delighted to launch her campaign to become the 36th President of Macra na Feirme adding that the organisation is the driving force behind Irish agriculture and it needs a strong leader.
“As stated in the Macra na Feirme constitution, the objective of our organisation is to promote and foster agriculture and rural development.
“At a time when there are many issues that pose challenges for farmers, but also where there are some incredible opportunities, we need to return to our roots as the driving force behind Irish agriculture and shape it in the best way possible.
We as the young farmers of today are the farmers of tomorrow and the decisions made today will be inherited by us.
“We should be at the heartbeat of molding those decisions,” she said.
Evans said Macra continues to play an important role in rural communities through the development of rural agriculture.
“We can continue to do that, but we need a leader that not only has an integral knowledge of the sector but also has a good working relationship with those in it.
“I __have served my time on the ag affairs committee, the rural youth committee and on the strategic planning committee.
I __have been the national treasurer since May and I understand the challenges Macra faces and I will hit the ground running as President.
“With the many challenges facing our organisation, Irish agriculture and our country there is a need for a young voice – a voice of young farmers and a voice of rural youth.
“I believe I am the best person to be the voice of our members.
“I believe in this organisation, I believe in its ability to deliver for young farmers and for rural youth and if elected I promise to be an honest and hard-working President.
“I promise to uphold our constitution and devote myself to Macra and I intend to make you all proud,” she said.
On the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Evans said it is the biggest thing for the industry at the moment.
“It is not just about getting a good deal for Ireland and young farmers now, but its about sowing the seeds for where we want it to go in the future,” she said.
Former Macra President endorses Evans’ campaign
Former Macra na Feirme President, Thomas Honner also spoke on the night and he gave his backing to Evans to take the top role in the young farmers’ organisation.
Speaking of Evans’ time in Macra na Feirme, Honner said it has been a fantastic apprenticeship.
“Odile Evans is not going to spend the first year of her presidency building relationships with the Department, the Minister or sponsors.
“Odile Evans has that done. She has huge respect across the agri-sector as a Vice President and not only has this election an opportunity for Odile, it is a massive opportunity for Macra na Feirme,” he said.