22


East Cork


Addressing the Nation- al Economic Dialogue at Dublin Castle


recently,


IFA President Joe Healy said Budget 2019 must recognise that rural Ire- land is trailing behind in terms of the economic re- covery and provide addi- tional support to farming, particularly the


low-in-


come sectors. “While the economic


recovery is in full swing in Dublin and other cities, it has yet to have a signifi- cant impact in rural Ire- land. The focus must be on supporting the rural economy.” Joe Healy said our


agri-food sector is facing a number of huge chal- lenges with the unprece-


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Agriculture


dented threat of Brexit, a very damaging proposal on the CAP Budget and the impending Mercosur trade deal. “While


budgetary is-


sues at home are the focus of today’s discussion, the very future of Irish agri- culture is at


stake. The


Irish Government needs to take the strongest pos- sible stance on the CAP Budget and damaging


trade deals, and continue to hold the line on Brex- it,” he said. “It is clear that


cer-


tain sectors, particularly our suckler cow sector, are under huge income pressure. The Govern- ment needs to act in the next Budget


to address


this. During the econom- ic recovery, many farm schemes were cut. While there has been some res- toration, this must contin- ue in the next Budget,” he said. The IFA President re-


minded the Government of the commitment


in


the Programme for Gov- ernment to increase the Earned Income


Tax


Credit to €1,650 for the self-employed, to match the PAYE credit. The


Earned Income


Tax Credit must be in- creased from its 2018 lev- el of €1,150 to €1,650 in budget 2019. Joe Healy said the im- roll-out loan


mediate low-cost


of scheme


Aldi’s Aggressive Discounting Of Fresh Milk Is Incompatible With Origin Green Membership – IFA


Unsustainable dis-


counting of fresh milk by Aldi in the last week is socially irresponsible and fundamentally incompat- ible


tainability scheme. “In their promotional


with Origin Green


membership, IFA Nation- al Liquid Milk Chairman John Finn has said. John Finn said, “Aldi is


currently selling fresh milk at €1.30 for 2 litres. This is below the true cost of put- ting that milk on the shelf and is not economically sustainable. “This is the second time in 12 months that Aldi has shown its aggressive dis- counting streak on fresh milk. In that time, the re- tailer has become a mem- ber of Origin Green, the Bord Bia Irish food sus-


material advertising their membership of the Ori- gin Green Scheme, Aldi claims to have developed a plan that includes sus- tainable sourcing and em- phasises social responsibil- ity. But any fair-minded person can see that aggressive


this undermining


of the value of fresh milk through hostile discount- ing is neither sustainable nor socially responsible. “Aldi’s behaviour will be


seen by farmers for what it is: a nakedly cynical at- tempt to build up market share while masking their irresponsible


actions be-


hind positive PR. “The credibility of Or-


igin Green depends on how much the scheme stretches


its members to


adopt socially responsible sourcing practices and sustainable


policies and


behaviours - not just en- vironmental but also eco- nomic.


of


Aldi makes a lot of use farm and farmer im-


agery in their promotional material and within their stores. It is clear that those messages have


neither


coherence nor credibility, and I believe Aldi must prove to farmers just how genuine


discounting,” their commit-


ment is by living up to the spirit of the Origin Green and desisting from un- sustainable


John Finn concluded. the


Thursday, 5th


July 2018


info@eastcorkjournal.ie Deadline Monday at noon


Budget Must Focus On Rural Growth With Agriculture At The Core


announced in the last


Budget must also be a pri- ority for the Government. “On climate,


farmers


are playing their part, but all sectors of society need to look at what more we can do. IFA is clear that the way to make progress in this area is through an incentive-based approach rather an approach based on taxation or penalties” he said. “There is huge poten-


tial in the area of renewa- ble energy. With the right policies, we could see a ‘win-win’ in this area by achieving environmental improvements while pro- viding new opportunities for farmers,” he said.


Ten Tips For Summer Security From IFA


and farm security during the


Don’t forget about home good weather,


IFA


Deputy President Richard Kennedy has advised. “It is important to be


vigilant about your home and farm security during the summer when homes are more likely to be un- occupied or accessible. Never assume that because you are at home or nearby, your farm or property is safe,” Richard advises. Ten tips


to keep your


home and farm secure this summer 1. Lock windows on the


ground floor level. 2. Ensure that, if you


are opening windows on the first floor, they cannot be entered from a porch,


drain pipe or a ladder left out.


3. Be clever about how


you lock up and when go- ing to bed at night; make sure that if you are leaving a window open, it is not ac- cessible. 4. If you are working in


the farmyard or garden, make sure you have locked all the doors and windows to your home as you may be easily distracted in your work


5. If you are working


with power tools or gar- dening equipment be ex- tra vigilant as you may not hear a person entering your property. 6. Carry a key with you;


don’t be tempted to leave the key under a pot or


stone near the door 7. If you are to the rear


of the property your home may appear to be unoccu- pied which might draw a criminal’s attention 8. Consider setting the


alarm if you feel that you may get distracted in your work or nod off while re- laxing. 9. When you are finished


working outside, make sure to put away the power tools and machinery. Take a few minutes to ensure the safe- ty of your property. 10. Mark your property


– overt and covert mark- ings will deter criminals and can help to reunite you with stolen property if it is stolen and subsequently re- covered.


Irish Soils - the Living Skin of Our Nation


Our soil is a critical national resource


that


underpins national agri- cultural, environmental, ecological and cultural di- mensions of our economy and society. Soil is a high- ly variable and yet fragile skin to our landscape, and in the context of emerg- ing pressures from climate change, urban expansion, and intensification of use, it is essential that we have access to knowledge on soil formation, its prop- erties and its functions in order to provide for its sustainable management into the future. The


Environmental


Protection Agency and Teagasc support a range of national activities that serve to increase knowl- edge on our natural envi- ronment and our natural resources, and together are


pleased to launch Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


the Soils of Ireland book which incorporates the latest


national science


and provides a powerful resource to inform sci- ence and policy in rela- tion to the resilience of this critical raw material, our soil. This publication, which


has been supported by the EPA and Teagasc, and prepared by


thirty-nine


national experts in their respective fields, provides a richly illustrated and comprehensive overview of Irish soils, and includes important discussions and applications of the study of soils and soil manage- ment in Ireland. Editor of The Soils of


Ireland, Lilian O’Sulli- van, described the utility of the book saying “This book has been developed as a robust source of cur- rent knowledge of Irish


soils and represents an important


development. resource for


students, educators, ad- visors, researchers and more, integrating existing knowledge


together in


one volume.” The twen- ty one chapters address the diversity of functional roles of Irish soils in agri- culture, nutrient manage- ment, water quality, eco- systems, and engineering, as well as addressing the cultural and geographi- cal aspects of soils in our landscape and archaeol- ogy. Speaking about


the


book, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, Dr Mat- thew Crowe said: “This is the first textbook for Ireland that takes an in- tegrated and dedicated assessment of the role of soils in our economic, en- vironmental and cultural


eastcorkjournal This ad-


vancement in soil knowl- edge for Ireland, coupled with the


development


of the soil information system database for Ire- land, together provides an invaluable national re- source for scientists, land managers, and policy makers.” Speaking about


the


book, Teagasc Head of Strategy and Internation- al Relations, Dr. Lance O’Brien, said: “What this book forces us to re- alise is the integrated and systemic nature functions that


of the resources provide.


our soil Our


economic, social and cul- tural wellbeing depend on the health and sustain- able management of our soil. The Soils of Ireland publication reminds us of this intimate dependency and core responsibility.”


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal


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