The debate over unity among farmers' organisations was reopened yesterday when the president of Macra na Feirme, Mr Thomas Honner, said Irish farmers would be better served by one unified farming body. Seán MacConnell reports.
He said one strong organisation would be better placed to make strategic decisions for the benefit of farmers, and he called on other farm leaders to get together to discuss the issue.
"At present, energy is being expended by organisations and sectoral groups in trying to second-guess one another, which is not always in the best interests of the farming community as a whole. There is no doubt that there will be fewer farmers in the future. Against this background, having one strong, unified body makes sense."
He said that in the future it would be even more important for farmers to continue with the policy of making a logical, well-explained case to the public.
"This objective would be best served by having one organisation with a clear communications strategy."
But there was immediate disagreement, with the president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association, Mr Pat O'Rourke, saying he saw no benefit to farmers in having one organisation.
"Our members, our sector, dairying and the family farm is well served by the ICMSA, and among other things I believe in competition."
He said that because there were so many sectors in farming, organisations representing the different needs of the various areas were needed.
"I do not believe in following the crowd, and that is what would happen with a single organisation.
"For instance, we made up our minds very quickly on the decoupling issue, and it differs from other farm organisations."
The idea was welcomed, however, by the president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr John Dillon, who said he had called for farm unity on the day of his election as IFA president.
He said he believed farmers should be speaking with one voice, and he was aware that there was a "tendency to jump into print" as quickly as possible from some of the organisations.
"I am a believer in farm unity, and I would like to see one farm organisation in which Macra na Feirme would play its part," he said.
Broad support for the suggestion came from the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, who said that while it was primarily a matter for the farm organisations, it would make sense in light of falling farm numbers.
It has been over 20 years since there was a serious attempt to bring the ICMSA and IFA together. Those talks broke down.