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<strong>September</strong> <strong>2023</strong><br />
Farming ‘bureaucracy’ a threat<br />
to rural Ireland, say rural TDs<br />
The Rural Independents group of TDs has<br />
said that the level of bureaucracy in farming<br />
is a “threat to rural Ireland”.<br />
The group said that, since Friday, 1 <strong>September</strong>,<br />
farmers now “grapple with a fresh wave of<br />
bureaucratic demands”, when new rules on<br />
fertiliser purchases come into effect.<br />
As of last Friday, it is an offence to purchase<br />
or sell fertiliser without being registered on<br />
the new National Fertiliser Database.<br />
The Rural Independents has said that the<br />
database has “sparked concerns among farmers”<br />
and that apprehensions around the new<br />
rules persist, particularly among farmers<br />
“who are less comfortable with technology”.<br />
Speaking on Tuesday, August 29, one member<br />
of the group, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath,<br />
said: “The incessant cycle of red tape, rules<br />
and bureaucracy is taking a toll, weighing<br />
heavily on our farmers. The [government’s]<br />
approach has exacerbated the situation,<br />
adding stress without yielding genuine economic<br />
benefits.<br />
“Even the Common Agricultural Policy<br />
[CAP] support, vital for farmers’ livelihoods,<br />
has transformed into a complex web of regulations<br />
that penalise our industrious agricultural<br />
community,” he added.<br />
However, McGrath said that the issue goes<br />
beyond CAP.<br />
“Both EU and national regulations, particularly<br />
those linked to habitat and environmental<br />
preservation, impose substantial financial<br />
burden on our farmers,” he said.<br />
“Unfortunately, despite accumulating over<br />
time, these regulations fall short of delivering<br />
the promised environmental benefit.<br />
“The burden of rules and regulations has<br />
now reached a point where it threatens the sustainability<br />
of farming in our country, and it’s<br />
time to put a stop to it,” the TD added.<br />
According to McGrath, many farmers “live<br />
in constant fear” of inadvertently violating a<br />
“plethora of rules and regulations”, potentially<br />
leading to cuts in their farm payments<br />
and even forcing some out of business.<br />
“The government appears to prioritise a narrow<br />
Green Party agenda over the welfare of<br />
rural Ireland and its farmers. An example of<br />
this is the inflexible, legally binding emissions<br />
reduction targets that disproportionally<br />
impact farmers,” he claimed.<br />
“This ill-timed policy mandates a reduction<br />
in food production capacity at a time when the<br />
world requires more sustenance, not less.”<br />
McGrath continued: “<strong>Farmer</strong>s stand as the<br />
backbone of rural communities, yet their<br />
voices remain unheard, and their concerns<br />
unaddressed by this [government]. What’s<br />
urgently required are practical regulations<br />
that offer support instead of placing further<br />
burdens on our farmers.<br />
“It’s high time for the government to listen<br />
and take decisive action. Presently, it seems<br />
[the government] is entirely aligned with the<br />
Green Party agenda. The sole solution lies for<br />
a new government that’s dedicated to prioritising<br />
the interests of rural Ireland in all policymaking,”<br />
he added.<br />
MIDLAND FARMER<br />
More tractors<br />
reported stolen in<br />
<strong>2023</strong> compared<br />
to 2022<br />
15<br />
An Garda Síochána has confirmed that there<br />
has been an increase in the number of tractors<br />
reported stolen in the first eight months of this<br />
year compared to corresponding figures for<br />
2022.<br />
A number of active investigations are currently<br />
ongoing throughout the country in relation<br />
to reported tractor thefts which according<br />
to gardaí have climbed to 24 between January<br />
to 10 August.<br />
This compares to 17 tractors reported stolen<br />
between January 1, to 10 August, last year.<br />
Sgt. John FitzPatrick, crime prevention officer<br />
with An Garda Síochána, said farmers<br />
should be constantly aware that “thieves are<br />
opportunists”.<br />
“When farmers are busy security can slip<br />
down their list of priorities but if farmers<br />
were to ask themselves ‘can I afford to lose this<br />
tractor’ and the answer is no – then they can<br />
see why it is important to have good, practical<br />
day to day, crime prevention habits in place.<br />
“There are a number of practical steps that<br />
farmers can take to protect their tractors –<br />
from making sure they have GPS devices fitted<br />
to security marking them,” Sgt. FitzPatrick<br />
added.<br />
It is also a good idea, according to gardaí, for<br />
farmers to consider installing an alarm or<br />
CCTV in vulnerable areas out of view of their<br />
farm house.<br />
LICENSED<br />
According to the Central Statistics Office<br />
(CSO) there were slightly more imported tractors<br />
licensed for the first time in July than new<br />
vehicles.<br />
Latest statistics show that 259 “used” vehicles<br />
were licensed in July compared to 242 new<br />
tractors in July.<br />
Ballyheashill, Rhode, Co. Offaly, R35 HC97 • Phone: 046 973 7000<br />
www.swainagri.ie
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