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Irish Farmers' Association

IFA

The Irish Farmers' Association represents Irish farmers by lobbying European institutions on agricultural policy and market issues.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner)

3 Mar 2022 · Address at Galway IFA executive meeting - EU response to Ukraine, CAP, fertilizer/input costs

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner)

28 Feb 2022 · Latest challenges for the agriculture sector

Meeting with Janusz Wojciechowski (Commissioner)

24 Feb 2022 · Current issue of input costs including fertiliser Anti Dumping Suspension request, crisis in the pig sector and current CAP process

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner) and

3 Dec 2021 · Rising input costs; Brexit Adjustment Reserve; seed potatoes; Fit for 55

Meeting with Kevin Keary (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

28 Oct 2021 · Anti Dumping Duties on the import of Urea and ammonium nitrate

Meeting with Katherine Power (Cabinet of Commissioner Mairead Mcguinness)

27 Oct 2021 · CIWF asked for an update on the progress made on the agricultural technical screening criteria in the taxonomy. They confirmed that they had contributed to the Platform on Sustainable Finance’s public consultation and saw references to animal feed

Meeting with Katherine Power (Cabinet of Commissioner Mairead Mcguinness)

15 Jul 2021 · CAP, Green Deal and Fertilizers

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner) and

26 May 2021 · Common Agriculture Policy.

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner) and

12 Mar 2021 · farm incomes, unfair trading practices, trade policy, Brexit, Farm to Fork strategy and ongoing CAP negotiations.

Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner) and

15 Feb 2021 · Webinar on European Green Deal, CAP negotiations to Meath branch of IFA

Meeting with Katherine Power (Cabinet of Commissioner Mairead Mcguinness)

6 Nov 2020 · AGRI Aspects of the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy

Response to Fitness Check of the EU legislation on animal welfare

29 Jul 2020

IFA SUBMISSION TO THE EU COMMISSION EVULATION OF EU RULES ON ANIMAL WELFARE (FITNESS CHECK OF THE EU LEGISTATION ON ANIMAL WELFARE). INTRODUCTION The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) The IFA is Ireland’s largest farming organisation with 72,000 farmer members, the majority which are involved in livestock production. The Association is structured with 947 branches and 29 County Executives across the country. The IFA President and various Committee Chairmen along with branch and county representatives are democratically elected by the farmer membership. IFA represents all farming sectors at National, European and International Level. Through our office in Brussels the IFA represents Irish farmers on the European umbrella body of farm organisations COPA. In addition, the IFA are the representative for Irish farmers on the World Farmers’ Organisation. The IFA welcomes this initiative from the EU Commission of the Fitness Check on animal welfare. IFA SUBMISSION The IFA wish to make the following key points as part of a contribution on the Fitness check on animal welfare. In addition, the IFA is available to meet with the EU Commission on any aspect of the submission and to discuss all aspects of the Fitness check on Animal Welfare. IMPORTANT ROLE OF FARMERS IN FOOD PRODUCTION AND ANIMAL WELFARE IN THE EU It is critically important that the EU Commission fully recognise the important role of farmers in sustainable food production, food security and food sovereignty. The Covid 19 crisis highlighted the essential role of farmers in the production and delivery of high quality safe and affordable food to all in EU society. EU policies such as the CAP, the Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity as well as policies in the important area of animal welfare must recognise, reflect and support this critically important role of farmers. While EU and national legislation on animal welfare are important, they cannot replace the key role farmers play in terms ensuring high levels of animal welfare in the EU. The reality is farmers are the people that look after their animals on their farms on a 24/7 basis 365 days a year. EU rules and legislation on animal welfare must recognise the professional competency of farmers and herdowners. In practice every day on farms all across the EU, farmers ensure a very high level of animal welfare by their care, skill, stockman ship and competence in looking after the animals on their farms. This cannot be provided by legislation. It must be supported by strong EU farm policies which guarantee the sustainability of the EU model of family farming and farming systems (economic, environmental and social). (...)
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Response to Farm to Fork Strategy

16 Mar 2020

Here are the comments(document attached) on the Farm to Fork Strategy from the Irish Farmers' Association. Regards, Liam MacHale Director of European Affairs
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Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

11 Sept 2019 · Agri Matters

Meeting with Maria Asenius (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

21 Jun 2019 · Mercosur / trade in beef

Response to Enhancing Market transparency in the agri-food chain

19 Jun 2019

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is a professional representative organisation with a membership of over 72,000 farmers. The Association is recognised nationally, in Europe and internationally as the main national representative organisation for Irish farmers.
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Meeting with Peter Wehrheim (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan), Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 May 2019 · Rural Development

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

19 Jan 2019 · Address Annual IFA dinner

Meeting with Dermot Ryan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

8 Nov 2018 · Agri matters

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

11 Sept 2018 · Business discussion

Meeting with Peter Wehrheim (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan), Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

5 Jul 2018 · Business discussion

Meeting with Peter Wehrheim (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

5 Jul 2018 · Recent CAP legislation proposals

Meeting with Maria Asenius (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Nele Eichhorn (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

18 Apr 2018 · Price of fertilizer

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 Feb 2018 · IFA Annual Report

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

7 Feb 2018 · IFA presented him with their Annual Report

Meeting with Jyrki Katainen (Vice-President) and Association nationale interprofessionnelle du bétail et des viandes and Polskie Zrzeszenie Producentów Bydła Mięsnego

15 Dec 2017 · Discussion on beef sector in the EU-Mercosur negotiations

Meeting with Maria Asenius (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström), Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström) and

7 Dec 2017 · Mercosur and beef

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 Nov 2017 · Business discussion

Meeting with Miguel Ceballos Baron (Cabinet of Vice-President Cecilia Malmström)

14 Sept 2017 · Mercosur negotiations

Response to Initiative to improve the Food Supply Chain

15 Aug 2017

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) welcomes the publication by the European Commission of an Inception Impact Assessment (IIA) to 'Improve the Functioning of the Food Supply Chain' (FSC) IFA has campaigned for years both at home and in Europe, for a rebalancing of power in the FSC, to deliver a viable price for farmers, and a return on their work and investment. Imbalance of power in the FSC Throughout the EU, it is widely recognised and accepted that there is a major imbalance of power in the FSC between retailers as price setters at the top of the chain, and primary producers as price takers at the bottom. This imbalance of power has resulted in a situation where farmers are sometimes compelled to accept unreasonable conditions and prices that do not cover their costs or provide an economic return. Across Member States (MS), there is recurring evidence of large retailers dominating the market with excessive buying power and dictating price levels back to farmers, often driving prices to uneconomic levels and even below the cost of production. The IIA has proposed to cover three areas: • Unfair trading practices; • Market transparency; and • A specific rule concerning producer cooperation (value sharing agreements) Under these three headings IFA has a number of observations to inform the work of the initiative. Unfair Trading Practices There are numerous examples of UTPs being experienced by primary producers and others in the food chain. Proof of the existence of such practices, is the fact that 20 MS have now moved to introduce regulations to curb these unlawful practices. We see examples of UTPs every day, for example: • Payment Terms & Conditions - Late Payments • Below Cost Selling • Hello Money / Pay to play Money • Payments for Wastage / Shrinkage • Payments for marketing costs • Payment for Shelf-Space IFA supports the objective of strengthen governance of the FSC but believes non-legislative guidelines and recommendations will not be sufficient. The voluntary Supply Chain Initiative (SCI) is not working for primary producers. If this continues unchecked, retail power and big business will destroy the European family farm structure and undermine food security for the EU's 500 million consumers. The European Commission must provide for an EU-wide legislative approach, including proper enforcement mechanisms, to curb unfair trading practices. IFA believes that enforcement must be overseen by an Independent Regulator in each MS, similar to the UK (Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013)model. Market transparency IFA supports the objectives set out to increase market transparency, thereby improving the position of farmers in the food supply chain. The price received by primary producers is published, while the consumer price for final products is also available. However, there is an absence of reliable and robust data on the prices that are paid for food products within the supply chain. Price discovery and transparency is a key requirement to improve the overall functioning of a market, and improving the overall cooperation and understanding between stakeholders in the supply chain. The absence of a wholesale price reporting system for food produce is undermining the competitive functioning of the food supply chain. IFA believes that the options set out under this heading do not go far enough. Legislation is required to provide robust, reliable and anonymous data on the prices being received for food products throughout the supply chain. IFA suggests that the model that should be adopted and enforced is similar to that operating within the US ( USDA Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act 1999). A specific rule concerning producer cooperation (value sharing agreements) IFA believes that the proposal to investigate a mechanism on value sharing across sectors has merit and should be investigated fully as part of the impact assessment.
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Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

6 Jul 2017 · Networking

Meeting with Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

14 Jun 2017 · The CAP Post 2020

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

24 Apr 2017 · Address conference

Meeting with Michel Barnier (Head of Task Force Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom)

10 Apr 2017 · Meeting with the Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU

Meeting with Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

23 Mar 2017 · Beef

Meeting with Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

23 Mar 2017 · Topics related to the meat sector

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

17 Feb 2017 · FARMING ISSUES

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

6 Feb 2017 · Business discussion

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

25 Jan 2017 · CAP and farming matters

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

25 Jan 2017 · Agricultural issues

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

25 Jan 2017 · Introductory meeting to Director General of IFA

Response to Rules for the EU scales for beef, pig and sheep carcass classification and the reporting of prices

16 Jan 2017

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is the representative body for Irish farmers, with 75,000 members across all farming sectors. The IFA has national structure with 947 branches located throughout Ireland, which feed into 29 county executives and in turn to the Executive council. The IFA's head office is based in Dublin with a permanent office and representation in Brussels, where the Association is affiliated to COPA/COGECA. On behalf of Irish farmers, the IFA wish to make the following submission on the Rules for EU Carcase Classification. 1 Accurate and independent Carcase classification is vital to provide the basis to correctly access the quality and subsequent value of animal carcases as well as providing a transparent price reporting mechanism. 2 The EU Commission must ensure that accurate and reliable carcase classification is provided for all farmers. 3 The EU Commission must reduce the existing tolerance and bias range allowed for under mechanical classification to improve the accuracy of the current system. 4 Under mechanical classification, the carcase image and measurements used by the machine to determine the conformation should be provided to farmers with their remittance. 5 An independent appeals mechanism must be provided for under mechanical classification. 6 Changes by the competent authority to the technical specifications of classification machines can only be permitted with EU approval, where accuracy is improved. 7 Permanent competent authority personnel must be provided and available in all slaughter premises to monitor and control mechanical classification, carcase trim and weighing. 8 Frequent audit checks must be carried in all slaughter plants by the competent authority on mechanical classification, trim and weights with the results made publically available. 9 Price reporting through out the EU must be transparent, comparable and accurate. 10 The accuracy of the current hot to cold weight adjustment must be analysed to take account of the latest technological developments in carcase chilling. The IFA is requesting that the issues outlined above are incorporated in the changes being proposed by the EU Commission into Carcase classification rules. The IFA consider it is of vital importance that the EU Commission provide the legal framework which will ensure all farmers are provided with independent, accurate and reliable classification, trim and weights of all carcases.
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Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

4 Nov 2016 · Agri matters

Meeting with Christiane Canenbley (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

15 Jun 2016 · Agri business

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

26 May 2016 · Farm Income Crisis in all sectors, Trade, Fertilisers

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner)

26 May 2016 · Agriculture policy in Europe

Meeting with Miguel Arias Cañete (Commissioner) and Greenpeace European Unit and

13 May 2016 · EU energy and climate agenda for 2016

Meeting with Jean-Luc Demarty (Director-General Trade)

29 Feb 2016 · Trade and the non-EU fertilisers

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

16 Nov 2015 · Presentation by the IFA

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

26 Oct 2015 · Business discussion

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

26 Oct 2015 · Business discussion

Meeting with Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

7 Sept 2015 · Business discussion

Meeting with Cristina Rueda Catry (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan), Tom Tynan (Cabinet of Commissioner Phil Hogan)

3 Mar 2015 · TTIP, simplification, rural development, climate change

Meeting with Phil Hogan (Commissioner) and

12 Dec 2014 · Ireland Rural Development Programme, Milk market measures, Commonage problems in Ireland