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Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Call for helpline to be set up for distressed farmers

Éamon Ó Cuív has said that a helpline needs to be set up for farmers who are distressed due to poor weather and its effect on their livelihoods.

BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS this summer are leaving farmers distressed – and a helpline should be set up to offer them advice, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Agriculture, Éamon Ó Cuív TD has said.

Poor weather conditions

He has called on Minister Simon Coveney to direct his department and Teagasc to immediately set up a helpline for the farmers who are in distress due to the poor weather conditions this summer.

Deputy Ó Cuív said that every day he is contacted by farmers and farm organisations “concerned about the effect the terrible summer is having on farmers’ mental health and the need for emergency action and support”.

Farmers have failed to make any quality silage this year because of flooded fields, failed crops and farmers having to feed silage and extra concentrates in the middle of summer. Many farmers have been forced to house their cattle for long periods with all the associated costs. Unfortunately, farmers are also facing the double whammy of huge increases in the costs of concentrates and diesel. Many of them are at breaking point and unfortunately some are gone beyond breaking point.

He said it has been “a very cruel summer for thousands of farmers throughout the country, especially those in the south”.

The constant rain has meant that farmers also face penalties and fines under various schemes for non-compliance due to the weather. No instruction has been given to inspectors to take the weather into account in deciding compliance with agricultural schemes.

Adapt

Deputy Ó Cuív said that officials from the Department of Agriculture and Teagasc “need to adapt to the huge problems facing farmers and act accordingly”.

He suggested that the Minister needs to ensure inspectors from his Department and officials from Teagasc are directed to drop their routine work and travel the country to assess damage from the weather, and should meet with farmers.

A special helpline dedicated to farmers is also something that needs to be provided. Many farmers are in severe distress about the extent of what has happened this summer, along with cuts to Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS) and AEOS.
There was an ad recently in the Farmer’s Journal reminding farmers to reseed. As one farmer said in frustration, “the only way of reseeding in many parts of the south would be by helicopter”, as the land is soaked.

The helpline should offer emotional support and advice on the extreme effects this bad weather is having on farmers and their families, said the TD.

Deputy Ó Cuív added that the Minister should also draw up a series of measures to deal with the crisis and announce them immediately to give reassurance and hope to the farming community

Irish Farmers’ Association

IFA Farm Family Chair Margaret Healy believes the bad weather this summer has increased stress levels among farmers and heightened the risk of accidents.

She said:

Farm work is being carried out in adverse conditions and farmers are rushing to get certain jobs done when rain gives way to dry spells.  IFA is urging farmers to maintain a high level of vigilance on farm safety at all times to minimise the risk of accidents.

The IFA is promoting a ‘Think Safety-Farm Safely’ campaign throughout the country, which is focused on the awareness, promotion and education of farm safety.  The IFA Farm Safety leaflet is available on www.IFA.ie.

In July, the IFA told TheJournal.ie that all sectors of farming have had incomes affected due to higher feed costs and a lack of output.

Read: Weather causing problems for farmers>

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79 Comments
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    Mute Liz Greehy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:19 PM

    Agriculture is the backbone of this country and always has been. The knock on effect economically from farmers losing crops or being unable to have the animals out on the land etc effects everyone in some way or other – increased demands, price hikes, job losses and so on – I am not from a farming background but I hate people being cynical for the sake of it. This is people’s livelihoods they are talking about here. I know plenty of farming families, none of which are rich and all of which -bar one or two – are obviously struggling and in distress this year. A bit of compassion and understanding wouldn’t go astray. Helpline is a good idea I think.

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    Mute Donal O'Sullivan
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:28 PM

    well said

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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:29 PM

    Agriculture is not the backbone of the country. The farms aren’t big enough to make them economic units.

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:36 PM

    It sounds like they’re getting their retaliation in first with this one! This talk of their assets and savings being means tested has them rattled!

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:28 PM

    Yep well said. And they don’t have much of a voice here as they are probably still out working.

    You have to understand that farmers mainly work as a sole person day in day out at anti social hours and if it’s a whinge they want they should get it.

    Us in offices etc can bounce of each other if we have a shit day and get advice etc

    This is about mental health and some of you here are the dames ones that would be all pro anti suicide campaigns etc so think outside the box

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    Mute Cisca Bos
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 12:25 PM

    well said, i know my neighbours are struggling having to put the cows back in again , feeding them the silage thats for the winter. …..so yes a bit of compassion pls !

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    Mute kingstown
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:05 PM

    Phone number for distressed farmers = Fine Gael head office

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    Mute somethingodd
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:33 PM

    should help save on costs…or else another position for a director and special advisor

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    Mute bandido anuso
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:08 PM

    Well I haven’t particularly enjoyed the weather this summer either.
    Who’s going to help me out?

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    Mute Michael Kelly
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:53 PM

    Why bandido, has it affected your livelihood? Didn’t think so.

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    Mute bandido anuso
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:22 PM

    They say one of the first signs of madness is talking to yourself Michael.
    Asking a question and then answering it yourself could be considered talking to yourself !
    Yes the weather has affected me by the way.

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    Mute Michelle Higgins Conway
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:33 PM

    And where do you think you’re food is coming from. Farmers milk cows its not made in Avonmore, Golden Vale etc. The flour for your bread comes from a farm, the butter you put on it comes from milk from a farm,The jam you spread on the bread comes from fruit farms not from Chivers factory. In fact the Bulmers you’d love to be drinking if we had fine weather comes from Apple farms.
    Farming in this country is not just cows and silage. We pay high prices for foodstuffs in this country, due to the bad weather we face a long winter of rising food prices. Bad weather adversely affects grain prices which affects cost of rearing animals for meat which in turn affects the price of the meat on your plate.
    There is helplines for everything nowadays so why not one for farmers to turn to in need of support and advice. If this helpline was to prevent one suicide amongst the farming community then it will have done its job.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:31 PM

    Sure, all the ingredients for those products come from farms. Just not Irish farms.

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:22 PM

    Smiley will you go and educate yourself. If the agri sector in this country goes belly up we are in big trouble. FACT.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:36 PM

    @Vinny. So what you are saying is that farmers and farms don’t need subsidies because they are viable economic units without them? Get real.

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    Mute Pierce2020
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:30 PM

    If you don’t want to help out the farmers then grand, but when you are paying 10 euros for a kilo of spuds I hope you are happy then also.

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:06 PM

    It’s going to get a lot worse. There’s a lot of silage infected with slugs.

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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:15 PM

    I have heard it all now, only in Ireland.

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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Aug 24th 2012, 1:58 AM

    And 53 THICK people agree with the idiot that suggested this, the country has plenty of helplines for everyone in all professions. Jokers

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 21st 2012, 3:52 PM

    They ought to give Farmers a tax holiday.

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    Mute Aaron Broughill
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    Aug 21st 2012, 3:56 PM

    Bollox! Taxi men not paying taxes is bad enough!

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:41 PM

    Are farmers the only people in the country at breaking point then? FFS half the population’s been dire straits for the last 5 years! Join the club lads!!

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    Mute Francis Foran
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:45 PM

    @Aaron broughill , get your facts right ! before you can operate a taxi you need a yearly tax compliant certificate .

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    Mute Aaron Broughill
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:50 PM

    And you honestly think they declare all of their taxes! Dont make me laugh mate, I know too many of them to know what they get up to!

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    Mute Aaron Broughill
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:51 PM

    Your also supposed to have a clean Garda record but we also know for a FACT that thats not always the way

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:16 PM

    @francis now don’t try to tell people that the taxi men pay their full entitlements. This is not a comedy forum

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 5:01 AM

    This is a story about farmers. Bang. Right out of the starting gate we’re on to taxi men.
    Amazing…

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:28 PM

    If farmers have no money they’ll be forced to sell assets, like land, that’ll make the price of land plummet. And when things pick up their output will be greatly reduced.

    That won’t be good for the economy.

    It might be good for me personally. I might buy some. But generally not so good.

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:02 PM

    What are you going to do with your land?

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:06 PM

    That’s none of your business, matey.

    Evil things though, very evil things.

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    Mute Little Jim
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:09 PM

    Fair enough so!

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:33 PM

    So you got the school books already?

    baby infants economics

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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 7:49 AM

    Aidan,

    You what?

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    Mute BandaraBoy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:49 PM

    With all due respect to farmers (and everyone else who is suffering from
    bad times), I’d hope that any available money for a helpline would be routed to the ISPCC and/or Barnados so they didn’t have to close their doors for a week.

    Children and there protection should be far more ahead on the list than any profession is

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    Mute Pierce2020
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:05 PM

    Have to kinda agree with you but the thing with the farmers is that when they have a bad year the prices go up and it becomes harder for parents to feed their kids, so this is why I think they should be helped.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:10 PM

    The IFA must be policing this one!

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    Mute Michael Kelly
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:32 PM

    @bandido: I don’t care if the weather has affected your ability to have a BBQ, I am referring to the ability to do ones job….which the weather has prevented farmers from doing….the whole point of the article.

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    Mute Damian O'keeffe
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:37 PM

    What would the helpline be called?

    ………Belly acres?

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:29 PM

    Suicide prevention for farmers?

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    Mute Ciaran Morgan
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:33 PM

    it matters when they are constantly in da news lookin for money.

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:37 PM

    No it doesn’t. Stick with the soccer i’d say. It’s sad to see so many people make a joke out of something so serious. Peoples mental health is really suffering and a farming specific helpline would be a great help for a community that gives so much to this country. If you can’t see that then you are blind and stupid.

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:26 PM

    When we’re they in the news looking for money?

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    Mute William Mcgee
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:11 PM

    Not a word about the year the farmers had last year , I suppose the cash from last year is stashed away with the rest of the loot. I have yet to meet a farmer who knows how many acres he owns .

    22
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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:31 PM

    What does it matter to a nosy person like you how much a farmer owns. How much do you earn per week? and how much savings have you?

    22
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    Mute Ciaran Morgan
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:31 PM

    a few, they all own a few. the top field, the meada and the set aside (aka the garden).

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    Mute Vinny Healy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:27 PM

    ^ were

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    Mute Dennis Laffey
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:13 PM

    Food independence and food supply is extremely important and the switch to a knowledge economy should not impact the importance of that. If the government needs to subsidize farmers to ensure that we retain farms here in Ireland, so be it.

    21
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    Mute David Harries
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:45 PM

    At least they are at home and been very well subsidized for years whot about all the poor bastards that have had to go away to make a living they should count their blessings

    19
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    Mute BandaraBoy
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:04 PM

    @David

    I earn 532 euro a week, I have about 3000 in the credit union

    I have no problem being upfront about my earnings, especially as I’m trying to get some mortgage help.

    I’m not sure if your farmer colleagues would be the same

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:12 PM

    That’s your business if you want to go around shoving what you have in peoples faces but there is nothing wrong with trying to be discreet and keeping a low profile. Farming was never and never will be about the money. It’s a way of life and a great one at that.

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    Mute Donncha Foley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:56 PM

    He answered your question, and you say he’s shoving money in your face. Don’t ask the question if you not prepared to accept the answer.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:41 PM

    @David. Farming is a business. Businesses exist to make money. If you’re not making money from farming then stop the business. Go buy a play farm. An acre or two. Don’t claim subsidies. Stop rabbiting on about lifestyle.

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    Mute John Denby
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    Aug 21st 2012, 9:02 PM

    @smiley, you’ve just proven that you don’t and never will understand irish agriculture. If you think farming is a 9-5 job you’re gravely mistaken. Irish farming is a way of life not just a job. Typical simple minded city boy

    11
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    Mute Smiley
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    Aug 21st 2012, 9:15 PM

    @john. I didn’t say anything about 9-5 job. Didn’t say I am from the city. FYI have been a farmer. Made money, too. Didn’t get given any. Ever.

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:15 PM

    @ Donncha, I didn’t ask bandara any question actually. Ya, he gave some information on an anonymous forum that nobody cares about. Everybody knows that farmers are asset rich and cash poor. What is the point in knowing how much land or how many cows somebody has only to judge them as being rich or poor. i.e to begrudge them or to have pity on them. Why else do people need to know how much land one owns for example?

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:23 PM

    @Smiley It would be great to farm without subsidies and rules and regulations that often make little sense but that’s not what the market wants. If we shut down all the farms where are the hundreds and thousands of workers going to get jobs and when Kerry, Glanbia, Dairygold, etc and all the farm stores, shops, hauliers shut down and of course all the farm inspectors and machinery salespeople, etc. etc. Where are the 500,000 jobs and all the payments to the government going to come from then smiley? Agriculture is and always has been the backbone of this country and people like you should be glad to have them keeping Ireland afloat.

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    Mute Ciaran Morgan
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:17 PM

    help=money.

    12
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    Mute Francis Foran
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:19 PM

    @ Aaron broughill , this thread was dealing with farmers , yet for so reason you decided on a sweeping rant about taxi drivers , firstly let me explain I am tax compliant , I have never had a criminal record , have you ? You seem to know lots of taxi drivers who are on some sort of stroke , but I’m sure being the upright citizen that you are ,why do you not name and shame them , and while you are at it any time you get into a taxi be sure and tell the driver that he is not paying his taxes , and that he is a criminal ! No I don’t think you would say that! , you like to rant on the keyboard .

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    Mute Mark Rentzke
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    Aug 21st 2012, 8:57 PM

    When times are good we don’t hear from the farmers but when times are bad they are the first to ask for a handout … Same the world over …

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    Mute Michelle Higgins Conway
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:35 PM

    Damocles, who the hell is buying land in this day and age

    11
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    Mute Damocles
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:38 PM

    Well if the land price drops, it’s currently a little above UK levels, and it would surely plummet in a such a scenario, then I would.

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 5:07 AM

    When the cash machines stop working, it will be nice to grow your own food.

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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:49 PM

    Oh boy what next are they going to suck out of their thumbs? It’s becoming a joke, it’s no wonder everyone takes the piss out of the government.

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Aug 21st 2012, 11:01 PM

    You’re a joke

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    Mute Sandra Clifford
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:44 PM

    The farmers can go to mabs like the rest of us

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    Mute David
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    Aug 21st 2012, 10:25 PM

    Do they deal with starving animals and counselling

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    Mute Aidan Geraghty
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    Aug 21st 2012, 11:09 PM

    Sandra go and eat someone silage

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Aug 21st 2012, 5:11 PM

    Do people forget that people need homes to live in with their families?

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    Mute howe121
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    Aug 21st 2012, 11:36 PM

    What about the poor builder

    7
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    Mute Derek Larney
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    Aug 21st 2012, 4:55 PM

    Why would you bother, land is a terrible investment compared to shares, the Dow Jones has outperformed land prices by a factor of 3 to 1 in the US for nearly 100 years.

    We need to get away from this assumption that owning land and property is a good investment – it’s not when you compare it’s historic performance to other asset classes. The fact an acre of land is €5-10k in Ireland yet can only achieve a rental of €200-500p.a. speaks volumes as to the true value of land.

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    Mute Brian Mc Cabe
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 9:26 AM

    Like them Facebook ones? You’d be better off going down to Paddy Power.

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    Mute JTHM
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 1:39 AM

    Funny how a certain sub-set of the Irish feel that they can’t function without having a target for their bile. If you’re not a farmer, why don’t ye try to improve the life you’re in rather than peeing over someone else’s misfortunes. The first step in getting this country to face forward is to throw out this constant smog of holier-than-thou entitlement.

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    Mute Saffron Willetts
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    Aug 21st 2012, 6:56 PM

    If people want to help the farmers do something about climate change, at least stop with all the cheap flights every summer, easter break what have you.

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    Mute seamus mcdermott
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    Aug 22nd 2012, 5:12 AM

    OK. Let’s go back to the taxi men.

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    Mute Simon Blake
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    Aug 21st 2012, 7:52 PM

    He were worrying me sheep he was! – (c) 1990 Farmer Palmer

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