Monday, October 21, 2013
Farmers are in unknown territory with the Common Agricultural Policy, according to the head of the organising committee for Macra na Feirme’s annual rally and conference, which will be held in Carlow over the October bank holiday.
Eric Driver of Carlow Macra, which is hosting the event, said the theme for the agricultural conference will be new CAP, new era. It is imperative that young farmers make their voice heard and insure the CAP is directed to the active farmer, he said. Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, will be the main venue while the agricultural conference will be held at Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. European Parliament member Mairead McGuinness, Agricultural Consultants Association president Michael Brady, and UCD’s Alan Renwick will form the panel of speakers. On the previous night, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney will officially open the rally, which thousands of young people from around the country are expected to attend over the course of that weekend. The Oct 25-27 programme will include farm tours, social events, and the national finals of several Macra competitions. Dr Ailish Byrne, senior agricultural manager with Ulster Bank, said she hoped that the business-minded young farmers who are driving the agricultural industry will benefit from the event. Those lucky enough to visit with the host farmers should endeavour to implement one new practice on their home farm that they witnessed, she said.