Paying dearly for cheap imports

I am probably one of the sad people who read President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address. Among other things, she stated that Europe is a continent of forests, which must be protected, while also defending the policy of food security in harmony with nature, both important objectives. No mention, however, of the Commission policies that undermine both of these goals. I speak, of course, of the Mercosur agreement. This is a trading block with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay and flies in the face of the idea of protecting forests and food production in harmony with nature. If the Mercosur agreement is so beneficial to the agricultural sector, then why are our farmers not dancing in the aisles? I’ll tell you why. Because they know that as the cheap imports flood the market, the Commission will, again, be able to cut Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments.
It would be a mistake to think that we can maintain food security in our Member States and at the same time rely on cheap imports – more about the power blocks that are emerging in Latin America on another day! I also note our Taoiseach and Tánaiste at the United Nations were espousing the same sentiments on food security. This is a new theme for them. I wonder if they read the Irish Farmers Monthly, and maybe even my many articles on this subject?

 
If the Mercosur agreement is so beneficial to the agricultural sector, then why are our farmers not dancing in the aisles?

Thanks for the support, Food Vision Tillage Group

PAC Ireland very much welcomes the support for agricultural contractors in a report from the Food Vision Tillage Group. It confirms the role of agricultural contractors in underpinning the future of the crops sector and urges the government to review the omission of contractors who do not have a herd number, and are therefore not eligible for Government-funded farm-support schemes. This excludes them from funding that would allow them to invest in new machinery systems and technologies to drive the tillage sector forward. 
Addressing the labour shortage and the need for young people to seek a career in contracting, the group also called for better training and education programmes for contractors. They pointed out that a lack of apprenticeships for tractor drivers or equipment operators was a major hurdle, limiting the future growth of the contracting sector (are you listening, Teagasc?). The report stressed that contractors can be the all-important conduit between the tillage and livestock sectors and better trained contractors will also help drive forward the ambition of achieving a lower carbon footprint across Irish agriculture.
This report from the Food Vision Tillage Group highlights many of the issues that PAC Ireland has been petitioning the government and farm-advisory bodies to recognise for decades. I couldn’t have written it better myself, it’s a nice feeling to be vindicated! 

Thank you, Food Vision Tillage Group.