Angus Woods: Times have changed – and farm orgs should be fighting for an exit/reduction package
Plummeting calf births show how a lot of farmers want out – but the pay-outs at RTÉ and other State agencies contrast with the options available in agriculture
'The farm orgs failed to recognise that many of their members were intending to reduce cow numbers'. Photo: Damien Eagers
Lambing and calving is well under way on many farms, but any hopes of an early turn-out of cattle has been washed away.
Even on a hilly east coast farm like ours, the fields are too soft to tolerate light stores, let alone suckler cows. Normally I would try to get cattle turned out before St Patrick’s Day, but I’m struggling to find fields dry enough even for ewes and lambs.
