12th December 2013
Wexford farmer Patrick Kent has been elected president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association after the vote in Portlaoise, defeating Gabriel Gilmartin of Sligo in a keenly contested election.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Kent said he was honoured to have been elected and said he aimed to use his presidency to empower the organisation further and represent ICSA members as strongly as possible.
Mr Kent, a cattle and sheep farmer from New Ross, said his main priorities include tackling the issue of low farming incomes and the sustainability of small family farms. “I’m very proud to represent a sector of farming that is producing food of a quality that is unsurpassable; wholesome, nutritious food unlike the empty-caloried junkfood that’s taking up so much space on retailers’ shelves. Cheap, processed food has a high health cost and we must ensure that the benefits of our quality beef and lamb are promoted here at home and abroad.”
The challenges facing the suckler industry are also a concern for the Wexford man. “The high cost of producing a weanling is leaving a very small margin for suckler farmers. We need to see a dramatic increase in the prices gained for quality weanlings and a corresponding fall in the cost of inputs. Otherwise, the targets set out under Food Harvest 2020 will have to be seriously revised. The current issues surrounding the price of bull beef also need to be tackled.”
“It will also be vital that we push hard for 50/50 co-funding for the Rural Development Programme under Pillar 2. Many farmers absolutely depend on these schemes for a vital part of their incomes and the programme must be funded to the fullest extent.”
Mr Kent will take up the reins at the ICSA AGM and Annual Conference on January 30th.
