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HomeDairy‘Environmental commentators on farming wouldn’t know a heifer from a hoover’
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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‘Environmental commentators on farming wouldn’t know a heifer from a hoover’

“Environmental commentators on farming wouldn’t know a heifer from a hoover.”

That is the claim ICMSA president, Pat McCormack, made during the association’s AGM, which it is holding today (Friday, December 3rd, 2021).

He told attendees that there is an onus on media to establish the credentials of those purporting to speak on how farming must change to become more sustainable.

The farm leader said that the “lack of real knowledge” on display in matters concerning farming and the environment in the general media was “quite staggering”.

He said it certainly would not be tolerated on any other subject on which commentators hold forth.

Environmental commentators

The ICMSA president said that given the enormity of what was at stake, farmers – and the wider rural communities in which they live and work – were entitled to hold the general media to a “reasonable standard”.

“Time and time again…. vaguely defined ‘environmental activists’ were given airtime on both state and commercial broadcasters to thrash farmers and by extension wider rural communities without ever having to demonstrate any working knowledge of farming or food production.”

McCormack said that having debated many of these activists for years, his firm conviction was that most “wouldn’t know a heifer from a hoover”.

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Also, he said that there were very legitimate questions around the funding of several environmental NGOs.

He believes it is in everyone’s interest that NGOs concerned reveal in full the source of their funding, from all arms of the state.

He said this is specifically in the case whether any originated in corporations are involved in manufactuing so-called ‘synthetic’ meats and milks.

Irish farmers to be represented at demonstration in Brussels

Furthermore, the ICMSA will represent Ireland at a mass farmer demonstration in Brussels next month.

Farmers from all over Europe will attend the mass demonstration on December 13th and 14th, 2021.

A coalition of farm organisations is organising the demonstration.

The groups have come together to issue a statement. In it, they have pointed out the challenge that forces them onto the Brussels streets.

Read more on this farming news story.

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