AGM of ICMSA 'for farmers, by farmers' to take place in Limerick

COMMENTING on the lineup for the  ICMSA AGM to be held on Monday, December 2 in the Radisson Blu Hotel on the Ennis Road, Denis Drennan said that the message they were getting back strongly from members attending meetings was the need to focus strongly on ‘core’ farmer concerns.   

Mr Drennan, ICMSA president, said that with that feedback in mind, the agenda and tone of the AGM was going to be “for farmers, by farmers” with political and non-farming input to be kept to a minimum for 2024.

“It’s time that we heard from those individuals and organisations charged with directly developing and strategising for the Irish farm sector and the wider agri-food sector.

"Conor Galvin, chief executive of Ornua, will speak on the dairy market outlook and whether we’ll see the recent rally carry through to ‘peak production’ in 2025 and beyond. 

"We also expect to hear what Ornua’s plans are in the event of the introduction of the tariffs threatened by the incoming Trump administration”, said Mr Drennan.

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He said Brendan Gleeson, secretary general of the Department of Agriculture, has kindly accepted their invitation to speak to the AGM and his theme is ‘Key Farm Policy Issues to 2030?’, where he will outline what the department believe will be the key policy changes facing Irish farmers over the next six years. 

"It’s also fair to say that there’s a lot of farmers with questions about the efficacy and relevance of Bord Bia’s schemes and we are confident that Jim O’Toole, Bord Bia chief executive, will be able to field those and throw some light on some of the more controversial areas.

"There’s so much to get through and we greatly value our tradition of robust and businesslike Q & A of speakers while extending to them all the respect and welcome that they deserve. The venue is excellent, and I’d urge our great Limerick members to travel if possible and join us – and participate in – what promises to be another great ICMSA event," said Mr Drennan.

Ring 061-314677 or email info@icmsa.ie to ensure a place.