Around 400 tractors, from all corners of the county, are expected to descend upon the Capital, according to a statement from An Garda Síochána.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Individual Farmers of Ireland, said: “The future uncertainty facing family farms and the industries that depend on the agricultural economy, presents a major crisis in the rural economy, which if not addressed, will see the closure and destruction of rural communities, small rural towns and villages and along with all aspects associated with it.”
The spokesperson made references to the loss of local shops, GAA clubs, post offices, teachers, nurses, hospital services and a decline in school numbers.
They stressed that the battle against climate change cannot be won by mass afforestation and huge commercial feedlots or factory farms.
Other concerns
“The targeting of contractors and farmers with carbon tax, with no corresponding attack on the aviation industry which has tax-free fuel is unfair and unjust on the farming community.”
“No plan has been put in place to pay farmers for the sequestering of carbon emission which their grasslands and boglands do freely and act as carbon sinks.”
The spokesperson called for a margin of profit above the cost of production for beef and suckler farmers to continue in the industry and said that a reform of state agencies such as Teagasc and Bord Bia needs to take place to “encourage and sustain a future in agriculture”.
“A change in EU competition law needs to be addressed to protect small single traders from huge commercial enterprises.” the statement added.
Coverage
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