Farmers in Elphin Mart, Co Roscommon, were all in agreement that the next government had to provide supports to keep the suckler cow in the west of Ireland.

Mart manager Gerry Connellon said farmers felt let down after the last few years: “We need change. We need a good man in as minister for agriculture, that’s very important.”

Around the ring, Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue, Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy and independent Michael Fitzmaurice were some of the names floated by farmers as potential suitors for the job.

Éanna Tiernan, a young farmer from Elphin, said convergence was the biggest issue for him. Éanna buys weanlings before selling them as forward stores. He said almost 30% has been wiped off his payment.

“In the policies put forward by different parties, there were some for and against it. There’s productive farmers in the country and they seem to be taking the biggest hit.”

Retirement scheme

He believed a retirement scheme for older farmers was needed, as “there’s only one or two young farmers around the ring”.

Billy Hanmore, who farms with his son Michael outside Boyle, said the suckler cow was vital to the cattle industry in the west.

“When you look out in that yard out there and look at the fine show cattle, they’re all coming from the suckler cow. So, she has to be protected,” Billy said.

Suckler and sheep farmer Tommy Cox pointed out that not everywhere was suited to dairy farming, particularly the west where farms were smaller and fragmented.

“If the suckler cow keeps decreasing, those cattle will become scarcer and Ireland’s unique selling point on beef will slowly disintegrate. I’d like the next government to protect that if possible,” Tommy said.

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