Farming Sector Fights Back
16 October 1996
NEW FIGURES AUGUR WELL FOR AGRICULTURAL FUTURE
Tom Kelly REPORTS
Mayo's farming community is fighting back in the battle for economic survival.New figures released indicate that the county's agricultural sector registered a total income of £166m. last year, believed to be the highest ever in the industry.
Direct income accounted for £126m. of the amount, with £40m. coming from headage payments. The figures allay the conception that farming in Mayo faced an uncertain future.
But, according to a member of Mayo County Council, serious problems needed to be addressed in the community before potentials could be realised.
Mr. Sean McEvoy, the Foxford based councillor, said Mayo had become a leading supply of milk, mushrooms, pork and lamb products. A total of £5m. worth of Mayo grown mushrooms were sold last year, along with £4m. worth of pork.
The number of sheep in the county jumped to 447,000, an increase of twenty-five since 1980.
The county's 1,800 milk suppliers recorded a turnover of 26 million gallon last year.
There were also 1,400 Mayo applications submitted to the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS) last year, a clear indication that the farming sector was conscious of the need to develop the environment. Mr. McEvoy has succeeded in a campaign to have an advisory committee on agricultural matters established under the auspices of Mayo County Council.
The Foxford-based councillor said it would fill the void created by the scrapping of the Mayo Committee of Agriculture by the Government almost ten years ago.
Said Mr. McEvoy: "The local farming community needs a form through which it can voice its concerns."
He stated the biggest problems related to land succession and pollution.
Mr. McEvoy has been supported in the initiative by Louisburgh councillor, Mr. Martin Joe O'Toole.
He said there was a need for the public to realise that Mayo beef was among the best produced in the country, but the sale of the produce had suffered because of the scaremongering over the BSE issue.
Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996
