Irish Wildlife Trust Campaigns Officer Pádraic Fogarty has resigned from his position after a blog he wrote accusing many farming organisations of spreading far-right conspiracies was edited. 

Mr Fogarty told The Hard Shoulder he stands by what he said, “which is why [he] had to resign”. 

“What I have seen particularly in recent months... messaging from the farmers organisation is increasingly extremist,” he said. 

“[They are] sing very harsh scaremongering language, [saying] land is being taken off people, attacking scientists and undermining scientific institutions and spreading disinformation.” 

He said the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) was “very quick” to label the Environmental Protection Agency’s reporting on water quality in Ireland as “nonsensical”. 

“The IFA in particular really aligned itself quite closely with [European People’s Party] during the nature restoration law debate, which was characterised by scaremongering and disinformation,” he said. 

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) also released a statement accusing the Government of wanting “family dairy farms gone”, according to Mr Fogarty. 

The family farm model

ICMSA President Pat McCormack said the family dairy farm has “taken a huge hit” as a result of Government policy. 

“[Cow banding] has led to a 15% cut in some dairy farm herds, undermining their viability,” he said. 

“It is about the family farm model, and it is crucial it is maintained – we have to highlight that.” 

Mr McCormack said Ireland is “on the pathway to the end of the dairy family farm model” and the Government policy such as cow banding and cuts to nitrate derogation rates are “the detonators of the industry”. 

“If the family farm model falls here, we won’t have a [farming] industry,” he said. “All actions taken are undermining the family farm model.” 

'Patent nonsense'

Mr Fogarty described Mr McCormack’s argument as “patent nonsense”. 

“Is it any wonder why farmers across Ireland are worried and nervous about what the future holds?” he said. 

He said the ICMSA President won’t acknowledge agriculture “is a leading factor in the biodiversity crisis.” 

“When you mix science denialism with the scaremongering we hear and combine that with the decade of greenwashing we’ve had, telling everyone how wonderful farming is, you get a toxic mix,” he said. 

Intentions

Mr Fogarty said there is a huge responsibility on the State to make a plan to help farmers accommodate environmental policy, but that doesn’t mean the Government is trying to destroy the family farm. 

Mr McCormack said the Government may not be “intentionally” against dairy farmers, but their policies are effectively destroying family farming. 

“It's about having a roadmap where we can have biodiversity, food security and a viable family farm model,” he said.