IFA President Eddie Downey has announced a 10-point plan to deliver farm profitability.

Addressing the 60th Annual General Meeting of the IFA in Dublin, Downey said his central message to politicians in Dublin and Brussels is that farm profitability must be the top priority, if the viability of hard working and productive family farms is to be protected.

According to Downey over the past five years, farmers have delivered for the economy through increased output, jobs and export earnings.

“Our high-quality farm produce has lifted food exports, which are up by 45% since 2009 to €10.5bn. Farm output has driven food exports, and contributed to economic recovery, but farmers are not seeing the benefits in their pockets,” he said.

Downey said product prices have risen, but by nowhere near enough to offset the rise in input costs and the cuts to Direct Payments in particular, while the constant downward pressure by retailers on our returns is impacting hard.

“Farmers are operating in an increasingly globalised environment, with exposure to severe volatility in prices, inputs and extreme weather events – all of which present a major challenge to the viability of family farms and the security of the world’s food supply.”

The IFA President said restoring farm profitability requires action by politicians in both Dublin and Brussels and by the industry to face up to the hard issues.

Downey also told members attending the AGM that farm profitability comes down to family farms getting a fair price for their product.