There was strong opposition to a proposed scheme to introduce electronic tagging to Irish sheep flocks at this week's meeting of the Donegal branch of the Irish Farmers’ Association.
A number of local IFA members voiced their concern to newly elec
ted Ulster-North Leinster IFA Vice-Chairman John Watters, that they were against the introduction of the new tagging scheme, when he attended Tuesday nights meeting in Friel’s Hotel in Raphoe.
John said the IFA were “totally against” electronic tagging due to a number of reasons but one was the cost involved for farmers with tags and scanners.
He said a number of pure bred flocks in the country have already adopted the tagging system which “will not help” their cause when it comes to seeking concessions on the proposed programme.
Suggestions were made from the floor that farmers should speak with local sheep marts operators to see if they supported the farmers stance on boycotting the new system.
It was proposed the boycott be raised at Donegal IFA AGM in March and that small delegations of local farmers meet with mart operators to discuss the issue.
The proposal is to electronically tag all sheep with a microchipped tag costing €1.50 and reading that information with a scanner, which one IFA member said cost in the region of “€400 to €500.”
Voicing his concern Donegal Vice Chairman, PJ McMonagle, said: “If they bring it in there will be no problem with the sheep because there will be none of them.”
IFA County Development officer, Davey Keith, said: “The issue is due to be one of the toughest battles we have seen in sometime because it is European.”
He added that “three to four” European countries were also against the proposed electronic tagging programme.
See Page 33 Farming for more on this issue.
