A protest by Limerick farmers brought Limerick City traffic to a standstill Monday morning.
Well over a hundred tractors from all over County Limerick converged for a convoy through the city centre as the IFA protested Government cuts which they say will destroy their livelihoods. City traffic was at a standstill for over an hour as the protest made its way in the Dock Road, down Henry Street, around Arthurs Quay and back up O’ Connell Street.
Farmers say incomes will fall by up to 25% this year and say the average farmer’s income is heading to below €15,000 per annum.
There were representatives from all local Limerick branches of the IFA at today’s “Tractorcade” with 28 other similar protests taking place around the country. Representatives say rural Ministers and TD’s must defend economic activity in rural Ireland by reversing the Governments “draconian cuts in vital farm schemes”.
Government Minister Brendan Smith said in response to today’s action that he “fully acknowledges the difficulties facing the farming community this year” and said he has been “consistently working both within Government and at EU level, to alleviate the current difficulties being faced by the sector”
The minister today also announced that the requirement for cereal farmers to establish green cover on arable lands will be relaxed this winter so as to allow farmers to plough for spring cereals from 1st December next rather than January 15th.
