Offaly woman asks why have farmers become the whipping boys and girls

AN Offaly farmer has hit out at the “Irish Times” for calling on consumers to blame farmers for the recent increase in food prices.

Judy Bryant from Mountbolus – who is a native of the United States – asked why farmers have become the whipping boys and girls of Ireland.

In a letter to the Editor published in this week’s Tullamore Tribune and Midland Tribune, Ms Bryant said politicians and the media had lost their respect for farmers.

Her letter reads as follows:

Dear Editor,

I am told a recent “Irish Times” headline and article called on consumers to blame farmers for the increase in food prices.

Why have farmers become the whipping boys and girls of Ireland? When I came to Ireland 50 years ago, farmers were respected. They worked hard and were mostly low paid for their efforts. They are blamed for climate change and now for high food prices.

Most of the respect for farmers from the media and many politicians has gone out the window. The media does not report facts and statistics behind the headlines. Why does farming produce such a high percentage of Ireland’s greenhouse gas? Because Ireland has very little heavy industry.

Ireland’s energy greenhouse gas emissions has gone down. Why, because more is being imported and the new interconnector to France will lower the emissions further, forcing the farming percentage higher, so that no matter what farmers do, they are falling further behind.

Therefore, should Ireland just import more and more food, some produced with more greenhouse gas emissions than the Irish equivalent, and restrict farming further? Just remember, food exports contribute positively to the Irish exchequer while food imports have a negative effect.

READ NEXT: Offaly man secured Ireland’s position as a world leader in the pharmaceutical industry

Food prices have gone up because there are scarcities of some foods. Regulation, lower fertilizer use, schemes, land use policy for transport, greenways, housing and commercial developments, electricity generation and forestry have had a negative effect on production as they eat up productive land and divide farms.

The erosion of CAP and the price increase in fertilizer, seeds, plant protection, electricity, water charges, and especially fuel have all pushed up production costs, 83% since 2018, so farms are no longer viable. Following World War II, Europe, including Ireland was rationing food.

The Common Agricultural Policy was conceived by the EU, when it was formed, as a subsidy for consumers, paid to farmers, so the farmers could still make a living even though food was sold below production costs. Today, in 2025, food prices in Ireland are only 1% above what they were in 2008.

READ NEXT: Almost 1100 farmers in Offaly could be forced out of farming under new EU CAP proposals

In the EU as a whole, food prices have risen 58% in the same time period. Food has to be processed, packaged, transported, and sold in shops that aim to make a profit. Farmers can only take the price they are offered, so stop blaming farmers for high food prices.

Yours, etc.,

Judy Bryant,

Mountbolus

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Source

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today