Monday 29 October 2012
Ireland
Millionaire farmers out for themselves
Contractors who supported the giant IFA protest march in Dublin this week were aggrieved that their support was not acknowledged and there was no mention of the impact of increased diesel costs on their business and on farming.
Timmy O'Brien, national chairman of the Association of Farm Contractors Ireland, told the Irish Farmers Journal that they had rallied members from across the country to support the IFA protest.
"More than 200 contractors travelled to Dublin for the protest on the clear understanding that our plight as contractors and the issue of high diesel prices would be included in the speeches made by farming leaders.
We were very disappointed that our support was not acknowledged by any mention from the podium on the day," said Timmy O'Brien.
Low sulphur diesel continues to be priced at about 4c per litre more than high sulphur diesel, and even though oil distributors are required by law to supply only low sulphur diesel for tractor use, many are still supplying lower cost high sulphur diesel to farmers, claimed the contractor's association chairman.
"The Government needs to clarify what type of diesel it wants farmers and contractors to use and provide a lower tax rate on low sulphur diesel in order to encourage its wider use.
Contractors with modern tractors cannot afford a further cost penalty of 4c per litre on diesel when they are forced to use low sulphur diesel," said Timmy O'Brien.
Source: farmersjournal.ie
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