IFA Ulster North Leinster chairman, Frank Brady has been responding this week to the organisation's former president Eddie Downey's comments that farmers and food producers are coming under mounting pressure to rent and lease land because of environmental regulations.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, Mr Brady highlighted how dairy farmers are under the most pressure because cow numbers are being cut back, and that is pushing their budgets to the limit.
The Co Cavan pig farmer says the Green Party doesn't care about rural Ireland, despite the fact that water quality here is one of the best in Europe.
Mr Brady says that environmental policies here are destroying food production and eventually that will negatively impact upon domestic supply.
He added that farmers are willing to do what needs to be done but will never be "forced" into anything.
"Farmers are willing to do what ever needs to be done but please bring us with it rather than force us into it. If you force anyone into it, you're going backwards. Give us the time, give us the structure, and we will do what needs to be done. We want the environment to be in a much better place than when we came into this world. I want to leave this place in a much better way for my children and grandchildren that are there and I'm sure every farmer feels the same and everyone that's reducing food wants to leave the country in a better place than they found it".
