Irish Farmers Journal celebrates 75 years
The Irish Farmers Journal recently celebrated it’s 75th anniversary. Here we talk to Jack Kennedy, Editor of the IFJ. Jack, congratulations to the team on the big anniversary! What do you think has contributed to the IFJ’s long-lasting success?
The Irish Farmers Journal is seen as a trusted source of timely, unique, reliable and accurate information for 400,000 farmers, rural readers and, importantly, rural leaders. When the Irish Farmers Journal was first set up, the aim was to publish educational articles to improve readers’ farms and for the past 75 years, we have continued to do that, whether that is technical improvements in livestock and crop management or helping readers to understand the intricacies of new agricultural policies. We have a dedicated team of trusted specialists who can analyse, interrogate and challenge farming policies, drilling down into the implications for farmers on the ground. This analysis saves farmers both time and money, allowing them to concentrate on their day-to-day work. The Irish Farmers Journal has moved with the times, embracing the digital transformation of both journalism and farming, and more recently ramping up podcasts in response to growing demand.
Describe a typical Irish Farmers Journal reader?
The typical Irish Farmers Journal reader is a farmer, full-time or part-time, who wants to get the inside track on how to optimise their agriculture and food production in line with ever-changing policies. They want information on issues that affect them and their families, ranging from tax and health topics to starting new businesses and any new environmental rules that may change how they farm.
In addition, we have our agri-business readers, working full time in the agriculture industry who read the Irish Farmers Journal to stay up-to-date with industry news and current affairs and topics which may have implications for their customers and clients.
We also have a cohort of readers who are rural dwellers, male and female, not necessarily involved in day-to-day farming, who want to keep informed of issues affecting rural Ireland.
What have been the most memorable stories covered by the Irish Farmers Journal over the past 75 years?
There have been many memorable stories over the decades – with the Irish Farmers Journal running many campaigns on behalf of farmers as issues arose.
In the early years, the content focused on educational articles on practical ways for farmers to improve their farms. In 1966, there was extensive coverage of the farmers’ rights protest march over income supports, which led to a 21-day sit-in at Government buildings and led to farmers being jailed in the bitter row. In 1973, Ireland joined the European Economic Community – EEC – which gave Irish farmers access to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and decades of important supports. Farm output and farm incomes rose. During the 1980s and 1990s, the Irish Farmers Journal steered Irish farmers through economic recession, emigration, the Beef Tribunal, a BSE scare among other issues. In 2001, foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in the Republic of Ireland for the first time in 60 years. Severe restrictions on all farm movements were imposed and many national events cancelled. Brazilian beef was another issue that dominated pages, showing the blatant discrepancies between regulatory standards EU farmers were required to meet versus standards of Brazilian production. A link to eight decades of farming is available here ….
What does the future hold for the Irish Farmers Journal?
The future is bright. We plan to develop and grow the reach and readership of our main publication – the Irish Farmers Journal with its supplement, Irish Country Living. We have invested in unique content – drawn from initiatives such as our demonstration farm in Tullamore as well as the range of farm programmes we run. The learnings from these programmes provide practical, day-to-day information for our farming readers. We will continue to grow our podcasts and digital offerings and will evolve how we engage with our growing audience. We will continue to advocate for Irish farmers and farming and continue to be a force for positive change in Irish agriculture.
