The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has announced leadership changes across several of its committees, with John Murphy, a tillage and dairy farmer from Monageer, Co. Wexford, elected as chair of the Grain Committee. 

Murphy succeeds Kieran McEvoy, who completed a four-year term, and will formally take up his position at the IFA’s 71st Annual General Meeting next week.

Commenting on his election, Murphy said, “I am delighted to have been elected chair of the IFA Grain Committee and I look forward to working closely with the committee, farmers and sector stakeholders in the years ahead. Tillage farming is in the midst of a very challenging period, with incomes and confidence at an all-time low in the sector. I look forward to representing our grain farmers and will work hard to try and ensure Irish tillage is viable in the coming years.”

The Grain Committee will continue to focus on sectoral advocacy, market sustainability, and navigating policy challenges such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms, environmental regulations, and broader industry pressures affecting tillage and cereal production in Ireland.

Other committee appointments include James Gallagher, a sheep farmer from Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, elected as chair of the Hill Farming Committee, succeeding Cáillin Conneely. Brendan Soden, a layer farmer and pullet producer from Stradone, Co. Cavan, has been elected chair of the Poultry Committee, taking over from Nigel Sweetnam. Both committees will continue to guide policy development, industry engagement, and best practice dissemination across their respective sectors.

These appointments reinforce the IFA’s governance framework and provide a refreshed leadership team to support farmers through evolving economic, regulatory, and operational challenges. 

Explore the full report on the IFA committee appointments and their implications for Irish farming.

(Photo credits to Irish Farmers’ Association’s official website)