A member recently asked us a very fair question: Why don’t we get our articles published in the Irish Farmers Journal?
The Beef Plan Movement has carried out a massive volume of work for the betterment of suckler and beef farmers right across Ireland. Yet, despite our efforts and achievements, we continue to receive virtually zero coverage from the country’s main farming publication. For the record, the Beef Plan Movement has repeatedly submitted articles and press releases to the Irish Farmers Journal, only to have them ignored time and time again.
To understand why this happens, it is worth taking a brief look at the publication’s background.
The Irish Farmers Journal was originally established with a noble purpose: to serve as a strong, unbiased, and independent voice for Irish farmers. It is owned by The Agricultural Trust, a body created to hold the publication in trust for the farming community. The fundamental premise of a trust is to operate without commercial bias or political favour, ensuring fair representation for all farmers regardless of their affiliation.
So why does the Beef Plan Movement continue to be censored by this publication?
Questions must be asked about the current make-up and influence within The Agricultural Trust. Why is it that only one farm organisation holds significant sway and representation, while coincidentally receiving the lion’s share of media coverage? Is a publication that claims to represent all Irish agriculture truly neutral if it is influenced by established vested interests? Fortunately, the Beef Plan Movement does not rely on the Irish Farmers Journal to reach Irish farmers. Thanks to our strong direct presence on social media and our active network, we have built our own independent platform to tell the truth without permission or compromise.
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Exposing the Larry Murrin Scandal: When serious concerns arose regarding Bord Bia Chairman Larry Murrin, we knew we could not trust the IFJ to handle the story with the urgency and scrutiny it deserved. We took to our own platforms to expose the issue directly to the farming public.
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The Science on Bovine Emissions: Recently, the Beef Plan Movement hosted a deeply informative discussion with a world-renowned, Nobel Prize–winning former lead author for the IPCC regarding bovine emissions. The points made provided crucial scientific insights that directly support livestock farmers in the climate debate and strengthen the case for implementing GWP*. Yet, this vital story was completely omitted by the IFJ, simply, we believe, because it came from the Beef Plan Movement.
The Beef Plan Movement is currently the only farm organisation in the State actively growing its membership, up by over 20% so far this year. Is the Beef Plan Movement seen as a threat to the established order because we refuse to back down? Should a publication funded and read by everyday farmers be used as a gatekeeper to shield incumbent interests from genuine grass-roots accountability?
It is time to ask the question directly: Is it time the Irish Farmers Journal finally becomes a publication for ALL farmers, or will it remain a platform for the few?
How does this blatant form of censorship best serve Irish farmers? At a time when the sector faces unprecedented regulatory pressure, rising costs, and climate scrutiny, farmers deserve complete, unfiltered access to scientific facts and alternative representation.
