Farmers urged to spring clean

Beginning the clean-up: Tim O Leary, IFA deputy president, Cork, and Michael Slattery, chairman, IFFPG, with children from Moycarkey NS, Co Tipperary.

IFA has teamed up with the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) to encourage members, during the month of April, to actively participate in a rural Spring Clean initiative, as part of the its ongoing campaign to tackle the scourge of litter dumping by passing motorists in rural Ireland.

IFA deputy president and Countryside chairman, Tim O’Leary, from Cork, said: ‘Littering by passing motorists is a real issue in rural Ireland. The Department of Environment must step up their action in this area by introducing tougher penalties and ensuring that local authorities more effectively implement litter laws’.

He also complimented the thousands of farm families who keep their local communities litter-free each year. He said: ‘The Rural Spring Clean initiative is all about recognising this work by asking farm families to remove litter on roadside verges around the farm and register this activity at www.ifacountryside.ie.

Prizes

Once farm families register their clean-up activity then they have an opportunity to win one of five prizes with a total value of €6,000.

IFFPG chairman Michael Slattery added: ‘IFFPG is delighted to be part of this initiative, which plays an important part in keeping our countryside tidy.

Farmers have a long record for supporting the recycling activity of IFFPG and I have no doubt that they will also support this worthwhile initiative.’