These Irish farmers influence public opinion

Public opinion on farming practices has taken a negative slant the world over as social media perpetuate stereotypes of farmers who only seek profit, to the detriment of the environment. Irish farmers Pete and Paula Hynes are challenging those views by placing their farm firmly in the spotlight. Lindi Botha reports

- Lindi Botha

To call Pete and Paula Hynes, farmers who hail from Aherla, Ireland, celebrities seems out of place. The down-to-earth couple, donning muddy rubber boots, overalls and worn T-shirts as they rake soiled manure, do not personify stardom. While Paula’s lashes are tipped with mascara, there is little time to focus on personal luxuries as the couple run a dairy with 180 cows in milk and a cow stud, while balancing a full show schedule, raising three daughters and devoting any spare time to advocating for farmers.

Pete and Paula have garnered nearly 20 000 followers on social media and are regularly featured in mainstream media, each has a weekly column in a national newspaper, and they take part in reality TV programmes.

Their herd, larger than the average Irish herd of 120 cows, consists of Holsteins and Jerseys that are pasture-fed. With milk prices under pressure and input costs rising, the Hyneses state that anything less than 180 cows in milk would mean that the farm would not be able to support the family financially.

While remaining profitable is cause enough to keep farmers awake at night, Irish farmers face a far bigger existential crisis: the government has proposed culling 10% of the national dairy herd to meet methane reduction targets. This, while more feasible solutions are at hand.

“Science is advancing rapidly and there are feed additives available that can decrease methane emissions by 40%,” says Pete. “Cutting livestock numbers is not necessary and is a short-sighted, lazy way to reduce emissions. I have full confidence in science and research, but the challenge is to get the state and authorities to embrace that research.”

RAISING THEIR VOICES