Laois farmers meet over 'potential disturbances' from earlier Electric Picnic dates

The Irish Farmers’ Association is holding a meeting this evening to discuss plans for farmers during the Electric Picnic Music and Arts Festival. 

Laois County IFA Chair Henry Burns said “we are having a meeting there tonight with branches all around Stradbally” to discuss plans ahead of the Electric Picnic. 

He said a plan has been worked out in consultation with the Gardaí and Electric Picnic organisers and he was hopeful that disruption can be minimised for everyone. 

Electric Picnic takes place next weekend from August 16 to 18. 

While acknowledging the potential disruption for some grain farmers, Mr Burns believes the situation might not be as bad as initially feared as the peak harvest is unlikely to take place until after the festival.

He said the early barley seems to have been cut and the grain sown in the Spring will likely be cut after the festival. 

Mr Burns explained that initial farmer’s fears centred around the potential for the “peak harvest” coinciding with the earlier Electric Picnic date for 2024. Although the harvest generally takes place over 12 days, there will be an intensive period when the majority of the crops are harvested and taken to The Maltings in the centre of Stradbally town, he said.    

“The peak of that harvest is five days. Thousands of tonnes comes in in those five days,” Mr Burns explained.   

He said each load of grain has to undergo a series tests at The Maltings and there can be tailbacks and congestion even without Ireland’s largest music and arts festival taking place. 

“I am fairly confident at this stage that the peak harvest won’t happen until slightly after the Electric Picnic,”  said Mr Burns. 

He said some people may still want to harvest or move machinery around the time of the festival and safety will be key. 

“Laois County Council facilitated a number of meetings between ourselves and the Electric Picnic and the Gardaí,” he explained. 

He said between them, they have a plan worked out for farmers looking to transport machinery and crops but some advance warning would be needed.  “The main thing is there will be contact numbers for people,” Mr Burns said. 

He said despite the initial concerns and potential disturbance for farmers, there was still a general feeling among farmers around Stradbally that the festival was very welcome and good for the area.   

Mr Burns encouraged anyone who was interested in knowing more about the Electric Picnic plan to attend the meeting at Community Hall in Ratheniska this evening, Thursday, August 8 at 8.30pm.