A ONE-size-fits-all approach on the use of pesticides was not on for Irish agriculture, Independent MEP Marian Harkin has said.
She said that a ten metre buffer zone regulation governing the use of pesticides for everyone was as illogical as a nitrates directive which failed to adequately take climate and soils conditions into consideration.
Speaking [...]
Meeting with Ministers Coughlan and Smith The Management Committee met with Ministers Mary Coughlan and Brendan Smith on Wednesday evening last to discuss a number of issues in the potato sector.
Seed Certification Charges On the issue of seed certification charges, the Department once again reiterated its aim to achieve full cost recovery for services provided [...]
Soft new potato leaf growth will be most susceptible to early blight infection this season. Highly systemic Fubol Gold from Syngenta Ireland protects new growth from within, but new trials have shown its vapour activity also gives valuable additional protection.
With most crops planted quickly into excellent seedbed conditions this season, Syngenta [...]
Speaking this week at the opening of a seminar on Producer Organisations, Mr Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Horticulture and Food at the Department of Agriculture and Food, said that the EU Producer Organisation Scheme provides fruit and vegetable growers with the potential to meet increased quality standards and strengthen their negotiating position in the [...]
Irish Potato price is in danger if there is an increase in the acerage planted. This is the fear by industry experts,With around 80% of this years crop now planted and about a month ahead of last year the temptation for Irish Farmers to plant extra may cause unstable pricing at time of digging. The [...]
Plans to grow GM potatoes on Irish Farms have been dropped for this season by BASF. But the company has not ruled out future plans to grow blight resistant potatoes on irish farms. BASF had recieved permission from the EPA in Ireland to carry out the trials in county Meath. The trials will now take [...]
Farming by calender They are the words on everyones lips now days, Not possible in Ireland given the climate of rain we are experiencing.Work on land has been practically impossible since October with EU directives and wet weather.But speaking to farmers there is a positive outlook which is reflected in rented land prices and [...]
IFA President Padraig Walshe has said potato growers are not receiving a fair share for their produce. Addressing the IFA/Teagasc Conference in Maynooth, Mr Walshe said "potato growers are receiving less and less of the supermarket shelf price, having invested millions to ensure a top quality product for the Irish consumer. Unless growers are able [...]
Reference Irish Farmers Journal.
Thousands of farmers could lose some or even all of their Single Farm Payment (SFP) entitlements in 2007.Over €8 million in entitlements could potentially be lost where a farmer has not used all of his/her entitlements during the first three years of the Single Farm Payment system (2005 – 2007).The unused [...]
Teagasc Safety Officer John McNamara has called for greater vigilance on farms during the months of December and January to ensure that farmers and their families have a safe and healthy Christmas. This is a particularly dangerous time on farms with 16% of all fatal farm accidents having taken place in these months over the [...]
