During the final three decades of the last century, due to EU regulations, farming production systems in Ireland and across western Europe, became very 'intensive', with the emphasis on maximum production rather than market requirements. This consequently led to over production and the inevitable introduction of 'production limits or quotas'. This has resulted in reduced [...]
A new company which aims to supply the organic liquid milk market was launched last week at the National Organic Farming Conference in Birr, Co Offaly. The Irish Organic Milk Producers Ltd (IOMP) will represent organic dairy farmers and intends to develop a nationwide distribution network for organic milk. It was one of two organisations [...]
IFA National Sheep Committee Chairman Henry Burns met the French Minister for Agriculture Mr Barnier in Paris together with Mr Liam Aylward MEP and a delegation of French Sheep Industry representatives. Mr Burns said he was very encouraged by the positive approach of Mr Barnier towards the sheep sector and his willingness to drive forward [...]
Reacting to the EU Commission decision to allow 106 Brazilian producers export into Europe, Irish farmers are of the opinion EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou was highly irresponsible in the light of the admission by the Brazilian Agriculture Minister Reinhold Stephanes that untraceable beef had been exported by Brazil. The Irish farmers leader Padraigh Walsh has [...]
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., today announced details of the application arrangements for the 2008 Single Payment Scheme (SPS), the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Energy Crops Scheme and the Proteins Premium Scheme. "The closing date for these applications is Thursday, 15 May 2008", the Minister said. "I am opening the [...]
IFA Input Project Team Leader Eddie Downey said that fertiliser prices have finally begun to emerge and fall as competition for cash business and volume purchases intensifies.Mr Downey said: “Despite the fact that wholesale prices have been moving up in the last number of weeks farmers have been able to purchase CAN delivered in big [...]
By Majella O'Sullivan Tuesday February 19 2008 Cheques are in the post for the 6,000 REPS 2 and 3 farmers who are awaiting payment. The debacle between the Department of Agriculture and the EU Commission over the REPS 2 and 3 pay freeze was resolved yesterday. However, there is no such reprieve for REPS 4 [...]
Mr Trevor Sargent T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Horticulture today announced a grant aid package of €9.4m under the Grant Scheme for the Development of the Horticulture Sector under the National Development Plan (2007-2013). Grants to 189 horticultural producers for capital investments in new [...]
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, John Browne TD, today announced a Development Programme for Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Projects throughout the country worth over €23m. Funding is being allocated to projects that have been identified as priorities by both the Local Authorities and the Department's Engineering Division. Significant [...]
By Majella O'Sullivan The era of cheap food is ending and consumers can expect to pay more in the future. One of the challenges facing the Irish food and drink industry is rising ingredients costs, in addition to other operating-costs increases. This is according to Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter. However, Mr Cotter pointed [...]
