Agri-Business

Revenue probing tax 'loopholes' in the farming sector 

Revenue has begun "actively" probing to see if tax loopholes in the poultry sector are in operation elsewhere in the farming sector.

Company loses bid to allow it carry out composting on farm 

A company has failed in a High Court challenge to a Bord Pleanála refusal to approve composting activities by it on a farm in Co Kildare.

Four agri businesses warned to clean up their acts by EPA 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned the operators of four agri business to clean up their acts or face further sanctions.

'UK consumers face higher prices, lower quality and less choice after Brexit' 

Consumers in the UK may face higher prices, lower quality and less choice when it comes to food as a result of Brexit, a former supermarket CEO has...

Challenge brought against 11 turbine wind farm on land in Cork 

A Couple have brought a legal challenge to a decision to grant planning permission for a windfarm development close to their home. 

Soaring stress levels see farmers turn to Samaritans for guidance 

The stress levels within the farming sector have been described as an "eye opener" as the Samaritans field a flood of calls.

Dubliner cheese wins top award at UK cheese champs 

Carbery cheeses won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the 2017 British Cheese Awards which took place at the Royal Bath & West show, in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England.

Farmers transfer homes to heirs to beat Fair Deal claim on assets 

Farmers are growing increasingly concerned about losing their homes to the Fair Deal scheme and are seeking legal advice to transfer their homes to their heirs at a much younger age.

Queen Victoria is reputed to have supped tea at this Laois property 

Architect James Gandon, renowned for the design of the Customs House and the Four Courts in Dublin, left a significant mark in Co Laois with the building of Emo Court and the nearby Church of...

Lakeside property fetches a big price 

A Westmeath lakeside property with a traditional farmhouse on 42ac sold under the hammer of Padraic Murtagh of James L Murtagh last week making €445,000.

Gardai to pay back €131,000 in rent payments for farm land it didn't own 

An Garda Síochána will today repay €131,000 in rent collected from local farmers for land owned by another State agency near the controversial Templemore Training College.

Garda investigation underway after suspected 'arson' attack on Limerick farm 

Gardai in Limerick have confirmed they are investigating a suspected 'arson' attack on a farm in Limerick in recent days.

Farmer accused of causing death of own father in crash faces retrial after hung jury 

A retrail will be held in the case of a man accused of causing the death of his father, who was killed in a collision between a tractor towing a trailer...

Marts 'considering their future' over 'crippling' insurance costs, says TD 

Many livestock marts are considering their future due rising insurance premiums, according to Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson, Pearse Doherty.

One of Europe's largest organic farms, in Ireland, sells for €17.4m 

The Grianan Estate is situated in Co. Donegal and its sale was confirmed this week for €17.425m.

Former ICSA treasurer faces massive legal bill 

National Party co-founder James Reynolds may be facing a bill of tens of thousands of euro after the ICSA was awarded costs in a High Court application.

Will Irish tax payers be forced to pay more to keep payments to farmers? 

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has raised the possibility of the Government exchequer having to make up for a shortfall in the EU's agriculture budget.

Farmer misses court date as he was 'getting the silage in' 

A farmer charged with dangerous driving failed to appear in court on Monday because rain was forecast and he had to get his silage in.

Demand for farming Green Cert courses down 10pc 

Demand for Teagasc's full-time Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture is expected to drop by "at least 10pc" for the incoming academic year, Teagasc head of education, Tony Pettit has said.

Farmers hit by crime pay €900 more for insurance 

The trust of rural society has been shattered by a spate of robberies and burglaries across the countryside, a judge has warned.

France confirms case of bird flu 

The French agriculture ministry has announced that a case of the highly contagious H5N8 strain of bird flu had been confirmed on a farm in northern France and that it has put in place measures to contain the outbreak.

Calls for more Garda resources as farm contractor attacked with wheel brace 

Calls have been made for more resources to be given to the Gardai, by Sinn Fein Deputy Peadar Toibin.

Legal Advice: My neighbour's cows damaged my car, should he pay for the repairs? 

Glanbia plc completes sale of Dairy Ireland 

Glanbia has completed the sale of a 60pc interest in Glanbia Dairy Ireland to Glanbia co-op.

Currency fluctuations around Brexit challenge Irish exporters' pockets 

With nearly 40pc of Irish food and drink exports heading to the UK, the possible impact of a hard Brexit would be felt by the industry, but it's the day-to-day currency fluctuations that are hitting...

'UK food standards won't be loosened in any free trade deal' 

A trade deal between the UK and the US does not mean that UK food standards would be loosened, according to Michael Gove.

Property: Italian style hits the market in the midlands 

Much has been made of the recent bounce in the country's economic fortunes. The sale of Ardglass House near Rathowen, Co Westmeath, will be a good test of how strongly the recovery is...

Comment: An 'electronic border' is just a border by another name 

DAIRY farmers will be happy to note that the judges at the EU Court in Luxembourg have banned terms like ‘almond milk’. The court took the very sensible view that plant-based foods cannot use...

‘Nobody took me seriously’: Irish woman on starting a farm machinery company at 16 

Starting a business in the farm machinery sector as a 16-year-old girl is a challenge is probably the understatement of her life, but for Kerry...

Majority of food exporters don't have marketing plan for post Brexit UK 

Over half of the respondents to Bord Bia's Brexit Barometer are heavily dependant on the UK for exports, with it contributing 53pc of their exports by value, but the majority don't have a plan for...

One in five of the top recipients of EU farm subsidies in Britain are billionaires 

One in five of the biggest recipients of European farming subsidies in Britain are billionaires and millionaires on the Sunday Times Rich List,...

Farmers facing a Brexit ‘double whammy’ - ICSA 

Irish farmers will suffer a double whammy as a result of Brexit because there is no plan to make up the shortfall in the UK contribution to the EU budget, the ICSA has warned.

Property: 'Dream' 90ac dairy holding for sale in Limerick 

Growing up in Co Limerick I could just about see the hill of Knockfierna, known as Cnoc na Firinne, the Hill of Truth, from our backyard.

Jail for burglars caught with balaclavas who rammed Garda car 

A plague of robberies and burglaries have shattered the trust on which the foundations of rural society are built, a Circuit Court judge has warned.

Farmer prosecuted for no insurance after car crashes into HIS tractor 

A North Louth sheep owner whose tractor was involved in a crash on a country road was prosecuted for having no insurance on the vehicle, even though he was not to blame for the accident.

See the 700ac farm that the beef and milk barons are battling over 

Milk output in Roscommon could be in for a significant hike next year should dairy interests win the battle for a 700ac farm that has just come on the market near Elphin.

Third brother sentenced for farming VAT repayment fraud 

A Co Armagh man, the last of three farming brothers to be prosecuted for their roles in a £140,000 VAT repayment fraud, has been sentenced after an investigation by HM Revenue and...

EU farm subsidies face chop due to Brexit budget hole 

Farm subsidies face being chopped as Brexit hammers the EU coffers, with the Government being asked to find extra funds to make up the shortfall.

Comment: Gloves off as farming budget under threat of being cut 

The gloves are now clearly off as the scrap for a share of the slimmed-down EU budget gets under way.

Can I shoot over the head of possible intruders? 

High Court blocks farm organisation treasurer in bid to hold onto position 

THE High Court has dismissed an application by National Party co-founder James Reynolds to continue an injunction preventing the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) from...

Laois farmer and turf supplier hit with €80,000 tax bill 

Revenue's tax defaulters' list includes a number of farmers, including one Laois farmer and turf cutter who handed a bill of €80,000.

'Ya thick c*** ya': Farmer attacked by Department of Agriculture employee at mart 

AN employee with the Department of Agriculture was convicted of assaulting a farmer in a Mayo mart after the judge found his evidence was not...

Creed pours cold water on Fianna Fail’s plans to lower farm payments cap to €60k 

Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has pour cold water on Fianna Fail’s plans to lower the cap on farm subsidies to €60,000.

New pictures show scale of stolen agri equipment haul in Tipperary 

Gardai have released new pictures showing the full scale of a recent find of hunderds of thousands of euro worth of stolen agricultural and gardening equipment.

The agri-businessmen going multinational in response to Brexit 

The headlines around Brexit are invariably gloomy, with various levels of economic Armageddon predicted for Irish business, and agriculture in particular.

Major Chinese buyer circling Moy Park in €1bn sale by Brazilian owner JBS 

Irish poultry giant Moy Park may attract the interest of a large Chinese buyer after being put up for sale by its Brazilian owner JBS.

On track for €2m: The 171ac farm with a period house hits the market in Offaly 

Ashmount House at Cloneygowan, Co Offaly is among a number of substantial residential farms to come on the market this summer.

Westmeath holding has 20 acres of foreshore on lake that inspired Swift 

A lovely lakeside Westmeath property with a traditional farmhouse on 42ac goes to auction this Friday, June 23, with a guide price of €300,000

Supreme Court to hear appeal over ESB's right to enter lands to carry out works 

THE Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal with potentially important implications for how the ESB and other statutory bodies carry out their...