With beef talks scheduled to resume today, Wicklow livestock farmer and IFA’s National Livestock Committee Chairman, Angus Woods, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to invite Supermac’s boss, Pat McDonagh, and the leadership of McDonalds and Burger King into the talks to set out what they are paying for prime, fresh, high quality Irish beef used as the key ingredient in their burgers.
Croke Park is preparing for the disruptive winds of Brexit with a new farm in north Dublin where the association grows everything from the grass to the grub for the stadium.
With only days to go, the countdown is on for the National Ploughing Championship 2019. From traffic, weather, and events, below is everything you need to know.
Farmer, Thomas Reid has been denied the opportunity to have Intel Ireland executives cross-examined over their planned $4bn Leixlip investment at a public planning forum.
Talks aimed at resolving the beef crisis dispute will reopen again on Saturday.
The IFA has moved to clarify its position on the 30-month age rule and other criteria applied by factories for farmers to receive a 12c/kg ‘In-spec’ bonus payment.
Joe Brady has withdrawn from the IFA presidency race.
Mattie White's farm in Bannow Bay has been in the family for more than 200 years, passed down from one generation to the next, the land and the animals upon it cared for, nurtured, season in, season out.
Hauliers are the lifeblood of Irish agri-business, with 37pc of the country's produce going by truck to the UK and another 34pc to Europe, mostly via land bridge through Britain - so what's bad for the lorry driver is usually bad for the farmer too.
Ballybrada House near Cahir in Tipperary was built by the Denny family of Waterford, who made their fortune in the bacon industry with the famous Denny's brand.
A dispute which has gripped the beef industry for several weeks is now set to affect supermarket shelves.
A dispute which has gripped the beef industry for several weeks is now set to impact supermarket shelves. Aldi has become the first major retailer to confirm difficulties in stocking its shelves with Irish beef.
Glanbia has announced has cut its base milk price, for the second time in two months.
Warm sunny spells have been forecast ahead of the National Ploughing Championships next week.
Padraic Joyce has withdrawn his name from the IFA deputy presidency race.
European wheat futures in Parisended lower on Wednesday, with stocks set to climb following a bumper harvest in France, while there remained stiff competitionin export markets from the Black Sea region.
The Minister for Agriculture has been called on to intervene in the nationwide strike by Knackeries which has entered its second day.
A secret Whitehall dossier has outlined the disruption the UK could face in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Boris Johnson has faced renewed pressure to recall UK parliament after the British Prime Minister was forced to reveal that a no-deal Brexit could trigger medical shortages, food price rises and major cross-channel trade delays.
A breakthrough is understood to have been reached last night which may end the protests that have brought the beef processing sector to a halt in recent weeks.
Lithuania-born Loneda Curma said she is "not surviving" financially at the moment after being laid off from her job at a pet food packaging plant due to the beef blockades.
It’s understood a breakthrough was reached last night that might end the protests which have brought the beef-processing sector to a halt in recent weeks.
FARMERS protesting over beef prices escalated their action in Cork by mounting a demonstration outside the distribution centre of supermarket giants, Musgrave.
Licences have been granted for badger culling in 11 new areas as part of efforts to control tuberculosis in cattle, the Government has announced.
A farm holding in Bunclody was told for €3.05m when it went up for auction last week.
China granted export licenses to 25 Brazilian meatpacking plants, Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said on Monday, allowing the country’s fast-growing protein industry to feed more people in the Asian nation where disease has hurt local supply.
The Beef Plan Movement is to protest at Musgraves in Cork today, as the ongoing beef dispute continues.
I am frequently asked if it is worthwhile for landowners to resist the construction of electric powerlines across their property. Because the powers held by ESB/ Eirgrid are so strong, based on my experience, I must admit that it is doubtful.
A 132ac farm at Ballyshonin, Berrings, Co Cork, sold under the hammer recently, making €1.37m, or over €10,300/ac.
Beef farmers are in the eye of the perfect storm. Brexit, low market prices, poor profitability margins, climate change accusations and beef factory protests all combine to feed the downbeat mood of the beef industry in Ireland.
LEVELS of anxiety over Brexit have doubled in an agri-food industry beset by "increasing pressure on multiple fronts", according to professional services firm Ifac.
Fianna Fáil will seek to veto a €10 increase in the carbon tax in the Budget, Micheál Martin has signalled to his party.
Phil Hogan went to Brussels under a cloud this time five years ago. As the author of two unpopular taxes - one of which did not fly at all - he was characterised as a "busted flush" in Irish politics, with speculation he might not retain his Dáil seat in the following election.
The country's main meat factories shut their doors yesterday, resulting in the temporary lay-off of 3,000 employees, as hundreds of farmers continue protests over beef prices.
The country’s main meat factories shut their doors today, resulting in the temporary lay-off of 3,000 employees, as hundreds of farmers continue protests over beef prices.
Veterinary Ireland has expressed concern over the Government’s lack of preparedness for the provision of veterinary inspection services at our ports and/or borders in the event of Brexit.
Hundreds of workers in the Midlands face being laid off due to the unlawful blockade of a pet food manufacturing plant, the High Court has heard.
The Tanaiste Simon Coveney has warned that farmers not buying into collective leadership and expressing their anger without the structure of farming organisations is dangerous for the sector.
Knackeries around the country have closed their gates this morning according to the chairperson of the Animal Collectors Association, Michael McKeever.
An arbitration process which is understood to have ruled in favour of Kerry Co-op suppliers in a milk-price dispute with Kerry Group plc could see farmers receive significant top-up payments.
Clare farmer Patrick Crowe is one of those who have stood outside factory gates in recent weeks in the battle for a fair return from their cattle.
There is a scene in the unholy 1979 movie, Life of Brian, in which the eponymous Brian approaches a small group and asks them if they are the Judean People's Front (JPF).
The battle between beef farmers and the meat processors remains deadlocked after the collapse yesterday of negotiations convened by Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to resolve the increasingly bitter dispute.
The absence of any reference to meal feeding in the promotional material for Dairygold's new Pastureland quality mark has raised the hackles of both tillage farmers and environmental activists.
THE likely next Commissioner for Agriculture, Poland's Janusz Wojciechowski, has supported faster levelling of EU subsidies paid to farmers across Europe.
The ongoing factory protests are starting to really bite supplies. Last week's kill was back to just 22,068hd compared to the 38,459 that went through the system this week last year, or the 30,300 two weeks ago.
Spring-calving dairy herds are building a false economy by calving ‘a few’ cows in the autumn, a leading figure on winter milk systems has said
Efforts to resolve the long-running dispute causing turmoil in the beef industry have been struck a further blow as the competition watchdog refuted claims beef prices could be discussed at stakeholder talks.
"Collateral damage" was the phrase used by one factory sheep agent yesterday after his factory was targeted and closed by protesting farmers.
The Beef Plan Movement will protest outside several supermarkets this week against a stipulation placed on farmers that beef cattle must be under 30 months when slaughtered.
Close to 90pc of spring cereal crops remain to be cut in Donegal as continuous heavy rains have brought the harvest in the county to a standstill.
One of the few positives that has come from the Brexit debate that continues apace is the realisation of how dependent we are on imports to feed ourselves.
While it's far too early to consider who might have a chance of actually winning the IFA presidency, what is interesting are the activities of the declared and undeclared candidates.
Which is better - a thrifty butterfly mower linked to a 250hp tractor, or a powerful self-propelled mower tailor-made for the job?
The often-criticised EBI is delivering more milk solids and greater profitability at farm level, a breeding expert has said.
Look busy, the Chinese are coming.
Pressure is mounting on meat processors and the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to deliver a return for beef farmers from the Chinese market.
Forestry consultants have warned that the approval process for planting and clear-felling plantations is about to "grind to a halt".
I was lucky enough to be part of the action on RTÉ's Big Week on the Farm last week. It was only up the road from me, on the farm of Ivan Curran, who runs a state-of-the-art tillage and potato operation just outside Stamullen, Co Meath.
A “Serious fish kill” in County Limerick this summer started in County Cork.
High Court proceedings brought against several protesters outside a beef processing plant in Co Wexford have been struck out following an agreement between the parties.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said it is adjourning its participation in today's beef talks, as protests continue at 20 meat factories around the country.
A post-Brexit proposal for agrifood has been dismissed as insufficient to replace the backstop by Ireland's finance minister ahead of a meeting between Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar.
To go from Dublin into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, you journey along the Old Military Road from the foothills of Rathfarnham and within minutes you are in a place so wild and remote it is scarcely believable that the city is just around the corner, out of sight.
Parts of rural Ireland will be plunged into recession by a no-deal Brexit, but urban areas will continue to grow.
As autumn draws in, 2019 will be marked in my memory as one of the greatest years for grass growth.
Ireland's agri-food industry is hoping that events in Westminster this week will lead to a more sensible resolution to cross-Border trade post-Brexit.
A 171ac residential farm at Ballyconlore and Coolnagloose, Inch in Co Wexford exceeded its €2m guide by almost €260,000 when it sold in six separate lots for a total of €2.26m making an average price of €13,210/ac.
Eamon Sheehan firmly believes farmers aren't getting enough credit for the effort they put in to looking after the environment while contending with weather and market challenges.
The Beef Plan Movement has begun protesting outside distribution centres owned by supermarkets, despite distancing itself from ongoing demonstrations at meat factories.
Danone Dairy Ireland has won accreditation from B Labs, a US non-profit that promotes social and environmental responsibility, in recognition of its commitment to green causes and progressive labour practices.
The Beef Plan Movement, which has distanced itself from the ongoing protests at factories, is to protest at a number of retailer distribution centres tomorrow.
The last place picketing beef farmers would expect to find support is from an environmentalist millionaire businessman who thinks we should move away from the cow and look to vegetables, solar power and green technology to protect Ireland's future.
It's understood the new farming body, Independent Farmers, which represents farmers still protesting at factory gates won't be attending talks between farming organisations and the meat factories on Monday.
Food waste should be tackled with the same kind of urgency as the Amazonian forest clearance. While recent climate change reports have targeted the reduction of livestock numbers, slashing food waste could have a very significant and faster impact.
Summer is drawing to a close so preparation for the breeding season should be well under way. Management decisions between now until mating in mid-October will have a big influence on a successful lambing next spring.
After a week that saw claims of workers being blackmailed in a "menacing email" which hinted at exposing an alleged sexual affair and threats of violence, the disputing parties in the ongoing beef row now have agreed to sit down together on Monday.
Doubt has been cast on Monday's talks to end a long-running beef dispute as Meat Industry Ireland (MII) claimed this evening (Friday) that an increased number of meat plants are being blockaded.
IRELAND’S nominee to the European Commission, Phil Hogan, appears set to secure the powerful trade portfolio next week.
High Court proceedings that could have resulted in the imprisonment of persons protesting outside two beef processing plants have been struck out following an agreement between the factory owners and the protesters.
Ireland's own partridge family is celebrating a new release that could make the record books.
The end of an era in pedigree Charolais breeding has arrived for one of the largest and longest-established herds in the country with the dispersal of the well known Skidoo herd in Co Dublin.
The late Ian Paisley's 'Irish cows' could hold the "germ" of a solution to the border backstop, Boris Johnson has suggested.
China and the United States on Thursday agreed to hold high-level talks in early October in Washington, cheering investors hoping for a trade war thaw as new U.S. tariffs on Chinese consumer goods chip away at global growth.
Close to 90pc of spring cereal crops remain to be cut in Donegal as continuous heavy rains have brought the harvest in the county to a standstill.
Two weeks ago I wrote about the issues the main asset-owning spouse should consider when faced with a family law case. In my experience over the past 30 years, in virtually all such cases, one side wanted to part with as little as possible while the other side wanted to extract as much as possible.
While August is traditionally quiet, it has been a busy month in the auction rooms for some auctioneers, including Meath-based Raymond Potterton.
Farm loan delinquencies rose to a record high in June at Wisconsin’s community banks, data showed on Thursday, a sign President Donald Trump’s trade conflicts with China and other countries are hitting farmers hard in a state that could be crucial for his chances of re-election in 2020.
WIRELESS broadband company Imagine Communications says it's already connecting rural customers to its 5G network who have been waiting for years for the National Broadband Plan to arrive.
Talks between farming organisations and meat processors are set to resume next week after a breakthrough to get parties back around the table.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pledging to “change things for the better” for Scotland’s farmers – starting with a funding boost of more than £200 million for the industry north of the border.
Ireland's disappointing summer ended with above average rainfall - but at least is was warm.
Chinese health inspectors are expected to start evaluating four Brazilian beef plants on Thursday as part of a push to approve new meat exporters amid an outbreak of swine fever, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Mairead McGuinness MEP and first Vice-President of the European Parliament has initiated moves for the Parliament's Agriculture committee to examine the crisis which has led to prolonged protests at meat plants and despair among farmers.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has confirmed that he will facilitate new talks between all parties in the beef dispute on Monday.
DIRECT sources from farmyards are a more significant source of phosphorus and nitrogen pollution of rivers and streams than water-courses from fields, according to a new study.
It is that time of year again when I do some sort of grass budget for the rest of the grazing season. I don't properly measure grass, but a quick walk around the farm last weekend told its own story.
While this year's harvest is not yet complete, it is time to complete sowing of Winter Oilseed Rape (WOSR) for harvest 2020.
The Agriculture Committee wants to pick up the work on the post-2020 EU farm policy reform where it was left before the EU elections, MEPs said on Wednesday.
Switching farms from cows to crops or feeding animals seaweed are not going to provide 'silver bullet' solutions to Ireland's biggest greenhouse gas problem, farming experts have said.
A beef support package announced to much fanfare by the Government before the local and European elections has been massively under-subscribed.
Britain proposed an all-island economy for food and agricultural products - effectively creating a border in the Irish Sea in an alternative to the backstop.
Seated next to the Agriculture Minister, the doyenne of rural Ireland Anna May McHugh took the opportunity to express her own concerns about the beef farmers' situation.
Factory workers and farmers who passed the beef protests in recent weeks were met with verbal abuse, threats of violence, and blackmail, the factories have claimed.
Switching farms from cows to crops or feeding animals seaweed are not going to provide silver bullet solutions to Ireland’s biggest greenhouse gas problem, farming experts have said.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed today launched a Plan for the Development of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Regional Laboratories, announcing an estimated capital investment of €33.5 million in rebuilding the Laboratory Network over the next 10 years.
The situation on the ground yesterday saw quotes for both lambs and cull ewes no worse than they were seven days ago.
Germany will ban the use of glyphosate weedkiller from the end of 2023, two government sources said on Wednesday.
Ornua's PPI has dropped for August 2019, despite calls by farmers that Irish co-op milk prices are "falling behind EU counterparts".
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has extended the deadline for applications to the €100m BEAM (Beef Exceptional Aid Measure) scheme as just 20,000 out of a possible 70,000 eligible farmers applied to the scheme.
A second attempt is to be made this morning for a Chinese Audit team to carry out an inspection of Kepak's meat processing facility in Athlegue Co Roscommon.
The European Commission will today step up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit as Brussels officials insisted the UK is not engaged in serious efforts to find a last-minute deal.
As the Beef Plan tries to regroup, having disassociated itself from the current wave of protests, some harsh realities are coming to light in the beef sector.
From a protest in Dublin in mid July to launching protests at factories a few weeks later, read our timeline on how the recent beef protests escalated.
The European Commission will propose financial help for European Union businesses, workers and farmers if Britain crashes out of the bloc without any agreement, a document seen by Reuters said.
Evidence presented in the High Court last week by meat factories detailed the actions of some protesters over the past few weeks.
A Kerry farmer admitted he was astounded when one of his cows made history, by giving birth to five calves in a single delivery.
A farmer died when he fell into a slurry tank on his holding in a tragic accident.
A farming organisation has warned shoppers to "stock up" on beef - sparking a swift denial from meat processors that the country is on the brink of a shortage.
Meat processors have denied the country is facing a fresh meat shortage, as one farming organisation calls on shoppers to ‘stock up’ on beef.
A new farming organisation, a splinter group from the Beef Plan Movement, has formed to represent farmers who are still protesting at meat factory gates.
Dairygold has launched a guarantee known as 'Pastureland' which states that all of it suppliers' milk is sourced from grass-fed cows.
A TD, who interrupted High Court proceedings against a number of beef plant protesters today by claiming to make representations on their behalf, was told by a judge he had no right of audience in the court.
A MAN died in a freak farm accident in Kerry as he was apparently trying to rescue livestock.
A man was arrested by gardaí at a farmer protest outside a meat plant in Co Cavan yesterday as tensions soared at pickets around the country.
Cereal output will top 2.1m tonnes and could hit 2.2m tonnes if the strong yields recorded in the winter wheat and spring barley crops are maintained right across the country.
The average dairy farmer could save up to €1,000 per year on energy bills by switching their business from day-rate to night-rate electricity billing.
With many factories blockaded again yesterday and supplies building in the system, are we in danger of seeing a tipping point being reached?
Forestry planting this year is running 50pc behind target levels, despite the Government's insistence that expanding the total area under trees is a key element of its climate action strategy.
one of the recurring questions that is on people's minds in the midst of this beef crisis is: what are the alternatives? I'd be first to admit that there aren't any silver bullets. It's one of the reasons that suckler farmers persist with trying to make the best of a bad lot in beef.
TENSIONS at the meat factories continue to remain high as farmers continued a number of unofficial protests at meat plants around the country.
The Beef Plan Movement protest has cost meat processors tens of millions of euro in lost production, legal fees and other costs.
The Beef Plan Movement potentially faces a multi-million-euro bill in damages demands from a meat processor seeking compensation for the costs of lost production during factory gate protests by farmers.
'Cattle are coming earlier and are 50kgs heavier than this time last year," said Michael Harty of Central Auctions in Birr, Roscrea and Nenagh. Those are the positives at present.
Kverneland has a number of new ploughs coming to the market, including some very intelligent ones. But it's not only ploughs that will impress farmers and contractors as Kverneland has more tillage and grassland machines in the pipeline.
A study on to assess the social and economic impacts of forestry in County Leitrim has found that just over 30% of the forest owners were not resident in the country
A MAN has been arrested as protests continue over the price of cattle at a number of meat plants around the country.
AGRICULTURE Minister Michael Creed warned that resolution to the cattle price dispute will only be found around the negotiating table and not in meat plant protests or court injunctions.
A call has been made on the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed to establish a statutory Commission of Investigation into the beef sector to establish processor and retailer margins along the supply chain.
A city in southern China is selling a limited quantity of pork at discounted prices to help consumers cope with soaring prices, as the world’s top pork-eating nation deals with a meat shortage caused by the death of pigs due to African swine fever.
The Teagasc provisional cereal harvest estimate for 2019 is a production of approximately 2.1 million tonnes of cereals.
Q. What is your farming background?
I was in Soloheadbeg last weekend, at the site of the attack reputed to mark the start the War of Independence. A few months ago I discovered the memorial to the event. Last weekend I found the actual site where two RIC men were shot dead in an IRA operation to commandeer gelignite as it was being transported to a local quarry.
Cover crops have become increasingly popular in arable production, mostly due to the fact that it is supported under the GLAS scheme as a greening measure.
British farmers are demanding UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson slap tariffs on EU dairy products in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
There were tense scenes at a Kildare meat plant yesterday where farmers protesting for a higher price for their cattle allege that trucks were driving into them and a child’s buggy in an effort to get through the gates.
Now that the autumn calving season is upon us, it can be worthwhile taking a few steps to minimise losses during this period.
UK farmers are demanding that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson slap tariffs on EU dairy products in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being urged to come clean on the "potentially disastrous" risks a no-deal Brexit poses to the UK's food supply.
So far this year, 58 new self-propelled forage harvesters have been sold in Ireland - an impressive 66pc jump on equivalent sales last year.
An attempt to transform the Irish landscape with nature's own carbon captors will see 22 million trees planted every year for the next 20 years.
The country's largest beef processor has warned it had exhausted all its stocks of fresh meat this week at two of its plants.
Gardaí were called to a meat processing plant in Co Cavan after a farmer allegedly damaged its outer walls with his tractor.
Bord Na Móna is preparing to auction up to 200 Lots of surplus to requirement machinery on Saturday 14 September, managed by Wilsons Auctions.
Veterinary Ireland is calling on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Veterinary Council of Ireland to initiate an immediate investigation into the operation of a veterinary practice recently purchased by a lay owned corporate entity.
Lakeland Dairies is to make some 68 staff redundant as part of a plan for the adjustment of processing activities on its site in Monaghan.
A CHINESE trade delegation postponed a planned visit to a Cork meat plant as protesting beef farmers warned they are now willing to be jailed to trigger action over low cattle prices.
A 'sinister' development at Dawn Meats Ballyhaunis has seen an illegal blockade stop sheep farmers selling their lambs, the company has said.
Peace has broken out at all Dawn Meats factories affected by the beef price blockade after the High Court heard today Friday that permanent orders restraining trespass and intimidation could be made with the consent of named protesters who had taken part in disruptive nation-wide protests.
Coillte and Brookfield Renewable Energy Ireland have delivered brochures to landowners and households in Mushera, Ballinagree and other nearby townlands between Millstreet and Macroom, highlighting proposals for a wind farm in the area.
China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday it will seek to boost pork imports and also release frozen pork, beef and mutton from state reserves in “due course” to increase the supply of meat in the market.
European wheat prices hit a contract low in late trade on Thursday, pressured by hefty global supplies and a slight fall on U.S. markets.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the association which represents the meat processing sector in Ireland, has said this morning that the continued 'blockading' of beef processing plants across the country has already forced companies into staff lay-offs and, if this coordinated illegal disruption continues, further significant staff lay-offs in the coming days are inevitable.
The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has outlined the compromise proposals they have made to Minister Creed to help resolve the beef crisis.
Breeding sales are in full swing around the country as the sheep farming cycle begins again. We are preparing our Mule ewe lambs and hoggets for the premier sale in Ballinrobe.
Q I would like some general advice about squatter's rights. About 30 years ago my uncle rented 25 acres to a neighbour. This man paid rent for a few years (I'm not sure how many), but then stopped.
While bigger farms have been making much of the running on the property market of late, farms of 50ac and less guided at up to €500,000 continue to make up the major proportion of land sales. Farms of this size with a residence and hobby farm potential can be of interest to a wide range of buyers.
Attention is turning to building grass covers for the autumn, followed by housing stock. The year has been favourable, and most farms have not had to rehouse stock since they went out grazing full-time.
Suckler farmers and the beef sector are at breaking point. The Government must immediately take swift action to safeguard the sector.
A farmer faces the prospect of jail for his participation in unofficial beef protests, which have now entered their sixth day despite the arrival of Chinese inspectors.
The Beef Plan Movement has told the Minister for Agriculture that the only way to make progress is to ensure that there is full and open disclosure on the retail specification processors are being asked to enforce on farmers.
The owner of three beef processing plants has secured a temporary High Court injunction restraining protesters from blockading off its factories and from intimidating their staff and suppliers.
Roads around the ABP factory in Bandon are understood to be blocked this morning as cattle trucks seeking to offload stock are being stopped by protesting farmers.
Pamela Byrne remembers the moment she ordered a gourmet burger on her first trip to the US - and was aghast to find it rare pink on the inside. "I couldn't eat it," she recalls. "I was brought up in a world where you need to cook burgers right through because we all understand how the bugs can get into the meat. And if you don't cook them right through, that doesn't cook out the bugs."
IRELAND "won't be doing business" with the South American countries involved in the Mercosur trade deal with the EU if they don't take part to international efforts to fight climate change, a senior government minister has said.
Farmers must break the habits of a lifetime in order to face climate change challenge, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment told farmers.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue ordered an investigation into widening prices between cattle and beef on Wednesday after a recent fire at a Tyson Foods Inc slaughterhouse in Holcomb, Kansas, shut the plant.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has reiterated that beef prices cannot be discussed in mooted talks to resolve an ongoing dispute between beef farmers and the meat industry.
The pillar banks have encouraged farmers to make early contact with them if they are in financial difficulty.
France is looking at introducing pesticide-free buffer zones around housing areas after a number of local mayors defied the government by banning weed killers such as glyphosate in their towns.
Storm Powell travelled to Ballinasloe Mart to hear about the Beef Plan Movement talks and beef prices.
The High Court will tomorrow decide if a protesting farmer will be sent to jail in the first of what Mr Justice Senan Allen was told could be many applications for contempt of court.
Farmers who have been carrying out unofficial protests at meat factories around the country may face jail as one of Ireland's largest meat processors, Dawn Meats, went to the High Court court yesterday for a second time this week.
Beef, and especially the suckler cow, has been getting a lot of bad press lately. I just wish people would take a step back and see the bigger picture.
Keeping a 'closed herd' - never buying in or renting any cattle - is definitely the best way to keep diseases out of your farm. However, the reality for most farmers is that a closed herd is completely unachievable.
One of the Larry Goodman meat processing plants being picketed by farmers in the protest over beef prices was part of a group that recorded pre-tax profits of €3.12m last year.
Billy Loftus of Ballina Mart told me he is beginning to see the weather impact his trade. "We've had a lot of rain over the last few weeks and our last sale was 10pc bigger than the same sale last year. Lads are moving a bit earlier as a result, I think."
The High Court will be asked on Friday to decide whether a protesting farmer should be sent to jail, in the first of what Mr Justice Senan Allen was told could be many applications that could see individual protesters jailed for being in contempt of court.
Beef protests are continuing outside a number of meat factories despite a High Court injunction preventing groups from blocking entries to plants.
Dawn Meats is expected back in the High Court this afternoon seeking a committal order on foot of yesterday's injunctions.
European Commission has agreed that provision be made for a higher rate of advance payments under the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and a number of Rural Development Schemes.
Meat processors expect Gardai to intervene to get lorries and cattle into factories, according to Meat Industry Ireland Director Cormac Healy.
The Beef Plan Movement has told its members that anyone who participates in any protest at meat factory gates it will expel them from the organisation.
Fonterra, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, on Wednesday said milk production in July climbed 4.8% year-on-year in New Zealand, helped by good conditions at the start of the season.
The volumes of dairy exports out of the EU have increased, new figures from Fonterra show, as demand from China continues to grow.
Animal feed manufacturers have strongly rejected claims by the IFA that the industry is profiteering on the backs of tillage farmers, by keeping ration costs high despite the expected drop in grain prices this harvest.
ICSA president Edmond Phelan has called on the meat industry to forget about litigation against "helpless farmers who are on their knees".
ALMOST €900m has been wiped off the value of the stake in Glanbia plc owned by farmers through the Glanbia Co-op in little more than six months.
As summer slips by and we head into the autumn, I wondered what monetary value do you put on a year that has given us exceptional grass growth.
