EU auditors raise concerns over supervision of organic imports and product traceability 

The control system for organic products in the EU has improved in recent years, but challenges remain, according to a new report by the...

Concern a delay in new CAP will undermine low-income farmers 

Farmers have raised concerns that the seemingly likely delay in the rollout of a new CAP will undermine low-income farmers.

Unfair Trading Practices Directive formally adopted by the EU 

The Unfair Trading Practices Directive has been formally adopted by the European Parliament today.

EU trade chief says no support in Europe for US trade deal that includes agriculture 

The European Union will not support a comprehensive trade deal with the United States that includes agriculture, the EU's top trade...

Court rules organic logo cannot be used on ‘halal’ meat without pre-stunning 

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has found that EU law do not authorise the placing of the EU's organic production logo on products derived...

John Downing: Noisy neighbours have always been a nuisance in Brussels but we'll miss them 

We'll start again with a scarce piece of Brexit news. Ireland will not miss the UK when it comes to framing EU farm policy.

'Get with the program': US officials press EU to address beef hormones and GMOs in trade talks 

US officials on Thursday ratcheted up pressure on the European Union to address longstanding agricultural issues between the two regions, the...

Swift agreement on EU budget needed to ensure continuity in farm payments - Hogan 

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan has said that a swift agreement on the EU's budget post-2020 is essential to ensure...

Smooth transition essential for next CAP to ensure no 'forgotten farmers' - Macra 

Macra na Feirme National President James Healy has said that a smooth transition from the current CAP to its successor is essential to avoid creating...

'CAP delays a further possibility as reform vote not taking place until April'- McGuinness 

The European Union will not vote on CAP reform files until April which will may delay the implementation of CAP reforms said MEP and...

Hogan says Brexit the reason for 'disproportionate' number of meetings with Irish farm groups 

A new report highlighted how EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan carried out a “disproportionate” amount of meetings with Irish...

MEP's want EU countries to move away from live exports (Irish farmers hope for increase) 

The EU and its member states must develop a strategy to shift from live animal transport to transport of meat-and-carcass and germinal...

Intervention sales come at a heavy cost to the taxpayer 

Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan recently welcomed the sale of the majority of EU public stocks milk powder, however, its likely come at a significant cost to...

EU calms US trade ties by accepting US soybeans in biofuel 

The European Commission said on Tuesday it had concluded that U.S. soybeans can be used in biofuels in the European Union, part of the bloc’s push to improve strained trade relations with...

The CAP budget is the key, Creed tells EU Ministers as negotiations over reform continue 

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has stressed to his fellow EU Agriculture Minister's that securing an adequate budget is critical to the...

MEPs urge countries to increase checks on live exports, but no further ban 

The EU and its member states must enforce existing rules on protecting transported animals better and penalise all offenders, the Agriculture...

EU open to discussing cars, not farming in US trade talks 

The European Union is willing to discuss car tariffs but will not remove duties on farm products in trade talks with the United States, its trade chief said on Friday, setting it on a possible collision...

Irish farmers can't rely on a 'rabbit out of a hat' solution to Brexit - ICMSA President 

The Irish government can’t wait for "a rabbit out of a hat solution to Brexit" and must make plans on the basis that the UK will leave the European...

EU trade commissioner says talks with US will not include agriculture 

The European Union and United States have not yet agreed on the scope of their trade negotiations, but the EU will not include agriculture in the talks, its trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström told...

EU leaders push decision on CAP budget back to autumn 2019 

European Union leaders have given themselves nearly a year to agree a new long-term budget for the bloc last week, confirming that hopes of an accord before elections to the EU parliament in...

Directive on unfair trading must be passed before Christmas to save small farmers- EU council 

Time is running out for the directive on unfair trading practices to be approved by the EU Parliament in time for Christmas, the EU council...

Europeans impeding EU-Mercosur trade deal -Brazil farm minister 

Brazil’s outgoing Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi said on Wednesday that South American trade bloc Mercosur is ready to close a trade agreement with the European Union but it is being held up...

CAP budget facing more pressure as eastern European farmers protest over 'low' payments 

The CAP budget is coming under more pressure, as eastern European farmers call for increased farm payments.

John Downing: Irish farmers should pray May can get deal over line 

This time three years ago most of us had never heard the term 'Brexit'.

'EU auditors are ignoring importance of direct payments to farmers'- Hogan 

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has hit out at the EU Court of Auditors for “ignoring” evidence provided to them on the importance of direct...

MEPs back maintenance of CAP funds in next EU budget 

In a vote on Wednesday, MEPs confirmed their position on the next EU long-term budget, including maintaining the financing of the EU’s long-standing agricultural policies.

EU and UK braced for Brexit agri-quotas row with WTO partners 

The EU and UK are heading for a Brexit showdown with their main agricultural trading partners.

McGuinness hits out at EU auditors criticism of plans of new CAP 

Concerns have been expressed about the European Court of Auditors report published today which sharply criticizes the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the period...

EU Auditors slam Hogan’s plans for next CAP 

The proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020 falls short of the EU’s ambitions for a greener and more robust performance-based approach, according to an opinion published...

EU set to clamp down on 'unfair' agri retail practices 

Talks are intensifying on a law to ban the “unfair” treatment of farmers by supermarket giants.

Commission to renew its campaign on Bravo ban 

There is not enough support yet for an EU ban on the key tillage fungicide chlorothalonil, but the Commission is determined to continue lobbying member states on the issue.

Commission won't approve state aid without more measures for young and retiring farmers - Hogan 

The EU will withhold CAP payments from Ireland and other member states unless new measures to support both young and older farmers are put in...

CAP future must include bioeconomy strategy - Hogan 

Europe needs a strong bioeconomy as part of the 21st century rejuvenation of our rural areas, according to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.

EU Parliament votes in favour of EU/UK trade under WTO rules post-Brexit 

The Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of an agreed EU/UK approach on trade policy post-Brexit as applied...

Bord Bia to make plans for the future as Brexit unknowns loom 

The job of Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy is to champion Ireland's food industry.

UK difficulty is Irish farmers' opportunity - Bord Bia 

Difficulties faced by British farmers on foot of Brexit present an opportunity for Irish producers that can mitigate the impact of the UK's departure from the EU, according to Bord Bia chief...

The curious case of the cow that got paid on the double 

A curious case of Polish heifer fraud caught the eye of EU auditors poring over the bloc's 2017 accounts.

'We cannot ask people to do more and pay less' – Concerns remain over CAP budget 

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed has warned that farmers cannot be asked to do more on the environment while...

CAP budget in 'line of fire' as reform proposals enter 'crunch time' 

The EU is entering 'crunch time' in relation to the EU budget and the future CAP proposal, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan has said.

EU's bank to ramp up support for Irish farmers and infrastructure 

Upgrades to ports, an electricity line to the continent, and loans for farmers and businesses are among hundreds of millions of euro in planned financing by the European Investment Bank...

Austrians lend support to coalition opposed to post-2020 CAP cuts 

Austria will fight for farm spending post-2020, despite pushing for an overall EU budget cut.

Agriculture MEPs strongly oppose proposed substantial cuts in the post-2020 CAP 

The EU cannot afford to cut the funding of its farm policy if it is to continue ensuring delivery of public goods to EU citizens, the Agriculture Committee...

Agriculture MEPs agree laws on unfair trading practices 

New draft rules to better protect farmers against buyers’ unfair trading practices were approved by the Agriculture Committee on Monday.

'This huge profit-taking from farmers has to stop' 

'It's Fianna Fáil or not at all," is John Comer's pithy summary of his political ambitions.

'Everything, including CAP, will be hit if there is a hard Brexit' 

Everything will be hit, including CAP, if there is a hard Brexit, RTE Europe Editor Tony Connelly told a recent Brexit conference.

‘Everybody looks for more money’ – Hogan says funds to reverse proposed CAP cuts must be provided by Member States 

“Everybody looks for more money, including farmers. Whats new. But it has to be provided...

Hogan lashes Mercosur ‘megaphone’ tactics 

Another round of Mercosur and EU trade talks begins this week in Uruguay, with trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström on stand-by to attend (she will be in the region at a G20...

Hogan warns that farming and food production needs to get smarter, cleaner, and greener – and fast 

Farming and food production needs to get smarter, cleaner, and greener – and fast, according to the EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.

Grass growth at historic low across much of Europe 

Blistering heat and a lack of rainfall in northern and central Europe has caused the region's worst drought in two decades, putting pressure on yields, prices and fodder supplies.

EU faces new pressure to end duties on Russian fertilisers 

Pressure is growing on EU trade officials to end long-running anti-dumping duties on Russian ammonium nitrate fertilisers.

Food firms warned to plan for post-Brexit supply challenges 

A new Bord Bia report confirms that Brexit is the single biggest challenge facing the food and drink industry, and within that, the supply chain is one of the highest risks.

Euro hits 90p: Concern over no-deal Brexit sees Sterling slump 

Sterling has slumped half a percent against the euro to below 90 pence, its weakest since the middle of November in a selloff fueled by investor concern that Britain will crash out of the European Union...

Cupboards would run bare today if UK relied only on food it produces, says UK farmers union 

UK farmers have called on the Government to make food security a top priority on the day the country's cupboards would run bare if households relied...

How Australia's meat industry plans to flood post-Brexit Britain with products banned in EU 

Australian meat industry leaders are heavily lobbying their government to put pressure on Britain to accept products currently banned under EU...

German farmers seek 1 billion euros in drought aid: report 

Farmers in Germany need special aid of around 1 billion euros ($1.17 billion) because of damage to harvests caused by drought and heatwave, the head of German farming association DBV said on...

Battle lines drawn as EU court weighs fate of gene-edited crops 

Gene editing in agriculture takes centre stage next Wednesday when Europe’s highest court rules in a case that could determine the fate of the technology that is already making waves in the...

EU-Mercosur trade talks targeting September finale: Argentina 

A free trade agreement between the European Union and Latin American bloc Mercosur is close to being concluded, with a final push over the line seen by early September, Argentina’s foreign...

State to employ around 1000 customs and veterinary inspectors as part of Brexit contingency 

More than 1000 extra full-time customs and veterinary inspectors are to be employed as part of the government's contingency plans for Brexit,...

Northern Ireland farmers accuse EU of playing political ‘football’ over cross-border trade 

The European Union has created fear and uncertainty among farmers in Northern Ireland by treating the region as a political football in...

France, Germany call for stable EU farm budget post-Brexit 

France and Germany want the European Union’s agriculture budget to be maintained at its current level once Britain leaves the bloc, the French and German farm ministers said on Monday.

Half of all EU workplace deaths occur in farming 

Rauli-Jan Albert, a livestock farmer in the eastern Finnish village of Valtimo, was almost crushed to death by a young heifer a few years ago as he was guiding his herd through a narrow passageway.

Hogan blasts IFA over 'fake news' on CAP 

Claims that CAP budget cuts could be as much as 17pc when inflation is taken in to account have been labelled as "fake news" by EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan.

EU keen to get Mercosur deal over line as trade war with US ramps up 

Talks on a trade deal between the EU and South American Mercosur bloc are heating up this summer.

UK to have "common rulebook" with the EU for all goods, including agricultural and food products 

Papers circulated to ministers ahead of today's crunch meeting at Chequers are reported to recommend that the UK should maintain a...

Farmers face €3,000 income cut under CAP budget proposals 

The current EU Commission proposals on the CAP Budget would have a devastating impact on Irish farm families, reducing real incomes by €3,000 on average each year, IFA President Joe Healy has...

Of the 10.3 million farms in the EU, two thirds are less than 5ha in size 

A little over 171m hectares of land in the European Union (EU) were used for agricultural production in 2016 – about 40pc of the EU's total land area. This supported about 10.3m farms and farm managers.

More EU countries join rising tide against cuts to farm budgets 

The momentum against cuts to the EU's farm budget is growing, with advocacy groups, MEPs and a majority of national governments now actively campaigning against the Commission.

Darragh McCullough: The farming lobby may be overestimating their influence as a hard Brexit looms 

Which way is up or down on Brexit? The more you look into it, the harder it is to figure out.

No CAP cash for suckler cow supports 

There will be no unspent CAP monies available to fund a €200/hd suckler cow support scheme, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, will tell the Joint Oireachtas Agriculture Committee today.

Phil Hogan: 'I am determined that small and medium sized farmers are protected against payment cuts' 

European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said EU members opposed to putting more money in to the EU Budget may do so in future as he looks...

EU Agriculture Ministers sceptical new CAP will deliver genuine simplification for farmers 

EU Agriculture Ministers are sceptical as to the capacity of the new CAP to deliver genuine simplification for national authorities and farmers.

Farmers demand EU income aid if the pound falls 

Farmers are to demand more income support if sterling drops further, amid fears over the lack of progress in the Brexit negotiations.

Opinion: Hogan under pressure to deliver CAP reforms amid flak over his 'green agenda' 

Irish farmers will be pleased to hear that Phil Hogan is doing well in the Brussels minefield as the EU Agriculture Commissioner.

Britain's 'backstop' plans could open a backdoor for fraudsters 

It was a big week for Brexit as the UK finally came forward with its "backstop" solution for the Ireland/Northern Ireland border.

'Riddled with loopholes' - MEPs warn draft laws will not deliver simpler and fairer CAP 

Draft EU laws on post-2020 EU farm policy as tabled by the EU Commission on June 1 lack ambition and a proper budgetary backing,...

The big switch to performance-based farming targets 

The legislative proposals for the CAP post 2020 announced by the Commission last Friday continue the trend embarked upon in the last CAP reform. They give even more responsibility and flexibility...

New deal will curb use of antibiotics on farms 

Plans to curb the use of antibiotics on farms, so as to keep resistant bacteria out of human foods, were informally agreed by MEPs and ministers this week.

'Very few farmers will be affected by €60k farm payment cap proposal' - Commission officials 

European Commission officials have confirmed that a proposed cap on EU payments under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) will affect very few...

Farm incomes facing potential €200m hit 

Irish farm income could fall by €200m a year depending on the exact design of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

'We are extremely concerned' - Creed hits out at raid on CAP budget 

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said the government is extremely concerned over proposed cuts to the Common Agricultural Policy.

EU, Mercosur trade talks resume with renewed optimism 

The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc begin a fresh round of trade talks this week with renewed optimism that negotiators may be nearing an accord after almost 20 years of talks.

Analysis: Revamp could dismantle EU’s level playing field 

The much-maligned Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is among the EU’s oldest policies and, for many, its most successful.

EU angers France and others with proposal to slash farmers' subsidies 

The European Commission proposed on Friday cutting direct subsidies to farmers while increasing the share of funds going to smaller farms, attracting criticism from France and other...

Crucial month ahead on several fronts for EU trade negotiations 

June is shaping up to be a dramatic month for EU trade relations.

Young farmers and environment the key focus of future CAP - Hogan 

Young farmers and the environment are the two key focus areas of new proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy, the EU Commissioner Phil Hogan announced today.

Proposals to set maximum EU farm payments at €100,000 but loopholes exist 

A cap on the level of direct EU supports to farms across Europe will be set at a maximum of €100,000, with Member States able to set a...

Ireland secures backing in call for CAP budget to be maintained 

Ireland and a number of other EU countries have signed a memorandum requesting that the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget is not cut.

Revealed - beef barons and sheikhs among top recipients of EU farm payments 

Some of the largest EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments to Irish recipients were not just to farmers, but beef barons, Arab sheikh's and...

Farmers to ramp up lobbying campaign to secure subsidies post 2020 

Farmers are bracing themselves for significant subsidy cuts with the proposed details of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post 2020 to...

MEPs back simpler and less bureaucratic CAP with reinforced young farmers aid scheme 

EU and its member states should work harder to ease young farmers’ access to credit, land, advisory services and training, the European...

Explainer: Key changes to EU organic rules 

The European Council to adopt the text of the Regulation providing new rules for organic farming clears the final hurdle for the modernisation of the sector and the harmonisation of rules covering...

EU agrees to start Australia, New Zealand trade talks with 'sensitive' agricultural products on the table 

European Union countries cleared the way on Tuesday for the bloc to begin free trade talks with Australia and New Zealand in a drive to forge...

EU official sees trade deal with Mercosur toward year-end 

The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc could reach a trade agreement this year, the president of the European Council said on Monday, following tensions between the two regional...

MEPs launch new investigation into glyphosate and herbicides 

The much-maligned weedkiller, glyphosate, is back in the news, as MEPs launch a report into its health effects and an inquiry into the EU's overall pesticides authorisation system.

Mike Brady: The CAP proposal that could have a seismic effect on Irish farming 

The forgotten sector in Irish agriculture is part-time farming. Over 50pc of the 140,000 farmers in this country farm on a part-time basis: ie, either the...

MEPs call for fairer CAP funding across the EU and within member states  

The post-2020 EU farm policy must be smarter, simpler, fairer and more sustainable, but also well financed and truly common to continue deliver...

Hungary and Poland unite on opposing CAP budget cuts 

The prime ministers of Hungary and Poland, allies in a series of disputes with Brussels, united on Monday in opposing cuts under the European Union’s new budget.

Creed urged to follow French lead in opposing 'drastic' CAP reform 

The pushback against the EU's post-2020 budget has begun, with France, Hungary, the Netherlands and even Ireland having a go, although for very different reasons.

Gove snubs Brexit meeting with Creed for a second time 

The UK's environment secretary has snubbed a meeting with Agriculture Minister Michael Creed for the second time.

Phil Hogan: Protecting our farmers’ vital direct payments is a priority for the EU 

The potential impact of Brexit on the Irish economy, particularly on the Irish agri-food sector, has been discussed and debated the length and...