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...

France says proposed cut to EU farm subsidies is 'unthinkable' 

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed to reduce farm subsidies and leave more latitude to member states under the bloc’s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), drawing swift condemnation from...

The proposed future CAP budget in numbers 

Today the European Commission announced its proposal to the future of the CAP. We break it down into numbers and how it will impact Ireland.

Farmers heap pressure on Leo as they face 5pc cut to subsidies 

The European Commissions proposal to cut funding of the Common Agricultural Policy by 5pc (€17bn) has been met with condemnation by farm organisations.

Farmers face 5pc cuts as EU announces new budget proposals 

The European Commission met on Wednesday to agree proposals for a bigger new multi-year budget that will trigger battles among member states over how to fill the funding gap left by Britain’s exit...

Pressure on to stump up more for EU budget post Brexit 

IRELAND and richer EU member states are under increasing pressure from Brussels to cough up more cash for the bloc's budget.

EU, Mercosur end trade round with little progress, more blaming - Beef volumes 'agreed' 

The European Union and Latin American bloc Mercosur have made some progress on how to open their markets to cars, but ended free trade...

EU rolls out scheme to bridge digital divide between town and country 

While smart technology is well-known and widely used in cities, rural areas have been somewhat neglected.

Hogan stands firm on Mercosur as EU delists Brazilian suppliers 

European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan insisted there would be "no deal" on Mercosur unless negotiators are fully satisfied strong standards will apply to all produce. It comes as...

EU plans to reduce VAT on animal vaccines - MEP 

The EU Commission has confirmed that it is working on plans to allow member states to apply a zero VAT rate to all vaccines for veterinary purposes in future, Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-...

MEPs call for ban on veterinary use of critical antibiotics 

The EU should ensure prudent use of antimicrobials in farming, prohibit veterinary use of critical ones, support research and fight for global rules, Agriculture Committee said this week.

Farmer concern over reports signaling 6pc CAP budget cut 

Reported comments made by Commissioner Oettinger that the European Commission will propose a cut of 6pc in CAP funding will be extremely worrying for all farmers but...

Boost for dairy exports as EU and Mexico agree new free trade pact 

The European Union and Mexico reached an agreement on Saturday on a new free trade deal, a coup for both parties in the face of increased protectionism from the United States under...

No deal on Brexit will be disastrous for UK food industry, MPs warn 

Failure to secure a free trade deal with the European Union will be “disastrous” for Britain’s £28 billion processed food and drinks industry, MPs have warned.

EU's Barnier says still some 25% of work to do on Brexit 

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday some 25 percent of work remained to be done on a pact covering UK withdrawal from the EU, including crucial issues...

Brexit: Liam Fox has underestimated difficulty of getting British farmers a good trade deal, MEPs warn 

MEPs representing the UK’s agricultural communities are “deeply concerned” that Liam Fox has underestimated how difficult it will be to get...

Are Irish farmers are missing out on organic opportunities? 

Irish MEP Sean Kelly has said that most Irish farmers are ignoring a huge new market for their produce by turning their backs on organic farming.

EU should be addressing 'complete stranglehold' that the factories have on the livestock industry - ICOS 

While welcoming the European Commission’s proposal for a Directive on Unfair Trading Practices (UTPs) in the food supply chain ICOS National...

Small border farms may get tax-free status - UK Brexit Secretary 

Farms and small businesses that straddle the Irish border could be given tax-free status, the Brexit Secretary has said.

EU to launch plan to protect European farmers from unfair trading 

The European Commission will announce a series of measures on Thursday to protect small European farmers and food producers from what it says are unfair trading practices by larger corporations.

Controversial EU rules 'risk giving Russia monopoly over Europe's fertiliser market' 

Concerns are mounting that new EU rules to limit the amount of toxin in fertilisers will give Russia an “effective monopoly” over the market and...

Opinion: Watch out for the Belgian Guy as Brexit end-game begins to unfold 

Some of you will already know who Guy Verhofstadt is. Most of the rest of us will know a lot more about him over the coming six months, as he...

The guessing game - With less than a year to Brexit, confusion and uncertainty reign 

"Our national journey out of the EU is almost over - and a glorious view awaits." As the clock ticks towards Brexit that is the worldview of the UK's...

Farmers and poorer regions will bear brunt of post-Brexit cutbacks 

The EU has again warned farmers and poorer regions to prepare for a round of post-Brexit budget cuts.