Journalists

State will protect farmers from hill walker claims - Minister 

Farmers who open their lands up to walkers and Greenway users can expect the State to provide indemnity against insurance claims, the Minister for Community and Rural Affairs has confirmed.

Non-tariff barriers could be 'horrific' for exporters in the event of a hard Brexit 

Brexit poses a major threat to Ireland agricultural manufacturing industry, the CEO of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association has warned.

'We've got your back,' Leo told farmers - but Budget shows that's a load of bull 

Earlier this year, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told farmers the Government had the back of the farming sector.

Stamp duty increase 'could put a temporary dampener on land sales' 

Auctioneer Paddy Jordan probably claimed the title of selling the last farm before the increase in stamp duty announced in the Budget took effect.

Farming casualties if UK leaves the EU without agreement, warns Creed 

THE Government is set to pump money into the beef sector to prevent its collapse in a no-deal Brexit scenario.

IFA's diversity drive to promote more women 

A new drive to create greater diversity in the IFA will see the organisation set targets of having women make up at least 20pc of its election candidates.

Teagasc goes solar as it takes a lead on reducing farm emissions 

Teagasc is to install solar panels on all its dairy farms, plant hedgerows and commission a biomethane plant as part of a drive to lead by example in reducing emissions in the sector.

Dairy profits took a 28pc hit from last year's extreme weather events 

The more inputs dairy farmers buy in the less grass they use, which impacts on farm profitability, according to the latest figures from Teagasc.

Five people prosecuted for illegal possession of three hares 

Five people have been prosecuted in Mayo for the illegal possession of three hares.

Lakeland announces September milk price amid 'shadow' over dairy markets 

The Board of Lakeland Dairies has set a price for September milk, the first major processors to do so.  

Margaret Donnelly: A united front could be the most potent weapon at farmers' disposal 

It looks like there won't be much good news for farmers in today's budget.

Budget 2020 swerves demands for action on farm incomes crisis 

Budget 2020 will provide scant relief for farmers, with the Government doing little to tackle the deepening income crisis in the sector.

Agri Aware's 'light and fluffy' strategy under review 

Agri Aware is undertaking a strategy review, with some insiders demanding a harder edge to its message.

Margaret Donnelly: Will climate action obligations spell the end of the dairy boom? 

The figures detailing the country's national herd give a very interesting insight into the swings and roundabouts of Irish agriculture.

Three candidates make the IFA presidential cut 

Three candidates have secured the required nominations to run for IFA president ahead of tomorrow's closing date.

We trade on our reputation and it's in jeopardy - Creed 

Ireland's agri-food reputation has been damaged by the recent blockades, the Minister for Agriculture has said.

New farming group who won't step down blockades may form 

There are reports a new farming group may form, of the farmers who remain at the picket lines at meat factories.

Foster flings open the door to Brexit deal based on specific arrangements for the North 

DUP leader Arlene Foster has opened the door to a Brexit deal that includes specific arrangements for the North.

Farmers lift one protest with hope others will follow suit 

Protesters lifted a blockade at Dawn Meats' Slane plant yesterday, with a statement from the Independent Farmers saying it hoped farmers throughout the country would follow suit.

Farmers call off one protest with hopes 7-week beef pickets to end 

Protesting farmers lifted a blockade at Dawn Meats’ Slane plant today, with a statement from the Independent Farmers saying they hoped farmers throughout the country at other pickets would follow suit.

'We need to be really careful beef protests does not split farm families’ 

The Tanaiste Simon Coveney has reiterated his call for protesting farmers to end their pickets, saying “we need to be really careful this does not split farm families and farm organisations”.

Backstop is not a ‘makey up’ problem to frustrate Brexit – Coveney 

The backstop is not a ‘makey up’ problem Ireland is using to frustrate Brexit with, the Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said.

Angus Woods calls for halt to factory protests 

IFA National Livestock Committee Chairman, Angus Woods, has called for all protests outside beef processing plants to stop to allow the cattle trade normalise and farmers move stock as they need to.

‘How could I ask my son to give up his job to go farming?’ 

A farmer who was protesting at Bord Bia today at the Ploughing Championships asked how can he ask his son to give up his job to go farming.

'Irish dairying is going through a similar growth stage as New Zealand a decade ago' 

Tell us a little bit about yourself/your background… you grew up on a dairy farm -were your parents also from farms?

Farmers urged to end pickets as beef supplies running low 

Beef could soon be off the menu, with restaurants warning they may run out of supplies, as the Taoiseach and Tánaiste both called on protesting farmers to end their pickets.

Hundreds queue outside Ploughing in early hours - but traffic delays were minimal 

Hundreds of people queued outside the gates of the Ploughing Championships after arriving early to avoid queuing in their cars to get to the Carlow site.

Exclusive We can't set the price of beef, but we are trying to help - Varadkar 

No government action is going to be able to increase the price of beef to the level farmers want, the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned.

No future for rural Ireland without fibre broadband - Taoiseach 

Rural Ireland "does not have a future in the 21st century" unless fibre broadband is delivered to every home, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned.

Margaret Donnelly: Farm leaders should spend more time listening to farmers 

As the beef dispute looks set to slip into its seventh week, the defiance of some of the protesting farmers appears to be deepening, despite numerous rounds of talks and an agreement in principle over the weekend.

Exclusive Varadkar: 'There is no government action that can increase beef prices' 

No government action is going to increase beef prices to the level farmers want, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned.

Agri-food alliance brings in big guns to fight negative press 

An alliance of high profile farming organisations has been formed to promote a positive message about meat and dairy.

'Future of the Irish Beef Sector is in your hands. Please don't be responsible for its destruction' - Creed tells protesting farmers 

Agriculture Minister Michael creed has told protesting farmers "the future of the Irish Beef Sector is in your hands. Please don't be responsible for its destruction," in an open letter.

Protesting farmers attempt to secure deals with individual meat plants 

Representations from groups protesting outside meat factories are attempting to secure beef price rises from individual meat plants it has emerged.

Glanbia cuts its August milk price, its second cut in two months 

Glanbia has announced has cut its base milk price, for the second time in two months.

'Constructive' talks offer hope of new beef breakthrough 

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.

Agreement reached on re-establishing talks to solve beef dispute 

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.

Beef Plan to protest at Musgraves calling for 'transparency' on price 

The Beef Plan Movement is to protest at Musgraves in Cork today, as the ongoing beef dispute continues.

3,000 workers laid off temporarily as farmers' blockades shut meat factories 

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.

3,000 factory workers temporarily laid off as protesters threaten tractor blockade in Dublin 

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.

Harvest yields 'inconsistent' as wet weather takes its toll 

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.

Getting rank-and-file members out to vote may be the biggest challenge for IFA contenders 

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.

Beef Protests: Plans for beef talks collapse at last minute as protests continue 

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.

Supermarket warehouses new target of beef protests 

The Beef Plan Movement has begun protesting outside distribution centres owned by supermarkets, despite distancing itself from ongoing demonstrations at meat factories.

Beef Plan to stage 'peaceful' protests as beef talks set to resume tomorrow 

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.

'Independent farmers' not expected to attend beef talks 

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.

Sexual blackmail and threats of violence: new claims rock beef protest 

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.

Margaret Donnelly: 'Harsh realities are coming to light for all sides in beef protests' 

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 Leinster House to the factory gates: how the Beef Plan Movement protest unfolded 

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.

Details of intimidation of factory workers by beef protesters shared in court 

Evidence presented in the High Court last week by meat factories detailed the actions of some protesters over the past few weeks.

Meat factories reject claims country is 'days away' from running out of beef 

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 factories deny country only ‘days away’ from running out of fresh beef 

Meat processors have denied the country is facing a fresh meat shortage, as one farming organisation calls on shoppers to ‘stock up’ on beef.

Minister yet to hear from new farming body amid calls for talks 

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.

Man arrested as beef protest tensions rise and Chinese visit to meat plant called off 

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.

Tensions high as protest halts access for Chinese inspectors in Athleague 

TENSIONS at the meat factories continue to remain high as farmers continued a number of unofficial protests at meat plants around the country.

Shoppers to face 'spaces on shelves' as beef plants run short 

The country's largest beef processor has warned it had exhausted all its stocks of fresh meat this week at two of its plants.

INHFA outline compromise proposals to resolve beef crisis 

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has outlined the compromise proposals they have made to Minister Creed to help resolve the beef crisis.

The only way to make progress is for full and open disclosure on the retail specification - Beef Plan 

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. 

'Counter-productive blockades hindering talks for a better deal' 

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.

Factories go to High Court again to enforce injunction with jail threat 

Dawn Meats is expected back in the High Court this afternoon seeking a committal order on foot of yesterday's injunctions.

Factories expect Garda intervention to get lorries and cattle into factories 

Meat processors expect Gardai to intervene to get lorries and cattle into factories, according to Meat Industry Ireland Director Cormac Healy.

Protesting members will be expelled from organisation - Beef Plan 

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.

EU dairy exports grow, led by demand from China but African imports fall 

The volumes of dairy exports out of the EU have increased, new figures from Fonterra show, as demand from China continues to grow.

Pay farmers not lawyers - ICSA calls on factories to forget about litigation 

ICSA president Edmond Phelan has called on the meat industry to forget about litigation against "helpless farmers who are on their knees".

Talks are a waste of time if we can't talk about price - Joe Healy 

The IFA president Joe Healy has said talks around the issues in the beef sector are a waste of time, if price cannot be discussed.

Margaret Donnelly: 'Our leaders shouldn't need Amazonian fires to realise Mercosur is a bad deal' 

The utter hypocrisy of demanding increased environmental ambition at home while backing trade deals with some of the world's biggest environmental laggards looks like it's dawning on the Government.

Probe after man killed on farm as shed wall collapses 

Gardaí are investigating the sudden death of a man in his 40s following an accident on a farm in Co Limerick on Saturday night.

Man killed after farm shed collapses 

Gardaí are investigating the sudden death of a man in his 40s following an accident on a farm in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick last night.

'It remains to be seen if we have delivered for our members' - Beef Plan 

The Beef Plan Movement has said it remains to be seen if its members will be satisfied the outcome of the negotiations that ended in the early hours of this morning with a document detailing the progress of the talks.

Margaret Donnelly: Agri-environmental schemes must address dairy disinterest 

If the EU taxpayer is shelling out over €1bn on GLAS to increase biodiversity, improve our waterways and combat climate change, there must be greater checks and balances in place to ensure such schemes are achieving the results we want.

Cavan man Joe Brady to contest IFA presidential race 

Cavan farmer Joe Brady has announced he will run in the race for IFA president.

Beef Plan calls for EU cash to be paid to meat plants to help farmers 

The Beef Plan protest movement is calling on the Government and the EU to create a fund that would be given to meat factories on the guarantee they pay farmers a 'survival line' of €4 per kilo until February 2020.

No UK retailers demand all the requirements beef cattle must meet - ICOS 

No retailer in the UK requires cattle from Irish beef farmers to adhere to all of the criteria it is subject, ICOS has said.  

Beef grid penalties cost farmers €33m last year – IFA Treasurer 

Figures from IFA Treasurer and presidential candidate Tim Cullinan shows penalties imposed by ABP, Dawn Meats, Kepak and other factories cost farmers over €33m last year.

'Control of beef industry in hands of too few' - Supermac's boss 

The control of the beef sector is in the hands of too few and needs more competition, according to Supermac’s CEO Pat McDonagh.

Aurivo announces a price cut for July milk supplies 

Aurivo has announced a cut to its milk price for July supplies, blaming deteriorating butter returns for the cut.

Growing menace - landowners forced to step up war on ragwort as poisonous weed spreads 

The noxious weed ragwort is rearing its bright yellow head in greater numbers this year.

30 bee species face extinction despite €1bn green scheme 

Some 30 species of bees face extinction in Ireland despite the Government spending €1bn on a scheme designed to increase biodiversity, improve water quality and combat climate change.

Farmers to pay 'nominal' charge to weigh cattle at factories 

Farmers will pay a nominal charge for factories to provide a lairage weighing service for live cattle, according to a draft document from the ongoing beef discussions between farming organisation and Meat Industry Ireland.

Beef farmers won't rule out further protests with more price cuts expected 

Beef farmers are bracing for further cuts to their income, as some meat factories plan to slash the price offered by as much as €20-a-head of cattle.

Beef Plan won't rule out further protests after 'disappointing talks' 

The Beef Plan Movement has said it’s disappointed after talks with Meat Industry Ireland, and has not ruled out further protests.

Lakeland cuts its milk price by 0.5c/L 

The Board of Lakeland Dairies met today and set a price for July milk, cutting it by 0.5c/L on its June price.

Review of grid expected as quality beef cattle kill collapses 

THE quality of the national beef kill continues to decline, according to new data from the Department of Agriculture.

Broadening forestry horizons for farmers 

There are approximately 770,000 hectares of forest in Ireland with 51pc in state ownership and managed by Coillte.

Watchdog's 'brass neck to terrorise farmers' as talks cannot discuss prices 

Angry farmers have lashed out at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), calling its rules and enforcement structure "a joke".

Margaret Donnelly: 'How can beef prices be addressed if we can't talk about them?' 

As the saying goes: "When there's an elephant in the room, you can't pretend it isn't there and just discuss the ants."

Margaret Donnelly: 'Farmers need to come together to win this beef battle' 

When you see beef farmers protesting outside a meat factory on a bank holiday weekend Saturday night, you have to admire their commitment and resolve to better their situation.

Watchdog claims closing meat factories may be ruled an anti-competition boycott to force up prices 

The Beef Plan Movement last night suspended its protests in the face of threatened legal action and after agreeing to enter talks with the meat factories.

Beef Plan Movement suspend protests over meat prices and agree to talks 

The Beef Plan Movement has suspended protests at meat factories around the country and will engage in talks next week.

Margaret Donnelly: 'Battle over beef prices goes back almost two decades' 

Over the past 13 days, thousands of beef farmers and their families have stood outside meat factory gates, as the Beef Plan movement's protests gained momentum and force.

Tullamore Show urged to withdraw invite to 'traitor' agriculture minister 

Organisers of the Tullamore Show are facing calls to withdraw its invitation to Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

Farmers set to face legal action as deadline passes for Beef Plan protests to end 

The beef industry has been plunged into deepening crisis with hundreds of jobs on the line and the threat of a court battle against protesting farmers.

'Meat Industry Ireland is only a mudguard for Larry Goodman and other beef barons' 

IFA Presidential candidate and National Treasurer Tim Cullinan has reacted furiously to the threat of court action by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) against farmers engaged in the current beef protests.

Beef Plan won't call off protests for talks, as factories look for 'legal remedy' to stop pickets 

Meat Industry Ireland has said its members have been left with no choice other than to seek legal remedy in an effort to prevent Beef Plan from causing further damage to the Irish beef industry.

Calls for Tullamore Show to withdraw invite to Minister Creed 

Members of the Beef Plan Movement are calling on the organisers of the Tullamore Show to withdraw its invite to the Minister for Agriculture to open the show.

'€4/kg will just about pay the bills but we have no margin out of that' 

Eight farmers stood at the bridge at the entrance to Meadow Meats in Rathdowney at 7.30pm last Saturday night.

Meat factories forced to temporarily lay off staff due to Beef Plan 'blockades' 

A number of meat factories have been forced to lay off staff temporarily as the Beef Plan protest enters its 12th day.

Factories forced to lay off staff as Beef Plan protests continue 

A number of meat factories have been forced to lay off staff temporarily as the Beef Plan protest enters its 12th day.

'Somebody is making money out of the beef sector and it certainly isn’t the farmer' 

As the Beef Plan protests continue into a second week at factories around the country, the group has said it will mobilise more protests unit it says there is a meaningful proposal to give farmers a fair share of the retail margin of beef.

Beef Plan protest farmer seriously injured in truck incident at factory 

A farmer was seriously injured yesterday when he was hit by a truck outside a meat factory where the Beef Plan Movement is staging a protest.

Garda investigation after farmer hospitalised with 'serious' leg injuries after being struck by truck 

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an incident outside Dawn Meats in Slane this morning, that left a farmer with serious leg injuries after he was struck by a truck.

Beef Plan protests enter 6th day 

Protests by the Beef Plan Movement outside meat factories is continuing into its sixth day at a number of meat factories.

There's still room for the 50-cow farm says Teagasc 

MANY dairy farms with 50-60 cows are very profitable, according to Teagasc, and there won't be a mass exodus from these farms it predicts.

Beef Plan protesters are accused of 'abuse and intimidation' 

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has accused some members of the Beef Plan movement of "unacceptable abuse and intimidation" as part of their campaign.

Naughten calls on Minister Creed to convene emergency beef summit 

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is being called upon to convene an emergency beef summit as the Beef Plan protests continue.