IFA calls for Europe to protect incomes of family farms

The Irish Farmers Association says Europe needs to do more to protect the income of farming families.

Grain, pig and the dairy sectors are amongst the worst hit by falling incomes and the IFA is calling on European Commissioner Phil Hogan to implement measures to secure income.

Farmers from around the country will protest outside the EU commission offices in Dublin later this morning.

IFA President Eddie Downey says Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney must also take their message to Europe.

He said: "Minister Coveney's going to Brussels next week in an emergency meeting of farm ministers and I think they've got to look at emergency measures that are going to protect family farm incomes.

"On the dairy side, we want intervention increased. We want the effects of the Russian ban on the pig side - we want measures put into place that are going to help protect pig farmers' incomes.

"On the grain side, intervention has got to increase as well."