Farming - Agribusiness page - Irish Examiner

Sign in

Farming

Forecast

WEATHER

Grass

GRASS

FARMING - AGRIBUSINESS and TECH

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology.

<p>IFA president Francie Gorman has asked for clarification from Taoiseach Micheál Martin following the announcement of the delayed Mercosur deal vote.</p>

farming

Mercosur vote postponement welcome but Taoiseach's comments need clarification

IFA president Francie Gorman has called for clarification on the Taoiseach's comments regarding the securing of a derogation extension as a factor going into the Mercosur vote

<p>Blue tongue vaccines will be permitted in 2026. Picture: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belgs Msg/AFP</p>

farming

Bluetongue vaccinations will be permitted in 2026

<p>Michelle Allen (left), produce buyer at Marks & Spencer with Jim O'Connor. Wexford’s O’Connor Nurseries is celebrating its 15th Christmas supplying Marks & Spencer stores in Ireland.</p>

farming

Family-owned nursery in Wexford celebrates 30 years of going potty for poinsettia

Rows of young plug plants growing in a field

farming

Korean research team discovers new way to protect crops from the cold

Animal Health Ireland announce the BVD action plan for 2026

farming

Animal Health Ireland announce the BVD action plan for 2026

Veterinarian holds syringe with antibiotics

farming

Ireland's new veterinary medicine rules to tackle antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Four little pigs.

Drops in Chinese tariffs to benefit pigmeat sector

China will drop its 20% tariff on EU pigmeat products to 9.8%

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Fresh vegetables on shelf in supermarket

Additional powers for agri-food regulator announced

The Department of Agriculture has signed off on additional powers given to the agri-food regulator, which will come into effect in December 2026

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

Beef prices face year-end pressure at factories

Some of this week's kill has been bought forward at last week's price, but the higher returns are largely unavailable.

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Budget calculation

Budget concerns for non-Vat registered farmers

ICOS has raised concerns regarding the reduction of the flat-rate farmers' Vat top-up from 5.1% to 4.5% will create an imbalance for non-Vat registered farmers

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Sheep pen

Reduced quotes for lambs dampen supplier optimism

A positive is that processors continue to hold the carcass cut-off weight at 22.5kg, providing some cushion under the returns to suppliers despite pressure on the base price

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Milk in the Making

Call to halt livestock imports as bluetongue threat grows

ICSA president Sean McNamara has called for processors to stop the import of livestock over the border from Northern Ireland, effective immediately

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Herd of Friesian cattle

Stephen Cadogan: Ireland's derogation has bucked the trend of EU dairy decline

Perhaps the Irish nitrates situation has allowed the EU to show it too is concerned for the future of EU dairying, writes Stephen Cadogan

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Mayo man awarded the Plunkett Award for Co-operative Endeavour

Mayo man awarded the Plunkett Award for Co-operative Endeavour

Pádraig Gibbons from Westport, Co Mayo, received the highest national honour from ICOS

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president, Francie Gorman and his son Tom set off this morning on a pilgrimage to Brussels to join a farmer protest on Thursday to coincide with an EU Council meeting.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Cityscape of Cork in Ireland

Irish food to play key role in new tourism strategy

Culinary or food tourism revolves around people travelling to a place specifically to taste its unique cuisine, beverages, and local produce

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Teagasc launches corporate strategy for 2025 to 2028

Teagasc launches corporate strategy for 2025 to 2028

Teagasc's new strategy plans to introduce measures to attract highly skilled young people into farming, with a particular focus on increasing the participation of women and part-time farmers

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Michael Healy-Rae urges public to support Ireland's Christmas tree sector

Michael Healy-Rae urges public to support Ireland's Christmas tree sector

Irish growers produce around 700,000 Christmas trees each year, with 450,000 sold in Ireland and approximately 250,000 exported abroad, mainly to the UK

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

What does the latest Nitrates Action Programme mean for farmers?

What does the latest Nitrates Action Programme mean for farmers?

Derogation farmers must begin to implement the NAP mandatory requirements; farmers in the Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Munster Blackwater catchment areas are subject to two extra requirements

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Agriculture minister says it's his 'ambition' to secure future derogation deals for Ireland

Agriculture minister says it's his 'ambition' to secure future derogation deals for Ireland

Martin Heydon said securing derogation deals for Ireland post 2028 was his 'ambition' for the future

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Cows Feeding in a Modern Barn

Brian Reidy: Dry cow diets — a steady transition into the next lactation

How you feed cows during their dry period will stimulate good appetite post calving and will really pay off in the next lactation as it will minimise stress and weight-loss post calving

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Farmer and Financial Advisor

Kieran Coughlan: Your options for reducing your tax bill ahead of year-end

Fix the leaking tap, hang the sagging gate, replace the sluggish battery and ditch the dodgy starter, get to grips with new tyres for your beloved tractor or loader that’s balder than yourself — all of these expenses will save you tax at your marginal rate

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Cows in a farm. Dairy cows

Ireland's derogation extension provokes mixed reactions

Although most within the agricultural sector welcomed the news of the derogation extension, An Taisce called it 'shocking', and a 'bad day' for Irish water bodies

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

An aerial view of the rural landscape around Dublin Airport , Ireland, showing a patchwork of green fields divided by hedgerows

Key updates for ACRES participants revealed

The Department of Agriculture has issued several updates for ACRES participants surrounding NPIs, training courses, amendments and documentation submission deadlines

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Sinagote Walk

Department gains most accurate snapshot of Ireland's horses with Equine Census

Following the most recent report on the Equine Census with the highest return rate since its establishment it offers the most accurate snapshot of Ireland's horse population.

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Closeup of machine spreading fertilizer

Nitrates derogation extension for Ireland still far from a 'done deal'

A reduction in chemical nitrogen is one of the EU's conditions for proposed extension of Ireland's derogation

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Group of beef cattle looking at the camera

Strong rebound in 2025 farm incomes driven by beef and weather

Average Irish farm income rose 33% to almost €49,400 in 2025, new report finds

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Cattle grazing on deforested pasture on a farm in the Amazon rainforest at dusk. Concept of agriculture, environment, ecology, l

Banned hormones detected in imported beef from Brazil

Hormones banned for use in the EU have been confirmed in a Brazilian beef shipment, which has subsequently been recalled

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Cork Mart CEO appointed to Teagasc Authority

Cork Mart CEO appointed to Teagasc Authority

Sean O'Sullivan, previously the Cork Mart CEO has been appointed by Minister Heydon to the Teagasc Authority, Mr O'Sullivan will serve a term of five years.

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and agriculture minister Martin Heydon stressed talks were still ongoing with EU member states on the looming Mercosur deal

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

Southern hemisphere beef exports trim Irish share of UK market

There is scope for more imports of Australian beef, because only 30% of the total 2025 beef quota in the Australian–UK Free Trade Agreement had been used, up to November 10

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Farming

Newsletter

Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments in Farming with our weekly newsletter.

Farming Crossword

Play Today

PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement. No cheating.

Kieran Coughlan

Kieran Coughlan

Farm Finance