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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>Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking at the ICMSA AGM. Picture: Zoe Geary</p>

farming

Micheál Martin: ‘Distance to go yet’ as EU signals support for derogation extension

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed news that the European Commission will recommend Ireland’s nitrates derogation be extended, but warned there is still work to be done.

<p>A licensed merchant has issued a warning this week on forecasted price increases of antiparasitics after December 1.</p>

farming

Farmers facing higher costs with new antiparasitic rules, says ICSA

<p>(Left to right) Karol Kissane, head of Public Sector Services and Economics at ifac; Maurice Kelly, president of FTMTA; and Michael Farrelly, chief executive of FTMTA. Picture: Gareth Chaney</p>

farming

Farm machinery sector worth €4.8bn to Irish economy, report finds

Ireland flag on bar chart concept with increasing values, economic recovery and business improving after crisis and other catast

farming

Irish agri-food exports increase in value by 65% in a decade

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

farming

Young bulls maintain premium as processors resist price rises

Sheep pen

farming

Factory-ready lambs scarce but processors hold the line on price

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

The department must honour full payment for all weighed calves, says ICSA

The department must honour full payment for all weighed calves, says ICSA

ICSA have condemned the department's decision to now only pay for 31 calves on the NDBWS scheme and not the original 50 calves promised to farmers

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Dairygold appoints Kilkenny native to its board

Dairygold appoints Kilkenny native to its board

Karen Sugrue Hennessy has been appointed as an independent non-executive director for Dairygold's 12-person board and will step into the roll in January

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

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

Factories' ‘scaremongering’ tactics deserves ‘all guns blazing’ rebuff by farmers, says ICMSA

The ICMSA have called on farmers to 'call their bluff' when it comes to factories utilising 'scaremonger' tactics in an effort to control the live and slaughter trade

Fri, 21 Nov, 2025

feedlot intensive production system beef cattle

Government still falling short on blocking Mercosur

ICSA said they are 'deeply disappointed' with the Irish Government's lack of action on opposing the Mercosur trade deal

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Minister Noel Grealish promotes Irish agri-food in Mexico

Minister Noel Grealish promotes Irish agri-food in Mexico

Mr Grealish travelled to Mexico this week in light of the pending free trade agreement between Mexico and the EU, and to promote Irish agri-food

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025

Fresh produce

Co-ops slash October milk prices citing oversupply in global market

Co-ops have decided to further reduce their milk prices for October, with some milk suppliers experiencing a reduction of up to 4cpl

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Bovaer producer working with Danish authorities over animal health concerns

Bovaer producer working with Danish authorities over animal health concerns

Following reports of concern regarding cattle health an investigation is currently ongoing In Denmark into the feed supplement proven to reduce methane, Bovaer.

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Ireland flag on bar chart concept with decreasing values, concept of economic crisis, politics conflicts, war concept with flag

Milk and crop prices have dropped by more than 11% in the past year, CSO reports

Both milk and crop prices have seen significant drops of over 11% in the Agricultural Output Price Index for September 2025, published by the CSO

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Ireland returns to bottom of European milk price table in September

Ireland returns to bottom of European milk price table in September

The comparison looks at the price paid for milk by 16 milk processors across Europe, and at prices in Switzerland, New Zealand and the USA

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Quality lambs secure up to €800c/kg in keen factory demand

The factories are quoting 755–770c/kg plus the quality bonus for the lambs for this week in a continuation of the stable trade over recent weeks at unchanged prices.

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

Prime cattle prices slip amid seven-month-high kill

The biggest challenge now is to keep the base for beef at a price that leaves producers with a margin, without killing the market, writes Martin Ryan

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Teagasc opens new research and innovation centre at Johnstown Castle

Teagasc opens new research and innovation centre at Johnstown Castle

The new laboratories at NASRIC will further support research in water quality, soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon farming, nutrient efficiency and farmland biodiversity

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Tirlán to invest €126m in whey protein facility

Tirlán to invest €126m in whey protein facility

Tirlán plans to invest €126m in the Ballyragget site in Kilkenny for a state-of-the-art whey processing facility to be operational by mid-2027

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Government must step up to stop Mercosur, says ICSA president

Government must step up to stop Mercosur, says ICSA president

ICSA president Sean McNamara said if this deal goes ahead, it will destroy the Irish beef sector and devastate rural Ireland

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

First Horticulture Forum meeting launches new schemes for 2026

First Horticulture Forum meeting launches new schemes for 2026

Horticulture minister Michael Healy-Rae chaired the first Horticulture Industry Forum growers meeting since its establishment in 2014, launching the new 2026 horticultural schemes

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025

Compensation delays compounding TB stress for farmers

Compensation delays compounding TB stress for farmers

Almost €10.5m has been paid in compensation by Q3 this year but the ICMSA say delays in payments is compounding stress on farmers locked down with TB.

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025

Freshly processed milk

ICMSA call out 'utterly destructive' milk price drops as Lakeland cut theirs by 4cpl

Lakeland Dairies began reducing milk prices in July

Fri, 14 Nov, 2025

This is what a chicken party looks like

The €85m problem: Why Ireland cannot risk avian flu vaccination due to trade rules

Despite bird flu outbreaks in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture are not considering vaccinations for poultry due to trade and surveillance worries.

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

A cows on a pasture on a summer. Livestock on free grazing. Livestock farm. Agricultural landscape, cow on green grass field.

National beef conference to focus on ‘value, profit and renewal’

Event aims to bring together beef farmers, industry representatives, researchers and advisers to discuss how Irish beef producers can make the most of strong market conditions and plan for a sustainable, profitable future

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

Commissioner: Farmers’ environmental work ‘not in vain’ as derogation talks intensify

Is this likely to be Ireland’s last derogation?

The draft proposals for the sixth Nitrates Action Programme include additional slurry storage and a mandatory nutrient balance number for every farm — a measure aimed at ensuring farmers track what nutrients are entering and leaving their holdings

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

Teagasc dairy conference 2025 aims to update farmers on markets and policy issues

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Selective focus shot of milk bottling factory

Stephen Cadogan: Fine weather, full tanks and falling prices — the dairy paradox of 2025

Unfortunately, the world is suddenly awash with milk supplies, so the price of dairy products and of milk must fall

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

EU adopts proposal to exempt small farmers from crop diversification and rotation rules

EU adopts proposal to exempt small farmers from crop diversification and rotation rules

Small tillage farmers with holdings below 30ha will be exempt from GAEC 7 regulations in 2026, following an approved proposal to the CAP simplification package

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Soy beans

Livestock sector faces €1.5bn hit from rising soya prices

Two factors have now disrupted the global soya market, and their outcome will determine how much farmers pay for feedstuffs this winter

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Bird flu

Bird flu: How many cases of the highly contagious virus have broken out in Ireland?

There have been five confirmed cases of bird flu in captive birds in 2025, including three in November alone

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

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Kieran Coughlan

Kieran Coughlan

Farm Finance