Teagasc faces €15 million deficit due to cutbacks

IT was time to move the debate about the future of Teagasc away from parochial issues such as local offices and on to the bigger picture, according to Macra na Feirme’s new president.

Thomas Honner, a 32-year-old farmer from Danesfort, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, took over as leader of the 8,000-member 300 club organisation at its AGM in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, at the weekend.

Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, is facing a €15 million deficit in its 2003 budget due to government cutbacks.