Challenges aplenty in 2026 with Mercosur the first in line

Irish livestock producers face significant economic uncertainty in 2026 from trade deals and rising costs, alongside managing crucial farm preparations for spring.

It is important that strategies are put in place to get the very best use of slurry on your grazing ground in conjunction with efficient use of bag fertiliser. Picture: Andy Gibson.

Happy New Year and all the best for 2026. As we start off a new year, the challenges facing livestock producers will continue unabated. 

We are all hoping for a repeat of the almost ideal weather that we had in 2025. Another excellent grass-growing season would help to offset the drop in milk price on dairy farms by reducing production costs. The CBAM on fertiliser is also a concern that hasn’t been explained properly to the end user just yet.