The number of farm visits must be kept to an absolute minimum with only essential services being allowed access for the foreseeable future because of the virus crisis.

Clear and decisive action is also needed to mitigate the potential for economic catastrophe.

Farmers say retailers’ contribution to yesterday’s meeting of the Beef Taskforce only raised further questions around the 30-month age limit on cattle.

Farmers say retailers’ contribution to today’s meeting of the Beef Taskforce only raised further questions around the 30-month age limit on cattle.

Meat Industry Ireland says there are “green shoots” in the beef market, and these should hopefully feed through in terms of positive price developments soon.

Fears that the beef crisis may become entrenched have intensified after Meat Industry Ireland pulled out of planned talks.

Talks aimed at resolving the impasse between farmers and beef producers were continuing late last night.

Beef Plan Movement delivers 13-point proposal as discussions on resolving price dispute get under way

A €100m fund for beef farmers experiencing difficulties as a result of Brexit has been dismissed as inadequate by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA).

Offal worth up to €800m is exported annually by the meat industry, and farmers want a fair share of the returns.

Increasing live cattle exports is still seen by farmers as the primary way to boost Ireland’s beef sector.

The minister for agriculture has pledged to seek more markets for Irish produce after it emerged that Irish beef will be sold to Egypt for the first time in almost 20 years.

Irish beef farmers are not phased by currency speculation following the Brexit vote as the sterling-euro rate has remained relatively stable, said ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan.

History could repeat itself if increased calf births and a sharp fall in live exports drive down beef prices, ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan has warned.

Here’s a run down of today’s business headlines.

ICSA says farmers will remain sceptical, amid ‘downward manipulation of prices by meat industry’

Farmers and beef producers have called for prosecutions to be brought over the horsemeat controversy as a British parliamentary committee criticised the lack of legal actions here and in the UK.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) is expressing dismay at reports that factories are cutting prices for beef by around 10 cent per kilo across the board.

MAINTAINING farming’s existing funding levels and rectifying the sector’s age imbalance are two critical positions that must be supported by the imminent budget, warn farmer groups.

MAINTAINING farming’s existing funding levels and rectifying the sector’s age imbalance are two critical positions that must be supported by the imminent budget, warn farmer groups.

AS a beef farmer, I was surprised by the recent report showing Irish food prices among the highest in the EU, especially when I look at what we farmers are get for cattle.

ANY changes to the Common Agricultural Policy system post 2013 could risk undermining the future viability of drystock farmers in this country.

GIANT retailers are dictating national food policy, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has claimed.

A protest has taken place in Waterford in support of a farmer who is being refused planning permission for a house on his land.

I WISH to reply to a few points raised by James McGrath in his letter headlined ‘Farm subsidies used as a weapon against developing countries’ (Irish Examiner letters, December 21).