Farming Stephen Cadogan

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

farming

Coveney asks EU for RDP go-ahead

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has called on the European Commission to expedite approval of new Rural Development Programmes, and ensure a risk-free mechanism is in place for member states to implement programme schemes prior to approval, and prior to any EU budget amendments. 

farming

Vested interests get in the way of young farmers’ boost

farming

New Year price support on cards

farming

Volatility will eventually force out high cost milk producers

farming

Dairy slump ends three OK years for Irish farming

farming

Elephant in the room in Coveney’s 2025 strategy

Ireland needs EU allies who share unique combination

Moves in Brussels to reduce money for agriculture in the 2015 budget have predictably been opposed by agriculture and fisheries ministers.

Thu, 20 Nov, 2014

The late Joe Walsh can inspire beef forum negotiators

Negotiators at yesterday’s beef forum could have drawn inspiration from the late Joe Walsh, just a day after he was laid to rest in his native Clonakilty.

Thu, 13 Nov, 2014

National Reserve entitlements opening for 6,417

Landowners forced to transfer single payment entitlements permanently this year can apply in 2015 for National Reserve entitlements.

Thu, 13 Nov, 2014

Plenty support for further IFA action on beef market

All cattle farmers owe a debt of gratitude to their 15,000 colleagues who supported IFA’s 24-hour beef price protests at nearly 30 meat plants around the country.

Thu, 06 Nov, 2014

Safety scheme deadlines loom

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and agri-organisations are urging farmers to avail of the new Farm Safety Scheme to improve their farms and to reduce fatality statistics.

Thu, 30 Oct, 2014

EU’s international aid crusade doesn’t augur well for farmers

When European heads of state meet this weekend to decide the EU’s new climate and energy policy framework, Ireland will have to fight very hard to win any concessions for our agriculture.

Thu, 23 Oct, 2014

EU milk superlevy continues to ignore commercial realities

It seems almost unbelievable that the “decision makers” in Brussels will take their foot off the throat of the dairy industry next April.

Thu, 16 Oct, 2014

Now or never for new beef markets as Ireland enters US

It’s now or never, if the Irish beef industry is to break into new markets.

Thu, 09 Oct, 2014

Milk on: seems dairy market doesn’t work like beef market

Predictions that milk prices will weaken for the next six to eight months are a sober reminder to dairy farmers that their expansion plans must be robust enough to withstand major shocks.

Thu, 02 Oct, 2014

Producer organisations key, says Coveney

Producer organisations with up to 5,000 to 10,000 beef farmers each, which will negotiate prices with processors, and help farmers get beef specifications right, will be the most significant change in the beef sector in the next few years, predicts Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Thu, 25 Sep, 2014

Survey shows that farming industry is at a crossroads

The 2014 Irish Examiner ICMSA farming survey depicts an industry at the crossroads — shortly before the end of EU milk quotas and the CAP reform start to transform it, and before the signs of recovery in the national economy and consumer confidence begin to take effect.

Thu, 25 Sep, 2014

Europe’s gain could be a winner for Irish farmers too

Within three years of securing a Cabinet position in Dublin, Phil Hogan had introduced taxes on property and water, overseen the set up of Irish Water, and implemented the biggest reform of local government in Ireland since the formation of the state.

Thu, 18 Sep, 2014

Grant aid for farm safety improvements is expected

Grant aid for farm safety improvements is expected to be part of the Government’s rural development policy which will be finalised in the coming months.

Thu, 18 Sep, 2014

Hogan right man: Downey

IFA president Eddie Downey has welcomed the appointment of Phil Hogan as the next EU commissioner for agriculture, and said the IFA looked forward to working closely with him in shaping the future of the Common Agricultural Policy in a way that will have a positive impact on Irish and European farm families.

Thu, 11 Sep, 2014

Massey offers power back to the world’s smaller farmers

It’s good to see at least one of the multinational companies that bestride the world of food and farming turning its attention to the needs of smaller scale farmers.

Thu, 11 Sep, 2014

Gray: No commonage farmer can be refused GLAS

ICSA rural development chairman Billy Gray has insisted that no commonage farmer can be refused access to the GLAS scheme due to the decisions of other shareholders.

Thu, 11 Sep, 2014

Farmers need clarity on what cattle they should breed

It was farmers’ number-one concern when Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney recently met with the Irish Farmers’ Association

Thu, 04 Sep, 2014

Farmers should not have to pay for wider political issues

It has always rankled for farmers that agriculture seemed to be a bargaining chip for the EU, in its many unsuccessful attempts to sign major free trade deals with other economic world powers. 3

Thu, 28 Aug, 2014

Russian ban: EU should have been much quicker off blocks

It’s at times like this that the EU resembles a 1980s dairy co-op, with fast decision making to counter the sudden Russian food import ban rendered impossible, due mainly to conflicting parochial interests among the 28 member states.

Thu, 21 Aug, 2014

No option but to shoot wild heifer at Limerick mart

A wild heifer had to be shot after it escaped from its pen at a Co Limerick mart.

Thu, 14 Aug, 2014

Russia’s import ban isn’t all bad news for EU food sector

Russia may yet be worse affected by banning food imports from the EU, US, and others than the target countries.

Thu, 14 Aug, 2014

Once-a-day milkers have seen the writing on the wall

Wishful thinking that extra milk quota can be miraculously allowed between now and next April could land dairy farmers in big trouble, and should be dropped.

Thu, 07 Aug, 2014

NZ milk price cut backs up forecast for global market

New Zealand dairy farmers are on course for a 29% milk price slump, which will take nearly 2% out of their economy, such is the importance of their dairy industry.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2014

Tragic farm deaths in Poland highlight the need for safety

In a week of worldwide disasters, from Gaza to Ukraine, the deaths of seven people on a pig farm in Poland should not be overlooked.

Thu, 24 Jul, 2014

No evidence of TB from deer, says Minister Coveney

Fears that deer in Co Kerry are responsible for transmission of TB to cattle have been allayed by Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Thu, 24 Jul, 2014

Agri-food the star of the show as ministers shuffle their seats

Only the Departments of Agriculture, Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform emerged from last week’s cabinet reshuffle with the continuity afforded by ministers being left in place.

Thu, 17 Jul, 2014

Milk superlevy relief hope shot down again by EU

Relief for member states in danger of exceeding milk quota was shot down again at this week’s EU Council of Agriculture ministers.

Thu, 17 Jul, 2014

No trickle-down dairy effect despite record €3bn exports

Over 85% of Irish dairy production is exported, and it goes to more than 90 countries.

Thu, 10 Jul, 2014

Part-timers struggle to keep their heads above water

It should not be overlooked that most drystock farms are part-time operations.

Thu, 26 Jun, 2014

Beefing up communication

The oxygen of information is entering the beef industry via Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney’s industry roundtable discussions.

Thu, 12 Jun, 2014

Farmers turn anti-austerity

EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso has set a difficult task for national EU leaders — to continue austerity programmes despite the passing of the worst of the economic crisis.

Thu, 05 Jun, 2014

2013 silage costs almost doubled on suckler farms

A few fascinating figures emerged from this week’s Teagasc National Farm Survey for 2013.

Thu, 29 May, 2014

Summer work load spells danger

By mid-May in 2014, 12 people had lost their lives on farms. The danger to life is a constant cloud hanging over farming.

Thu, 22 May, 2014

Sour taste to cheap UK milk

Dairy farmers are entitled to feel aggrieved at market forces — especially if they also rear beef cattle.

Thu, 15 May, 2014

€40m tax exemption is damage limitation rather than good news

Farmers may have been spared a tax bill of up to €40m by the new capital gains tax (CGT) exemption for certain farmers announced last week by Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Thu, 08 May, 2014

Another poll promise or broadband on demand?

Hundreds of thousands of rural dwellers can look forward to high-speed broadband in 2016 or 2017.

Thu, 01 May, 2014

Fine weather won’t prevent beef issues from heating up

Since April 8, when Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney announced a beef round-table discussion, the weather has been great.

Thu, 24 Apr, 2014

Major beef decisions made far away from round table

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney sits down today with far m organisations, beef processors, State agencies, and others in the cattle industry, for a round-table discussion on the best strategy for the industry.

Thu, 17 Apr, 2014

How farmers can get stronger

Market withdrawal, or free distribution of produce, will be a possibility for agricultural producer groups in the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.

Thu, 10 Apr, 2014

Beef lands farmers in trouble

Following GSOC, Garda whistleblowers, Rehab salaries, ‘Pantigate’, and Portlaoise Hospital, the beef industry was the latest to come under the microscope of an Oireachtas committee.

Thu, 03 Apr, 2014

Latest China figures aren’t about record dairy imports

Dairy farmers are approaching the starting blocks in the race to expand milk production when EU quotas end in a year’s time.

Thu, 27 Mar, 2014

Grocery code well overdue

Bags of carrots for 9c and broccoli for 6c, in December, and now four pints of milk for £1, in the UK, seem to be good news for consumers, and bad news for farmers.

Thu, 20 Mar, 2014

Agri-food’s glowing report card

While the pain of the ongoing downturn is still evident in every sector of the economy, most farmers can take heart from the positive signs on their immediate horizon.

Thu, 13 Mar, 2014

Giving bull beef a bad name

In December, IFA warned members, out of the blue, that beef processors who encouraged farmers to keep bull calves from the dairy herd two years previously, were now turning their back on them, and not even offering to bid on dairy beef bulls.

Thu, 06 Mar, 2014