A meat processing company is to create 40 jobs in Cork, it was announced today.

The ICMSA estimates that a €2,400 gap has now opened up between the best and worst paying co-ops.

Beef farmers are fighting back against the factories on cattle prices, according to IFA National Livestock Committee chairman Henry Burns.

Proposals to reduce veterinary costs in meat factories (see page 1) were part of a Department of Agriculture/Croke Park Agreement plan to save taxpayers €30.8m, mainly by reducing the Department staff by 15.9% (cutting 616 jobs) from 2009 to 2015.

FARMERS can expect strong prices for all categories of livestock in 2012, according to Michael Guinan, the new chairperson of ICMSA’s beef and cattle committee.

NEWLY-APPOINTED Bord Bia chairman Michael Carey has hit the ground running by instantly directing Irish beef exports into welcoming, lucrative markets.

More than a third of us has learned what we can "do without" because of the recession.

VERY few markets are as well supported by the certainties that surround food production and demand. Equally, very few countries are as well placed, experienced or as established in world class food production as Ireland.

SUSTAINABLE farming is what the consumer wants. Thankfully, Ireland seems to be staying ahead of this particular curve.

A new survey highlights how Irish shoppers are making their euro stretch further in the downturn.

AGRICULTURE Minister Brendan Smith has reported progress on most of the €300m of cuts recommended for his department in the June, 2009 Bord Snip list of €5bn savings that could be made in the public service.

THE former owner of O’Brien’s Sandwich Bars, Brody Sweeney, is back in business.

SEVENTEEN Irish-made products sold by German discount supermarket group Aldi have been nominated at one of the premier national food awards.

THE sheep industry is worth around €250 million to the national economy, with two thirds of the product being exported.

THE recent poisoning of white-tailed and golden eagles in Kerry and Donegal has cast us in some ecological shame as a nation. It has put me right off buying Irish lamb.

IRISH nationals in Haiti yesterday told of the horrific impact of the massive earthquake.

MORE than €100 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent by the Government on compensation to farmers and processors following last December’s pork contamination scandal.

ANY obstacles being put in front of the live cattle trade to Britain must be removed and the market must be allowed to flow.

THE Bord Snip report proposes total annual savings of €238 million in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment – savings which would include the loss of 600 jobs and involve sweeping changes to Fás, Forfás, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland among others.

THERE are many, many issues surrounding food. For us, in a land of abundance, it has become one of society’s dividing lines, wavering between an ostentatious fashion statement and a sustenance issue.

A DIFFICULT trading year for the beef sector was predicted yesterday by Meat Industry Ireland, which represents the processors.

TOTAL expenditure by his department in support of agriculture, fisheries and food will amount to over €3.3 billion this year, Minister Brendan Smith has disclosed.

THE opening of the Chinese market for Irish bovine semen was welcomed yesterday by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith.

THE Government’s handling of the toxic pork issue caused an “unmitigated disaster”, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny told the Dáil.

Talks between the Government and pig processors are continuing this evening.

Government Senator Mary White today announced her bid for the Irish presidency in 2011.

Food and drink industry experts predict that 2008 will be a strong year for producers.

SAUDI ARABIA has lifted a temporary ban on Irish beef, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said yesterday.

Irish food and drinks exporters have reported a record year in 2006.

SWS group has announced the creation of up to 130 jobs at its high growth Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Division.

Infrastructure group SWS has announced 130 new jobs at its business process outsourcing (BPO) division.

FARMERS and the agri industry are to get an extra €227 million next year, a 16% increase which brings the expenditure for the area to almost €1.7 billion.

MOUNT JULIET, the popular golf and leisure resort, has been declared Best Hotel of the Year 2006 by a leading food and hospitality awards scheme.

CHAIRPERSONS of boards of State bodies will be paid more than the average industrial wage for what is essentially part-time work following a Government decision to increase their remuneration.

Food buyers with a purchasing power of some €8bn are in Dublin today for a major showcase of Irish produce.

The Minister for Trade and Commerce Michael Ahern has launched a Chambers of Commerce initiative to encourage business in China.

An Bord Bia has launched a €1.2m campaign to persuade schoolchildren to eat more fruit and vegetables.

BANK OF IRELAND, in conjunction with An Bord Bia, launched Writing Your Marketing Plan for Businesses, a new guide for small businesses yesterday.

A high-profile trade mission to China next week, which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will lead, will be hugely beneficial to Ireland in relation to the food and drink sectors and will lay the basis for increased trade between the countries, according to Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent

A conference on beef production in Dublin has heard that Irish farmers are well-placed to benefit from a shortage of beef on continental Europe.