Dairy farmers have been boosted by a Global Dairy Trade auction average price rise yesterday of 3.4% for dairy commodities.

The approvals process for the widely used but controversial herbicide glyphosate has hit another stumbling block en route to its possible re-authorisation in June.

As the IFA’s emergency meeting took a badly needed break to recharge already frayed emotions, a copy of the Irish Farmers Journal left crumpled in the crowded foyer quietly spoke volumes, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Cattle and sheep are hugely important to Ireland’s recovery plans, supporting 100,000 farmers and over 50,000 jobs in the wider economy, according to a UCD study.

Milk producers claim they can't afford to make a living under the current pricing structure used by dairies.

Q&AJames Murphy

CO-OPS can afford to hold their present milk price despite a weakening in overseas markets, according to IFA national dairy committee chairman Kevin Kiersey.

STRONG global demand is bolstering prices for lamb and wool, promising a good year for Irish sheep farmers, according to IFA national sheep chairman James Murphy.

SUFFICIENT EU funds must be made available to support key rural development measures, IFA National Rural Development chairman Tom Turley said at a special meeting of European farmer group COPA.

DAIRY farmers are going “off the grid” to slaughter cattle due to dissatisfaction at the prices being delivered by meat factories using the QPS beef grid, says the ICMSA.

AGRICULTURE Minister Brendan Smith has confirmed that some pig producers are unable to pay their feed bills, and millers cannot extend them credit.

IFA PRESIDENT John Bryan said that he would be contacting the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith immediately to highlight some serious shortcomings that need to be addressed in the new Agri-Environmental Scheme to replace REPS, which the Department of Agriculture is proposing.

The Irish Farmers Association has lifted the sheep protest outside the Department of Agriculture to allow the Agriculture Minister to concentrate on the pork crisis.

Farmers are protesting at Government Buildings in Dublin today to voice their opposition to a proposed deal on beef at the World Trade Organisation talks.

THE go-ahead for a 2% milk quota increase from April 1 will come at next Monday’s meeting of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, according to sources in IFA and Fianna Fáil.

CATTLE farmers reacted angrily to lowering of prices by several processors this week.

AT least 50c per litre, plus VAT, over the winter months, is needed by farmers if a shortage is to avoided, said IFA national liquid milk committee chairman Eamonn Bray last week.

IFA National Livestock chairman John Bryan accused the EU Commission (DG Sanco) of total irresponsibility by placing European food safety and animal health at an unacceptable risk with Brazilian beef imports.