Two students at St Brogan’s College in Bandon, Co Cork have been selected from hundreds of entries as finalists in the Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition, and will be presented with five Angus calves at the Ploughing Championships in September 2016.

Interest in beef farming fostered and encouraged by Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition.

Kepak Group is to acquire a majority shareholding in pork and bacon producer McCarren & in Co Cavan.

The owner of a meat trading company is to sue the factory at the centre of the horsemeat contamination scandal for defamation.

Burger King is partnering with the Kepak Group to supply its Irish and British restaurants with beef.

The meat factory at the centre of the horsemeat contamination scandal in Ireland has been sold.

The meat factory at the centre of the horse meat contamination scandal has been sold.

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

KERRY GROUP is Ireland’s top exporter in the food and drink sector, according to the Irish Exporters Association’s annual report of the top 250 exporting companies.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today be among 60 heads of State and Government discussing the global financial crisis.

A growing awareness of Irish food and beverage products among buyers and consumers in China is set for a boost.

EXPORT earnings from the agri-food sector have the potential to grow by more than €2 billion, an increase of 29% on 2008, creating at least 16,000 new jobs in the next few years.

A MAJOR economic forum of Irish farming and food industry leaders will be held at the RDS in Dublin next month.

MICHELLE GILDERNEW has praised farmers’ resilience and initiative in livestock and bloodstock breeding despite economic downturn.

THE €25 million beef slaughter plant to be developed in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, by two of the country’s leading meat groups, Dawn Meats and Kepak, is expected to be operational by 2012.

ALTHOUGH there has been a strong increase in the supply of cattle to the beef factories over the past week, the demand by processors is also holding very strong.

Marts: THE upward trend in beef prices has been maintained with gains of 4c-5c/kg (2p/lb) in the average price paid by the factories for stock for last weeks kill.

Marts: A majority of the beef factories paid more for beef — despite a strong increase in the supply — for last week’s kill, underpinning confidence in a stable trade.

Marts: Beef prices increased by an average of 3c/kg (1p/lb), while individual factories paid up to 6c/kg (2p/lb) more for cattle, despite an upward trend in supplies for last week.

Marts: Resistance from producers to the lower prices being quoted by the factories for cattle and a carryover of stock bought forward at higher prices sustained prices at an average of at least 6c/kg (2p/lb) over the quoted rates last week.

Marts: Beef prices have slumped below 2006 level — for the first time this year — after the worst week for the dead trade in several months plunged finished into deeper losses.

Marts: As beef prices tightened at the factories for a second week, analysis of factory averages for the first two months of 2007 show smaller factories led the field within a narrow price variation nationally.

As the processors tightened their grips on prices the return on R4L bullocks fell slightly at a number of the plants last week, in an unwelcome signal for producers who increased supply by a further 1,300 head to almost 35,000 head.

Marts: Beef prices made further gains at the factories as the supply of cattle slaughtered reached the seasonal peak with a throughput in excess of 40,000 head.

Marts: A strong improvement in the prices being paid by processors for cattle has brought about a good recovery in the supply to the factories.

LEADING food processors Kepak Group and Dunbia are to exchange factory premises to strengthen their respective operations in the competitive fresh meat marketplace.

Marts: The indications that the factories were anxious to tighten the upward price trend for beef has been confirmed in the farmer pay sheet returns for last week’s kill.

Reox Holdings Plc announced the appoint- ment of three new directors to its board, Liam McGreal, Michael Jacob and John Fitzgerald.

A DEVELOPMENT strategy for the sheepmeat sector, launched in Dublin yesterday, sets out 37 recommendations across all segments of the industry — from production to marketing.

Marts: Beef prices at the factories have bottomed out for the season with the first week of stable prices for bullocks in more than two months, and a slight increase in heifer prices confirmed in the pay sheet returns for last week.

AGRICULTURAL scientists now have the opportunity to express their true vocation in pursuit of maximising profit through the application of good scientific research and advice, it was stressed in Waterford last night.