Infernal dead rainforest beef and soya are set for a massive increase in output in Brazil and other South American states with thousands of fires ablaze almost as soon as agreement about the EU-Mercosur deal with South American states was announced.

Whether international pressure or a parent’s conscience is enough to convince Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro to try to curtail Amazon fires is a moot point.

The front-runner to become Argentina’s new president in October elections has placed a question mark over the EU-Mercosur trade pact.

All Brazil beef subject to documentary, identity and physical checks at EU border.

There is genuine concern among farmers about the EU-Mercosur deal.

The European Commission has been urged by Irish Farmers Association president Joe Healy to act urgently on the beef crisis.

The Mercosur trade agreement with the EU has helped to boost the market capitalisation of the world’s largest meat processing company to nearly €16 billion.

The European Greens last week announced a plan to step up EU’s climate ambition, by raising the EU 2030 climate target to at least 60% greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and implementing a Green New Deal to become a net-zero emission and 100% renewables-based economy well before 2050.

One of the dominant themes in global politics over the past couple of years has been a growing sense of nationalism and a move towards isolationist economic policies.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has urged pleaded with farmers not to desert the Government over the Mercosur trade deal, saying it is “not a done deal” and that Ireland can still make changes to protect the vital farming sector.

The Government has been accused of throwing farmers under the bus with the Mercosur trade deal.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has confirmed the Government will ask the EU to re-appoint ex-Fine Gael minister Phil Hogan as an EU commissioner - despite the backlash over the Mercosur deal.

It will be two years before the Government knows for sure if Ireland will have a vote on ratification of a final Mercosur agreement.

The EU-Mercosur trade deal is neither fair nor balanced for farmers.

In an increasingly uncertain world, the idea of permanence is ephemeral; bedrock can begin to seem like sand. Change is accelerating and to survive we must adapt.

The Government will make no decision on Phil Hogan’s future as EU agriculture commissioner for at least 10 days amid growing demands from farmers for him to be removed from office.

France will not sign up to the European Union’s trade deal with the Mercosur group of South American countries at any cost and it remains to be seen whether Paris will eventually back it, French ministers have stated.

Standing in for the Tánaiste at Leaders’ Questions, the Social Protection Minister said the Government believes the Mercosur deal as it stands is “disappointing” but it is a long way from being a finalised legal document.

The EU-Mercosur trade agreement will not change the requirement that any product arriving to Europe from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay must comply with the EU’s stringent food safety standards.

The proposed beef deal between the European Union and South American countries “is unsatisfactory” for Ireland, Minister Regina Doherty has told the Dáil.

With the Tories locked in a leadership battle that will likely result in a no-deal Brexit, Europe is negotiating an agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc and flying the flag for open trade, says Guy Verhofstadt

"Scares" around the quality of South American food will trigger a “red button” that results in a ban on products imported from that firm or region under safeguards built into the new Mercosur trade deal.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has said climate change protections built into the Mercosur trade agreement were a “deal breaker” which could be used to thwart the EU-South America pact.

The government intends to use climate concerns to frustrate the progress of the EU's new trade deal.

As a suckler farmer in West Cork, is it time for me to say goodbye to my suckler herd, having built it up for over 35 years.

Mercosur (Southern Common Market) is the South American trade bloc. That’s Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela — although Venezuela is currently suspended.

Politics in the UK has taken on the attributes of an elongated version of Fawlty Towers.

Up to three more years of talks remain, before the EU-Mercosur trade deal can be finalised.

Business Minister Heather Humphreys has said the Mercosur deal “isn’t all bad” for Ireland and that there will be significant benefits for some sectors.

The Mercosur deal would allow for greater imports from Latin American countries to the EU, including cheaper beef.

The Taoiseach says Ireland will vote against the controversial Mercosur trade deal if it proves to be bad news for Irish jobs and farmers.

EU negotiators last night clinched a major trade deal with the South American economic bloc Mercosur.

A new survey of more than 2,000 farmers shows less than 300 with a clear succession plan in place, and about 860 of them not planning for succession because of their farm viability concerns.

The publication of the Government’s Climate Action Plan comes at the same time as the EU Commission is pushing hard to complete a South American trade deal.

Farmers and Government authorities are collectively pushing the EU Council to take time to fully analyse the implications for agri-food producers before ratifying any Mercosur deal.

EU trade chief Cecilia Malmstrom has confirmed that a free trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur group of countries is her top priority.

The farm lobby has gone on high alert amid rising fears that the European Union could reach a deal with the Mercosur group of South American countries in the coming months.

Many EU citizens might have to pay for a trade deal with South American countries with medical bills.

EU farmers opposed this week’s EU move to raise an offer on beef imports to 99,000 tonnes at low import tax rates, in trade talks with the Mercosur trade bloc.

Pressure is mounting on the European Commission not to make any further concessions on beef to the Mercusor group of South American countries when trade talks resume next month.

Farmers hardly got a mention in European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union address, writes Stephen Cadogan.

The Taoiseach has said he is concerned about the impact of a major trade deal with South American on Irish beef farmers.

It was a day for disposable ponchos, colourful brollies, designer wellies, and hoodies galore as rain lashed the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday.