The Government wants the European Commission to tap into an €800m superlevy package as part of a major intervention plan to help dairy farmers hit by collapsing incomes.

But farm groups criticise wait of up to 10 months to get the cash

Mandatory supports for young farmers in both pillars of the new CAP will mark an historic first, says Macra na Feirme president Alan Jagoe.

Irish unrest continues over core aspects of the proposed new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), but focus is moving onto battles that have a realistic chance of being won.

The Irish Farmers Association stated today that some of the proposed Common Agriculture Policy changes will not work for Ireland and must be changed.

GERMANY has stepped up efforts to trace the source of a bacteria outbreak that has killed 22 people amid warnings it might never be found.

PERHAPS the EU is not really serious about the environment. Farmers worry about EU measures to cut greenhouse gases, but wonder if they may be part of a political bluff mounted in Brussels for reasons unknown to the average punter.

A SELL-OUT of the dairy sector in world trade talks is the real agenda behind the dismantling of milk quotas by the European Commission, the leader of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Jackie Cahill has claimed.

FARMERS will make the most of the high milk and grain prices while they last.

The European Commission unveiled at the World Trade Organisation its agriculture plan, calling for a 45% cut in export subsidies, a 55% decrease in domestic aid and a 36% cut in tariffs, European Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fishler said.