Most farmers believe the Government should increase spending in next month’s Budget rather than cut taxes.

The vast majority of farmers are opposed to a state visit to Ireland by US president Donald Trump, with an opinion poll also finding a majority of rural dwellers believing he will damage America’s global standing.

The vast majority of farmers are opposed to a state visit to Ireland by US president Donald Trump, with an opinion poll also finding a majority of rural dwellers believing he will damage America’s global standing.

Farmers are back spending as the recovery finally starts to percolate into rural areas.

THERE has been a slight increase in the number of farmers who are unsure what will happen to their land in future.

The percentage of farmers who are very optimistic about the future of the industry continues to fall, with just one fifth of respondents expressing full confidence.

Almost 70% of those living in the countryside believe the divide between urban and rural Ireland is wider than ever.

The Government has stressed that “all means under the law will be availed of to protect the security of the state” as a new poll found that fewer than half of people living in rural Ireland believe sufficient safeguards have been put in place against a possible terror attack.

Everywhere we look, in every sub-sector of Irish farming, we see that uncertainty and vagueness about what the immediate future holds — some will say that that’s the nature of any business — but farming and primary food is different, writes John Comer.

A major push to win new business with Mexico, Korea, Canada, and Japan is to be made as part of the Government’s Brexit-proofing efforts.

There have been calls for government intervention over fears that a growing number of farms could come under threat of repossession due to the loans linked to them being bought by so-called vulture funds.

The question of succession still looms large in farming, with the Irish Examiner / ICMSA poll showing that more than one-quarter of respondents do not plan on leaving the land to a son or daughter.

THIS is the fourth year that ICMSA and the Irish Examiner have come together to commission and publish what has become the most definitive snapshot of the attitudes and ambitions of the farming community, writes John Comer, president of the ICMSA.

The uncertainty over potential trade deals after Britain’s decision to leave the European Union could have long-term negative impacts for farmers, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has warned.

The EU’s new scheme to pay dairy farmers to produce less milk can increase milk prices much earlier than expected, and get farmers back into a profitable situation, said ICMSA president John Comer.

Co-ops are disappointed by the new EU scheme to reduce milk production, said ICOS President, Martin Keane. 

The EU agricultural aid package announced, this week, in Brussels by Commissioner Phil Hogan must support farm incomes, leaders of the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association have insisted.

Farmers have called for the EU to immediately suspend negotiations on Mercusor, TTIP, and other possible trade deals, until the implications of Brexit are recognised and can be accommodated.