COMPULSORY electronic tagging of sheep would have severe detrimental consequences for the sector, the Irish Farmers Association warned yesterday.

THE report produced for the European Parliament on the future of the sheep industry by Ireland East member Liam Aylward has been widely praised.

ICSA president Malcolm Thompson and several current position holders were re-elected unopposed at the recent ICSA national executive meeting.

SHEEP farmers will give away lamb in Dublin centre today to raise awareness of the low prices they are being paid.

A BUDGET of €28 million a year has been allocated to fund a proposed supplementary measure for the sheep sector.

A DROP in sheep prices this week is “a disaster” according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association.

A PREDICTED continued decline in sheep meat supplies across the European Union should help to underpin prices in the future, Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said yesterday.

SHEEP farmer disinterest in the Farm Waste Management Scheme is another worrying sign of decline in one of our oldest farm enterprises.

Sheep farmers have called for the establishment of a "meat forum" to address what they claim are unacceptable reductions in the price of lamb.