CONNACHT Gold Co-op has reported a 13% rise in turnover and a sharp increase in pre-tax profits.

THE Government was warned yesterday that the number of farmers applying for Farm Assist will rocket due to funding cuts in various programmes including the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS).

A €1.75 million loss was recorded by Connacht Gold last year, according to the co-op’s annual report published yesterday.

THE Irish Farmers’ Association accused an Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday of an “obstinate refusal” to publicly veto agricultural cuts proposed by European commissioner Peter Mandelson in the world trade talks.

A NEW governance structure for the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, the co-ops’ national umbrella body, is being implemented and new committee members have been appointed.

THERE were mixed reactions yesterday to the dairy sector proposals in the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy.

A FORMER chairman of Tipperary Co-op was honoured yesterday for his contribution to the cooperative movement.

OPERATING profits at the dairy-to-property and investment group Connacht Gold more than trebled last year.

FARMERS, food processors and the broader agri-business sector will send a stern message to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso when he addresses the National Forum on Europe in Dublin Castle today: do not sell out agriculture in the world trade-talks in Geneva.

THE structures of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, the co-operatives national umbrella body, have been changed to meet challenges posed by a changed business environment.

LIVESTOCK marts need to invest between €10 million and €20 million in order to upgrade existing facilities, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan was told at the ICOS conference.

THE country’s dairy co-ops have been urged by their national umbrella body to use the opportunity of the current strong markets to prepare for a future without quotas.

CERTAIN veterinary medicines for food- producing animals are to be exempted from the general legal requirement that they be supplied only on prescription.

A NEW milk quota trading system was announced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan at the ploughing championships in Grangeford, Co Carlow yesterday.

A TRAINING project for staff in co-ops was launched yesterday by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin.

CONNACHT GOLD chairman Padraig Gibbons described the co-op’s results for last year as a solid performance.

INCREASES in export refund rates for butter and whole milk powder agreed at a meeting of the European Commission’s milk management committee in Brussels have been welcomed by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

THOUSANDS of farmers yesterday focused their fury on the European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

A RADICAL overhaul of the dairy industry to secure the future of its farmers and their industry is being sought by the IFA, but ICOS, the co-ops umbrella body, insists milk processors are already implementing plans to strengthen the sector.

Cork: The Irish co-op movement has honoured James Moloney, a native of Barryroe in West Cork, with its premier award.