The number of farm visits must be kept to an absolute minimum with only essential services being allowed access for the foreseeable future because of the virus crisis.

The dairy beef production incentive which ICMSA has called for would be a rare item of good news in the beef sector, if Agriculture Minister Michael Creed were to go along with it.

Meat Industry Ireland says there are “green shoots” in the beef market, and these should hopefully feed through in terms of positive price developments soon.

Key positives included access to talent, quality third level education and the pro-business policies of successive governments.

Business leaders are confident about the prospects for growth in Cork despite the challenges facing the region.

The average dairy farmer can expect to pay as much as €600 extra per annum for contractors, within ten years, after the Budget brought a 1.6% carbon tax increase in agri-diesel charges, which is expected to be repeated every year for the next ten years.

The 2019 National Ploughing Championships end tomorrow evening. Ireland’s most popular outdoor event, and one of Europe's biggest, it was attended by almost a quarter of a million people last year. It is more than unlikely, hopefully, that the figure fell as dramatically as farmer confidence collapsed in the last year.

Ireland’s reputation is important in the global beef industry, but the industry is now at tipping point, he said.

Farmers will see an immediate increase in the price they receive for their cattle following a deal with meat producers.

The European Commission's president-elect, Ursula von der Leyen, announced Mr Hogan's new role in a speech this morning.

Talks between beef farmers and producers could reconvene as early as Thursday, as both sides attempt to reach an agreement that will end the standoff over prices paid for cattle.

The €100m Brexit Fund must be distributed to all farmers who incurred losses in beef production, farm leaders told Agriculture Minister Michael Creed at a consultation meeting.

The decision of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to nominate Phil Hogan for a second term as a European Commissioner has led to farm leaders pointing out the importance of having an Irish voice at the centre of decision making in Brussels.

Extreme weather events were central to farmers taking a hit of more than €500m in increased feed, forage and fertiliser costs during 2018, according to the ICMSA.

The €100m Beef Brexit Fund must be distributed to all farmers who incurred losses in beef production, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has insisted.

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.

The €100 milion Brexit beef package must be targeted to those who need it most – the farmers who have incurred beef price losses.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has welcomed the EU’s new €1bn fund of low-interest loans targetting young farmers.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has said the imposition of tariffs as outlined by UK proposals in a no-deal Brexit would put Irish farmers in a “vulnerable position”, threatening the Irish beef sector and seriously damaging the country’s agri-food exports.

Kurt Walker will fight for a gold medal at the Men's EU Championships in Spain.

Ali, the boxer, said he “floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee”.

The next low-cost farmer loan scheme will be focused on long-term capital investment and finance, unlike the previous cash flow scheme.

Irish dairy farmers need a fodder import scheme to help offset a drought-related €800m income hit in 2018, said ICMSA president Pat McCormack.

The Agriculture Minister has been accused by farm organisations of failing to grasp the enormity of the fodder crisis, and they warn that immediate supports are needed to stave off another emergency.

Households across the country are facing water restrictions and outages as the ongoing heatwave continues to put the water network under extreme pressure.

One of the country’s main farming representative organisations has warned that Ireland’s view of Brexit cannot be anchored entirely to the issue of the border and that more attention should be paid to cross-channel trade.

The EU proposed yesterday to cut funding for the Common Agricultural Policy by 5%, but some in Brussels warned the new budget plan could cut farm income supports for 2021-27 by 8.5%, and rural development measures 17.5%.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has allocated €1.5m to import fodder, as farmers strain to feed stock.

Planners have questioned the validity of the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 plan, saying while its promises are welcome, it appears to be focussed on politics instead of focussed on reforms.

Farmers have welcomed Agriculture Minster Michael Creed’s fodder transport scheme for livestock farmers in the west and northwest.

Newly elected ICMSA president, Pat McCormack, will begin 2018 focused on seeking Irish and EU measures to support farm incomes.

Sean McComb is putting his trust in Irish head coach Zaur Antia and team after sensationally beating Russia’s World Elite light-welter champion Vitaly Dunaystev to qualify for the World Championships from the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine yesterday.

Young British boxers have told of their shock and horror after witnessing the violent attack outside the Palace of Westminster.