Person: Pekka Pesonen

EU farmers upbeat about economic future

European farmer economic optimism rose in Q1 2017 relative to 2016, when spirits hit an all-time low, a survey by the joint EU-wide farmer unions Copa and Cogeca has found.

Fri, 01 Sep, 2017

Ireland could be last country with free range eggs

Ireland could be the last country in the EU with free range eggs available, if poultry confinement due to the bird flu threat continues.

Thu, 09 Feb, 2017

ICMSA seeks less conversation, more action on retail issues

Proposals by an EU task-force on how to improve the positions of farmers in the food supply chain have met with mixed responses from agri-food stakeholders.

Mon, 21 Nov, 2016

Sky’s the limit for farm drones

The flying of drones was banned in the air space over the site of the national ploughing championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois, last September.

Mon, 25 Jul, 2016

Europe sharpens focus on crucial ecological role of bees

Beekeepers and environmentalists globally are increasingly concerned about the threat posed to honey bees and other important pollinators by insecticides.

Mon, 25 Jul, 2016

Oliver Moore: Choppy waters up ahead for herbicide

The approvals process for the widely used but controversial herbicide glyphosate has hit another stumbling block en route to its possible re-authorisation in June.

Thu, 21 Apr, 2016

Survey underlines broad support for Common Agricultural Policy role

There is broad support among Europeans for the contribution of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the European Commission’s top priorities, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.

Wed, 13 Jan, 2016

Farmers’ warning as MEPs target gases

MEPs voted yesterday to reduce emissions such as ammonia — despite Europe’s farming lobby warning them production will be shifted to non EU-countries.

Thu, 29 Oct, 2015

Back to status quo in EU if MEPs reject GMO proposal

The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) remains controversial, which is why the EU has very strict rules and complex authorisation procedures concerning their cultivation and commercialisation.

Thu, 22 Oct, 2015

Farmers’ intervention hopes live on

Raising the price for public intervention is not appropriate, agriculture ministers were told last Monday by European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen, standing in at the Extraordinary Agriculture and Fisheries Council for Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, absent due to illness.

Thu, 10 Sep, 2015

EU farmers warn of a ‘worrying situation’

European farmers and co-ops have warned of “a seriously worrying situation” in the milk and pigmeat sectors.

Thu, 16 Jul, 2015

Co-ops and farmers urge below-cost ban

European co-ops and farmers have called for legislation to stamp out unfair and abusive practices in the food chain.

Fri, 19 Jun, 2015

EU agrees 7% cap on growing crops for transport biofuels

MEPs last week officially rubber-stamped an EU shift away from biofuel crops to alternative sources, such as seaweed or waste, in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions caused by land use for biofuel crops.

Thu, 07 May, 2015

10 new GMOs in the EU for food/feed use

The EU animal feed industry has reacted violently to a European Commission proposal for nationalisation of GM crop imports for food and feed use.

Thu, 30 Apr, 2015

Simplified CAP model proposed

The umbrella body for European farmers and co-ops has sent detailed proposals to Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan on how to simplify the CAP and cut red tape for producers.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2015

Forestry key to creating ‘green jobs’

The forestry sector has a major role to play in creating “green jobs” and in boosting growth in EU rural areas.

Mon, 26 Jan, 2015

Farm schemes could be delayed to May

The European Commission has been urged to speed up adoption of national rural development programmes, because they may be delayed until May, 2015, if not ready for adoption by December 31, 2014.

Thu, 20 Nov, 2014

Welcome for Hogan’s EU priorities

Phil Hogan, the incoming European commissioner for agriculture and rural development, will officially begin his term of office next Saturday.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2014

Brothers are chip off the old block

THE five Flynn brothers, Gerry, Laurence, Vincent, Paul and Fergal, are the fifth generation of their family to farm in Rush, Co Dublin — a heart land of vegetable and potato growing.

Mon, 15 Sep, 2014

Dairy support measures to offset Russian ban not enough, says ICOS

The market support measures announced by the European Commission for the dairy sector, to alleviate the impact of the Russian ban on food imports, were welcome but do not go far enough.

Tue, 02 Sep, 2014

EU Commission urged to combat abusive practices in food chain

The incoming European Commission is set to face mounting pressure for stronger action to combat unfair and abusive practices in the food chain.

Mon, 11 Aug, 2014

EU farmer mood worsens as Russia trade falters and geopolitics simmer

Deteriorating trade relations with Russia and political tension in eastern Europe are common fears among farmers in European Union member states.

Wed, 30 Jul, 2014

Talks on future of agriculture and food industries in Athens

A vision for unlocking the potential of the agriculture and food industries in the European Union will be outlined in Athens today, ahead of an informal Council of Ministers meeting.

Mon, 05 May, 2014

Bid to cut EU sugar price opposed

The world market price for white sugar no longer covers the costs of even the most competitive producers, say European farmers.

Thu, 13 Feb, 2014

Ammonia emissions cut proposals will European farm sector worst

The European farm sector, especially livestock, will be hard hit by proposals to cut ammonia emissions by up to 27%, Copa-Cogeca, the European umbrella body for farmers and co-ops, has claimed.

Thu, 02 Jan, 2014

CAP reform package positive for organic sector, says Coveney

The proposals presented by the European Commission in the Common Agricultural Policy reform package are very positive for the organic sector, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said.

Tue, 31 Dec, 2013

EU welcome for world farm trade mini-package

The EU agriculture industry has welcomed a world trade mini-package agreed last week.

Thu, 12 Dec, 2013

European Commission to review union’s air quality policy

The European Commission is about to review its air quality policy following a two-year consultative process.

Mon, 11 Nov, 2013

Farmers fear EU ammonia cuts policy proposals

European farmers warn that Brussels plans to cut ammonia emissions as much as 30% would have a severe impact on the agriculture sector.

Thu, 07 Nov, 2013

European group seeks to put family farm back in spotlight

Family farming is the backbone of rural economies, according to Copa-Cogeca.

Mon, 26 Aug, 2013

Global line-up of speakers to address ASA annual conference

Speakers from the United States, Brussels, Switzerland, Holland, Britain and Ireland will make up an impressive panel at the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) annual conference which takes place at the Tower Hotel, Waterford, on Sep 13.

Thu, 22 Aug, 2013

Bid to impose 5% limit on biofuels made from arable crops rejected

European farmers and co-ops have rejected a move to impose a 5% limit on the use of biofuels made from arable crops in 2020.

Mon, 29 Jul, 2013

Action demanded as cheap honey imports flood market

Cheap imports of honey are flooding into the European Union from China, where different production and labour costs apply.

Mon, 22 Jul, 2013

Europe package to cut red tape

Cutting red tape is one of the objectives of a new European Commission package on healthier animals and plants.

Mon, 27 May, 2013

Co-ops ‘vital to helping farmers capture value in food chain’

Agri co-ops play a vital role in helping farmers to capture a better share of the value added in the food chain, according to a document published by the European Commission.

Mon, 15 Apr, 2013

EU cereal harvest fares slightly better than expected, say groups

Europe’s cereal harvest for the year has fared marginally better than expected, though with huge variance between crops, leading agri-food groups have said.

Tue, 18 Dec, 2012

Leading European rural affairs organisations join forces

FIVE of the leading European rural affairs organisations have joined forces.

Thu, 19 May, 2011

Wheat prices to soar over low stocking levels in EU, experts claim

WHEAT prices look set to soar to record levels this year due to anticipated low stocking levels in the European Union, the world’s largest wheat producer.

Tue, 19 Apr, 2011

Battle to protect EU agriculture budget tougher than expected

THE battle to protect the European Union budget for agriculture will be tougher than expected, it emerged in Brussels over recent days.

Fri, 10 Sep, 2010

Parliament votes in favour of report urging fairer deal for farmers

THE European Parliament has voted in favour of a report which calls for a better functioning food supply chain that will deliver a fairer return to farmers.

Thu, 09 Sep, 2010

European body calls for measures to curb volatility in dairy industry

LONG-term measures to reduce extreme market volatility in the dairy industry and ensure that farmers get a fair return for their produce have been sought from the European Commission.

Sat, 10 Jul, 2010

Promotion campaign urged for organic product Euro-leaf logo

THE formal introduction yesterday of the new European Union organic “Euro-leaf” symbol was welcomed by Minister of State Ciarán Cuffe.

Fri, 02 Jul, 2010

Call for caution on release of dairy products from intervention stocks

THE European Commission was urged yesterday to exercise extreme caution in the way it manages the release of dairy products from intervention stocks onto the market.

Sat, 22 May, 2010

Smith: Volcanic ash flight disruption had little impact on food industry

THE cancellation of flights following the volcanic eruptions in Iceland has had a low impact on the Irish food industry.

Tue, 11 May, 2010