A chemical engineer from Carrigane, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, and a barrister from Gurteen, Ballymore, Co Sligo, are the candidates at today’s election to select the next Macra na Feirme president.

FARMERS, furious that retailers are taking a 284% mark-up on home grown potatoes, have called an emergency meeting as growers face being forced out of business.

The Competition Authority has confirmed its officers carried out a search of the headquarters of the IFA.

EUROPEAN allies share the Irish view that the EU’s market for high end beef cuts must be protected in any meat deal the European Commission strikes with South American countries as part of the Mercosur talks.

THOUSANDS of workers on Ireland’s 500 pig farms are at risk of losing their jobs as the sector is suffering cumulative losses of around €1 million a week, according to Irish Farmers Association (IFA) president John Bryan.

WHILE the agricultural sector is worth €17 billion to the Irish economy, many people are unaware of its importance locally.

THE results of the Leinster and Munster Macra na Feirme vice-presidential elections will be announced at the Irish Farm Centre in Dublin on Tuesday.

THE first women president in the 63-year history of Macra na Feirme will be Catherine Buckley, a 29-year-old accountant from Knocknagown, Rylane, Co Cork.

ONLY five days stand between Catherine Buckley from Rylane, Co Cork, and a straight run to the presidency of Macra na Feirme.

THE IRISH Examiner (July 1) published a letter from a Dr Roderick O’Sullivan that was completely erroneous, and was highly damaging to the reputation and image of a clearly identifiable Irish company and to an entire sector of the Irish seafood business.

Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent