Tractor protest rolls into third day

The IFA's tractor protests are entering their third day. Hundreds of farm vehicles are leaving eight more locations today, as they continue their week-long journey towards Dublin.

Thousands of tractors have been taking to the road this week to demand Government action over low farm incomes.

Farmers say budgetary changes, as well as cuts in the Book of Estimates, are adding to the problems.

Today's tractor convoys are leaving Wexford, Waterford, Mitchelstown, Nenagh, Ballinasloe, Castlerea, Carrick-on-Shannon and Emyvale.

IFA President John Dillon says although they want to get their point across they don't want to cause disruption to other road users.

"We are co-operating very much with the gardai, we are avoiding as much disruption as possible as regards keeping out of the towns at peak times and moving in off the road every so often to let cars pass," he said.

The protests are taking place between 10am and 3pm in an attempt to avoid disruption.

Meanwhile the European Commission is to go ahead with further planned cutbacks.

Headage payments are to end and planned reform of the cereal and dairy sectors is to proceed with haste under proposals to be published in two weeks.

As a result farm incomes are more likely to fall than rise in the coming years despite fierce opposition to the EU plan.