New Agreement on Organic Fertiliser Control
IRELAND - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have, following discussions with representatives of the pig and poultry industry, agreed...

Double Regulation to Benefit Competitiveness
IRELAND - IFA National Pigs and Pigmeat Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan welcomed the successful conclusion to negotiations between farmers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will improve...

Minister Awards Funding to Animal Welfare Groups
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, yesterday announced payments totalling €1.235m to organisations involved in animal care and welfare services. The payments...

2011 Another Good Year for Farm Incomes
IRELAND - The latest estimate shows a 33.4 per cent rise in operating surplus for the agriculture sector.

Ag Minister Outlines Main Features of 2012 Estimates
IRELAND - Announcing his expenditure estimates for 2012 yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD said that despite the on-going serious difficulties in the public...

IFA Urges Extension of Pig & Poultry COOL Rules
IRELAND - IFA President John Bryan has urged the Government to implement without delay new country-of-origin labelling for pig meat and poultry meat from the EU Commission, to safeguard producers’ livelihoods...

Government Urged to Address Farmer Age Imbalance
IRELAND - Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Munster vice-president, Edmond Phelan, has warned that age profile of Irish farmers is not conducive to productive farming and unless steps...

Top Chinese Pork Producers on First Trade Visit
IRELAND - What has been described as the most significant food trade delegation from China to visit Ireland is visiting this week.

Minister Stresses on Importance of Livestock Sector
IRELAND - Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Council of EU Agriculture Ministers in Hungary, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, said that he will be stressing the crucial...

IFA Pigs Chairman Criticises Absence of Retaliers
IRELAND - IFA National Pig and Pigmeat Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan has said he was very disappointed that neither Dunnes nor Musgraves attended a meeting set up by the Minister for Agriculture Simon...

New Research Funding For Animal Health
IRELAND - The Government has announced details of up to €450,000 in funding for the country's researchers in three special animal health-related areas.

IFA Welcomes Vote Against EU/Mercosur Trade Talks
IRELAND - IFA President John Bryan welcomed the vote in the European Parliament today, criticising the EU Commission’s stance on the Mercosur trade negotiations. The Parliament adopted a report which...

IFA Protests Over Threat to Ag from EU/Mercosur Deal
IRELAND - Members of the IFA National Livestock Committee have this afternoon protested in the offices of the European Commission in Dublin against the EU/Mercosur trade negotiations.

Assistance to Pig and Poultry Sectors Outlined
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, yesterday confirmed a number of initiatives to support the intensive pig and poultry sectors, which the Minister described as...

Pressure to Remove Korean Tariffs for Pork and Dairy
IRELAND - Irish food and drink producers stand to make significant gains if the EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement leads to the elimination of tariffs on pork, dairy products and whiskey.

Ag Minister Approves Aid for Pig Meat Sector
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, welcomed the decision at the EU Cereals Management Committee meeting to approve a new scheme for Aid to Private Storage for...

Initiative to Address Problems in Pig Meat Sector
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, yesterday welcomed the decision of the EU Commission to take urgent action to address the current pig meat market situatio...

Northern Irish Firm in Pig Meal Case to Pay €38 Million
IRELAND - A High Court judge has ordered a Northern Ireland company to pay €38.7 million damages to a Co Wexford company arising from the animal feed contamination which led to the recall of all Irish...

IFA Wants Publication of Nitrates Rule Changes
IRELAND - The Irish Farmers' Union (IFA) is calling for the immediate publication of changes to the nitrate regulations.

Govt Plan in Jeopardy Unless Nitrates Issue Resolved
IRELAND - At a special meeting in Dublin on Tuesday, 14 September, of the IFA Executive Council, the Association sent a clear message to Government that the delivery of the Food Harvest 2020 growth strategy...

Nitrates Directive a Threat to Pig, Poultry Industries
IRELAND - The "unnecessary and punitive" measures proposed for inclusion in the revised programme for administering the Nitrates Directive arise from Irish Government and not from European Union requi...

Study: Agri-Food Industry’s View on Animal Cloning
IRELAND - The sale of food from cloned animals and their offspring is legal in the USA. The US Food and Drug Administration in 2008 stated that such products were indistinguishable from those of non-cloned...

Govt Needs Positive Outcome of Nitrates Review
IRELAND - IFA President John Bryan has said that the outcome of the nitrates review has the potential to make or break the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 growth strategy for the agri-food sector, which...

High Court Reserves Decision on Feed Supply Firm
IRELAND - The High Court has reserved its decision on whether to approve a scheme of arrangement between a Co Wexford company alleged to have supplied animal feed containing harmful dioxins and those suing...

Job Losses Feared from Change in Nitrates Directive
IRELAND - The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has warned of job losses in the poultry and pig sectors if the EU Nitrates Directive is changed.

Important Opportunities to Improve Competitiveness
IRELAND - Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment yesterday (Wednesday), IFA President John Bryan called on the Government to show their commitment to maximising the potential of the...

Irish Minister Meets EU Commissioner on CAP
IRELAND - The Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Brendan Smith this week met EU Agriculture Commissioner, Dacian Ciolos, to discuss the upcoming negotiations on the CAP after 2013.

Plight of Pig and Poultry Sectors Goes Unrecognised
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan said, “Having reviewed the consultation paper released by the Department of Agriculture on the ‘Nitrates Regulations, I am horrified to see that the...

Pig Grant Scheme Not Enough to Aid Sector
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Committee Chairman Tim Cullinan said that the introduction of the Pigs Welfare Scheme, while welcome, is not enough to help pig producers comply with the regulations.

€29 M Welfare Schemes for Pig, Poultry Producers
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, yesterday announced details of two new on-farm investment schemes designed to improve the standards of animal welfare in sow...