Pig Farmers Plead for Help as Time Runs Out
IRELAND - "Guys are struggling and are just hitting a wall right now," warned an expert as he summed up the grave financial situation facing County Cavan pig farmers.

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...

UN Index Reinforces Importance of Food Security
IRELAND - Commenting on the latest report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation on food prices, IFA President John Bryan said the dramatic swings in prices underline the importance of food...

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.

Producers on the Brink; Call for Protection of Sector
IRELAND - Speaking yesterday (Wednesday) at the launch of the Bord Bia campaign to Bring Home the Bacon, aimed at increasing the share of the home market for pig producers, IFA Pigs Committee...

Novel Feed Decision Vital to Ease Rising Input Costs
IRELAND - Reacting to the decision of the Government to support the EU Commission’s move to extend the varieties of novel feed available to producers, IFA President John Bryan said, “At a time of rising...

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...

One of Ireland's Largest Pig Farms Closes
IRELAND - One of country's biggest pig farmers, Rory O'Brien, has ceased production, citing poor returns and high costs.

Pork and Bacon Cuts Give Pork Farmers More
IRELAND - Retail group SuperValu has given pig farmers an increase of 10 cents per kilo on the price it is paying for Irish pork and bacon cuts.

Farmers Continue to Protest Against Retailers
IRELAND - A large number of angry pig, poultry, beef and dairy farmers have staged a second protest, this time outside a new Tesco Store in Naas town.

Farmers Protest as Retailer Profits at Their Expense
IRELAND - A large number of angry pig, poultry and beef farmers have staged a protest outside Tesco in Cavan town last week over the failure of retailers to return a viable price through the food chain...

IFA Calls on Pig Processors to Reverse Price Cuts
IRELAND - Following a crisis meeting of pig producers from all over the country that took place in Abbeyleix, the processing sector was left in no doubt that they must move immediately to reverse the recent...

Positive Prospects for Irish Food & Drink Exports
IRELAND - “Recent months have seen a strong recovery in the value of Irish food and drink exports, helped by an improving exchange rate, increased meat export volumes and a stronger export performance...

Teagasc Pig Conference 2010
IRELAND - The upcoming Teagasc National Pig Conferences take place against a background of rising feed costs.

Pork Sales to Japan Grow Despite Challenges
IRELAND - A strong second half to the year could see Ireland’s pork exports to Japan exceed 4,000 tonnes, surpassing 2008 volumes.

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...

Irish Pig Farmers Worry as Grain Prices Rise
IRELAND - The Irish pig industry is again suffering financial pressure as a result of the fastest rise in wheat prices since 1973 (there was a €57/t rise in July).

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.

Ireland's 12 Billion Euro Exports Vision
IRELAND - The UK is the main destination for Irish food and drink exports - accounting for 43 per cent of the total.

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...

IFA Accuses Lidl of Hoodwinking Pig Producers
IRELAND - Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Pigs Committee Chairman, Tim Cullinan, has said that he was very annoyed that promises made to producers by Lidl have not been delivered, based on the most recent...

Chinese Govt Re-opens Market to Irish Pork
IRELAND - Irish Minister Tony Killeen has welcomed the decision by the Chinese Government to reopen its market to Irish pigmeat imports.

Pork Crisis Payout Lower than Estimated
IRELAND - The State's compensation bill for the pork contamination crisis is set to be up to €70m lower than originally estimated.

Russia Resumes Imports of Irish Pigmeat
IRELAND - The Russian Federation has agreed to allow Irish pork imports again 14 months after they were banned because of the dioxin crisis.