Irish Pig Sector Resilient in Face of Rising Costs
IRELAND - In 2011 the Irish pig industry has suffered the worst economic conditions in over 20 years, primarily due to escalating feed costs.

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...

Ag to Consolidate Recent Growth through 2012
IRELAND - Following two years of impressive growth, the Irish agriculture sector is set to consolidate its position in 2012, according to a study released by Teagasc yesterday, 19 January 2012.

Hermitage MaxgroTerminal Line - Alternative to Castration
IRELAND - The issue of piglet castration has become a major animal welfare concern in many European countries. Some supermarket chains have decided to only sell products from pigs that have not been physically...

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...

Quality Feed for Pig Herds Can Add to Profit
IRELAND - Pig farmers can gain €10,350 on an average herd size by giving piglets quality feed rather than "cheap" creep ration in their critical first two months, according to one leading animal nut...

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.

Ireland's Pig Population up 2.4 Per Cent
IRELAND - The latest census (in June) reveals a pig population more than two per cent up on the year before although the breeding herd contracted by three per cent compared to the same month in 2010.

Rescue of Clonmel Pork Rib Processor Saves Jobs
IRELAND - Specialist pork rib processor Ribworld has been purchased out of receivership by M&M Walshe — part of the Callan Bacon Group — in a deal that secures the 65 jobs at the processing plant in...

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...

Pig Farmers Not Benefiting from Rising Market
IRELAND - The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) says that Irish pig farmers are not benefitting despite the rise in pig market prices and strength in exports.

Boost Biosecurity and Halt Disease
IRELAND - Most people have heard the saying that prevention is better than cure. Farmers prevent diseases from entering or spreading on farms by vaccinating, treating sick animals, culling affected animals...

Producers' Frustration Grows as Prices Stick
IRELAND - Farmers at an emergency meeting expressed their fury that the pig price drop has not reversed.

Genetic Traits Identified in Pigs for Tastiest Meat
IRELAND - Irish researchers have identified genetic traits in pigs that can be used to ensure the tastiest, healthiest pig meat is delivered to consumers.

Teagasc Urges Pig Farmers Urged to Cut Input Costs
IRELAND - Pressurised pig farmers can reduce input costs by up to €20 per tonne by increasing their use of cheaper feeds, culling earlier and availing of feed credit from banks, say Teagasc experts....

Teagasc Pig Farmers Conference
IRELAND - This year’s Teagasc National Pig Conferences are taking place today, Tuesday, 18 October at the Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan and tomorrow, Wednesday, 19 October at the Horse & Jockey Hotel, Thurles,...

Producers under Pressure while Processors Profit
IRELAND - Pork processors are making large profits while pig producers are suffering cuts, says the Irish Farmers Union (IFU).

Strong Pork Demand Leads to Surge in Exports
IRELAND - Strong demand in north-east Asia has delivered a surge in Irish pork exports to the core markets of China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, according to the latest Bord Bia analysis.

Teagasc Launches 'Energy Use in Agriculture'
IRELAND - Teagasc has launched a new publication called ‘Energy Use in Agriculture’, to help Irish farmers reduce farming energy costs.

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.

Relentless Rise in Input Costs Erodes Price Gains
IRELAND - IFA President John Bryan said the relentless upward spiral in the main input costs, such as fertiliser, energy and feed is eroding commodity price gains.

IFA: Call for Reduction in Compound Feed Prices
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Chairman, Tim Cullinan has called on the compounders to reduce the price of compound feed immediately to reflect the lower market price of soya and wheat.

Research Presents Alternative Uses for Pig Manure
IRELAND - A crowd of over 100 people attended a research dissemination day at Teagasc Moorepark, on possible alternative uses for pig manure.

Bord Bia Begins Pork DNA Tests
IRELAND - Bord Bia has started taking samples of pork and bacon products in retail outlets as the agency gears up to incorporate the Identigen pig DNA testing programme into its quality-assurance sche...

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...

Pig Farming Gets Boost with '100 Per Cent Irish' Deal
IRELAND - Wholesale groups Musgrave and Oliver Carty Ltd have signed a 2½-year deal to supply 100 per cent Irish bacon and ham in SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide.

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...