Grant Scheme for emerging technologies in processing livestock manure
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., today announced the introduction of a new Scheme to support the demonstration of new and emerging technologies to further assist the agriculture sector in meeting the requirements of...

Irish pig producers to benefit from new recording agreement
IRELAND - Pig producers throughout Ireland look set to benefit from improved recording technology thanks to a new agreement between Agridata and pig data management specialists Agrosoft UK Ltd.

IFA Report Pig Spot Prices To 145 cent
IRELAND - Pig prices generally gained 2c/kg this week. IFA said prices ranged from 136 to 140 cent/kg, but low supply levels and strong demand have combined to boost spot prices to 145 cent. Export plants mostly quote 136 cent to 140 cent net flat...

Pig Kill Slumps By 26,000
IRELAND - More pigs being sent north of the border for higher prices is one of the reasons given for a year-on-year slump in numbers slaughtered at factories in the Republic. For the week ending March 18, pigs slaughtered in licensed meat export...

EU pig price average moves 9c ahead of Ireland
IRELAND - Pig prices are unchanged this week. The price range is from €1.26 to €1.35 in most plants, with a 6c/kg bonus for welfare pigs. IFA sources say that because factory throughput is back 3,000 head on the corresponding week last year, at...

IFA to consider revised nitrates plan
IRELAND - The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Padraig Walshe has called an emergency meeting of its executive council for Sunday afternoon to consider the latest Teagasc advice on nitrates. Mr Walshe said last night the IFA’s...

Country braces for nitrates impact
IRELAND - Rural areas will be hard hit by the European Union nitrates directive, Independent MEP Marian Harkin has warned. “It is no exaggeration to say that pig and poultry farming will be shut down if the current maximum rates of fertiliser...

IFA seeks to defer introduction of Nitrates regulations
IRELAND - The Minister for the Environment is being asked by the IFA to defer the introduction of the Nitrates regulations until a proper scientific evaluation takes place. IFA President Padraig Walshe stressed that no responsible Government would...

NS Pigs Continues To Develop Sow Market
IRELAND - NS Pigs' commercial director, Paul Gilmore, has confirmed to Farming Life that the company is shipping up to 1,100 Irish sow carcases per week to the Westfleich processing operation in Germany. "We are sourcing between 150...

Advice on nitrates directive is not included in law, says Teagasc
IRELAND - TEAGASC yesterday disclosed that some vital elements of the advice it had provided on the nitrates directive were not fully included in the final statutory instrument. It said that had this happened, it would have allowed pig farmers...

Nitrates directive 'could see dairy and drystock production levels drop'
IRELAND - A cut in farm production levels as a result of the European Union nitrates directive would have severe implications for the Irish agri-food industry and rural areas, it was claimed yesterday. The Agricultural Science Association (ASA),...

Nitrates rules will cause problems for farmers
IRELAND - Nitrates regulations will inflict serious damage on productive farming in Ireland without any scientific or environmental justification and for no quantifiable gain, the IFA has said. According to outgoing president, John Dillon, regulations...

Nitrates legislation may face legal challenge
IRELAND - With only weeks remaining until the Nitrates Regulations come into effect on February 1, the country’s two leading farm organisations have sought changes in the proposed action programme. Commenting recently, Carlow IFA Chairman John Kehoe said...

Officials play down pig farm ‘disaster’ fears
IRELAND - Pig farmers have warned the Nitrates Directive will drive them out of business, without compensation. But Environment Department officials say they had no contact from the pig industry in four years of consultations on nitrates regulations...

New Tech Demo To Be Granted Aid To Support Pig and Poultry Producers
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, today announced her intention to introduce a Scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies to help the agriculture sector meet the requirements of the Nitrates Directive.