Just 10,000 farmers to be left by 2025, states report
IRELAND - Only 10,000 full-time farmers will be left by 2025 compared to just over 40,000 now if current trends continue, according to a Government-funded report to be launched today by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan, writes Seán Mac Connell,...

Labelling Pledge For Exported Pork
IRELAND - Country of origin labeling will soon be applied to Irish pork. The move was announced by the Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Brendan Smith, at the Teagasc Pig Conference in Longford. Smith said that...

Top US Pig Behaviour Expert Will Address Teagasc Pig Conferences
IRELAND - The benefits in terms of performance from a good welfare regime for pigs is the focus of this year’s Teagasc pig production conferences.

New animal remedies rules will add €80m to vet costs
IRELAND - The IFA Animal Health Chairman Michael Flynn said, "the Department's Draft Animal Remedies Regulations requiring that all veterinary medicines be sold under a prescription only regime, where vets only will write the prescriptions, will...

Move to help farmers better manage waste on their land
IRELAND - Waterford farmers will get more grant aid to help manage waste on their land if the European Commission accepts an outline plan drawn up by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD. Fianna Fáil TD Ollie Wilkinson , who...

Egypt removes remaining restrictions on Irish beef imports
IRELAND - The Egyptian authorities have removed all remaining restrictions to imports of Irish beef, according to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan. In November 2000, the Middle Eastern country suspended all beef imports from EU countries due...

Irish farm leader attacks Blair's CAP comments
IRELAND - An Irish farmers’ leader has told Prime Minister Tony Blair to keep his hands off the CAP. Speaking at the Royal Welsh Show, Malcolm Thompson, Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president, demanded to know why Mr Blair and Environment...

Ireland launches beef and pork campaign in Russia
IRELAND - The Irish Food Board Bord Bia has launched a major new programme to develop outlets for Irish beef and pork in Russia’s rapidly growing supermarket sector, reports the Irish Examiner newspaper. Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan...

Making the World Sustainable
IRELAND - In a lecture by Mae-Wan Ho, Biophysics Group, Dept. of Pharmacy, King’s College, at the Food Security in An Energy-Scarce World international conference, the idea's behind sustainable food systems is explained.

Pig producers being forced out by factories
IRELAND - IFA Pigs Committee Chairman Pat O’Keeffe has said pig producers are being forced out of production because of a sustained and co-ordinated resistance by pigmeat processors to allow Irish pig prices rise above their current uneconomic levels...

Irish producers to get state-financed welfare-upgrade
IRELAND - The Irish government has introduced an aid scheme to help producers convert from sow stalls to loose housing. The maximum investment that will be grant-aided is €300,000 (£202,680). A standard grant rate of 40 percent will apply.

Food firms given £2.8m grant boost by EU
IRELAND - Eight food firms in the North have been given a cash injection from Europe worth almost £2.8m (€4m) to expand and modernise their operations, it emerged today. It is believed up to 91 new jobs will be created after the food processors...

IFA pigs committee chairman lashes processors for failure to increase price
IRELAND - In a stinging criticism of the two main pig processors in the Republic of Ireland, IFA Pigs Committee Chairman, Pat O’ Keeffe, said that the failure of Glanbia and Dawn to increase prices for pigs slaughtered this week has confirmed to producers...