Opinion
The correct place for beef in the climate change debate is essential
Last month’s news that the US government, which is about to issue new healthy eating guidelines, will for the first...
Opinion
Opinion
It’s time to get tough with rogue farmers
The vast majority of Irish farmers work tirelessly to maintain the fabric of their businesses and, in so doing, act...
Dairy
International Milk Prices - Year in Review
Major international dairy co-operatives, Arla, FrieslandCampina and Fonterra announced milk price reductions in December. Arla’s price fell 1.9 cents to...
Opinion
Reflections on a challenging year for farmers
Despite the excellent weather and growing conditions most farmers will be asking themselves the question: where did it all go...
EU
EU outlook for 2015 to be dominated by dairy, says ICOS
The first quarter of 2015 promises to be very busy from an EU agri-legislation front. As January looms, the new...
Dairy
Milk Quota Abolition – 100 Days to go!
Today marks 100 days until milk quota abolition in Europe. It’s hard to believe that this restrictive market control regime...
Dairy
2015 – more cows or less cows?
With the removal of milk quotas only a few months away, many Irish dairy farmers are set to calve and...
Opinion
Does the dairy industry need EU supports?
With less than four months go to until milk quotas are abolished, calls are being made for the introduction of...
Opinion
Transition ‘supports’ don't help ambitious dairy farmers
The notion that the EU should introduce ‘support measures’ to help farmers cope with the end of milk quotas is...
Opinion
UK beef industry relationships preferable to Irish
There are important differences between farm-level responses to disappointing prime beef cattle prices in the UK and Republic of Ireland...
Opinion
Is the CAP falling apart at the seams?
Two months ago, EU Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos referred to the steps taken by him to provide support for those...
Opinion
Global beef demand has begun to run ahead of world supply
It is accepted that suckled beef production is vulnerable at EU and world level, even though trans-global consumption, which is...
Opinion
Productivity of food sector needs to be repeated at primary level
A recent report by the EU Commission highlights that Ireland’s food industry workers are the most productive in the EU....
Opinion
Drystock farmers should focus on what they can control
The profitability or otherwise of drystock farming in Ireland has rarely been out of the news of late. I always...
Opinion
Reward for delivering in-spec cattle is abundantly obvious
The mystery of how British prime cattle prices rose by 4p-5p last week (w/e September 6) despite a 12% increase...
EU
A quiet word of warning to our MEPs
So Big Phil has got the big job as Farm Commissioner, subject to his little chat with members of the...
Opinion
Why should farmers fund their own aid package?
Last week’s news of an ‘Aids to Private Storage’ support package for the dairy sector is a welcome development. But...
Beef
Levy collection - poll confirms perceived clash of interest
Surprise; surprise: 84% of those who participated in our most recent poll affirmed their belief that the collection of levies...
