Minister O’Sullivan calls on the public to protect our birds as nesting season approaches
• Nesting Season (March 1st to August 31st) is a critical time for birds and wildlife as they prepare to breed • Hedgerows provide both food and shelter for our birds and wildlife. Legislation prohibits damage to hedgerows from the beginning of March until the end of August, with limited exemptions. The bird nesting season […]
Horticulture Grant Scheme Re-Opens to Growers Impacted by Storm Damage
IFA Horticulture Chair Mark Walsh said the announcement of the targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector for growers who suffered severe losses goes some way in recognising the impact of the recent storm. “There was positive engagement with the new Minister of State with responsibility for […]
Farmers Encouraged to Engage with Farming for Water EIP – IFA
IFA Dairy Chair Martin McElearney has encouraged farmers to get involved with the Farming for Water EIP. “Improving water quality is critical to maintaining our nitrates derogation, this EIP can assist farmers to put more investments in place on our farms to protect water quality,” Martin McElearney said. Launched in 2024, this EIP is worth €50m […]
Salvaging Windblow Timber Following Storm Must be a Priority – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton said there was good engagement with the new Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, at the second meeting of the Windblow Taskforce this week. IFA highlighted to Minister Healy-Rae that there are precedents where Governments in Norway and Germany responded to such national emergencies. International help […]
Conference to highlight commercial market opportunities for organic vegetables
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae TD, today announced a conference on “Commercial Market Opportunities in Organic Vegetable Production 2025 – Field Scale and Protected Cropping” at the Department’s facilities in Backweston, Co. Kildare on Monday, 17 February 2025. […]
Ministers of State at Dept of Agriculture Confirmed
IFA President Francie Gorman said he looked forward to working with the three Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture. The full roles and responsibilities of Ministers of State Noel Grealish, Michael Healy-Rae and Timmy Dooley were confirmed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. They are: Noel Grealish TD, Super Junior Minister with responsibility for Food […]
Farm Families Struggle After Storm Ėowyn – IFA
IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche has expressed deep concern about the impact Storm Éowyn is having on farm families. Many rural households remain without power and water, creating significant challenges for daily life and farm operations. “The loss of power and water has disrupted farming activities and left many households struggling […]
Delivery of Outstanding ACRES Payments a Necessity – IFA
IFA Rural Development Chair John Curran has called on the Department to pull out all the stops to ensure all outstanding ACRES payments are paid out as a matter of priority. “Close on one-in four ACRES participants are still waiting on their advance 2024 ACRES payments, with some too having only received interim payments in […]
Launch of Organic Growers of Ireland Internship 2025: Cultivating the Next Generation of Organic Farmers
Aspiring organic growers now have a unique opportunity to dive into the world of organic horticulture with the Organic Growers of Ireland (OGI) Internship in Organic Horticulture programme for 2025. This innovative work placement initiative is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to thrive in the growing organic sector. With […]
‘It takes a village’ – Offaly farming community urged to help teachers deliver farm safety education
AgriKids and Irish Rural Link are calling on communities to register their interest in a new farm safety education manual designed to support primary school teachers, and members of their local farming communities, with the tools needed to co-deliver an effective farm safety education programme in the classroom. Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food […]
