CSO Figures Show Tillage Sector Battling to Survive
IFA President Francie Gorman said today’s CSO figures showing the main cereal crops fell by 20% last year is further evidence of the pressures on the sector. In 2023, 2m tonnes of wheat, barley and oats were produced, down 500,000 tonnes on 2022. Potato production was down 12%. “It further highlights the urgency of the […]
Farming for Water represents a real opportunity for agricultural sector
The new €60 million Farming for Water project which has been announced with the aim of supporting up to 15,000 farmers to improve water quality, represents a real opportunity for the agricultural sector to make a cost-free investment in the future. The Farming for Water project is a European Innovation Partnership (EIP), the largest […]
Below Cost Selling by Retailers is Morally Wrong
IFA President Francie Gorman has called on retailers to end their policy of discounting fresh food in their stores. This week vegetables, potatoes and lamb are being sold below the cost of production at a price that is insulting to the farmers and growers who produced it. “Farmers are having an awful time with weather and cost […]
Co-ordinated Response Needed to Support Farmers Through Weather Difficulties
Following a meeting of IFA’s National Council today, IFA President Francie Gorman said a co-ordinated response is needed to support farmers through the prolonged weather difficulties. He said the decision by the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to convene a meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee this week is important to ensure […]
Extension on Soil Sampling Right Move, But More ACRES Flexibility Needed – IFA
IFA Rural Development chair John Curran has said the extension provided by the Department for uploading soil sample results/exemption forms to ACRES Tranche 1 participants to Dec 31st was a positive and practical move. “With all the rain in recent months, it was near impossible to get out and take suitable soil samples for analysis, […]
Weather Deepening Crisis at Farm Level – Tillage Farmers on the Brink
IFA President Francie Gorman said there is a deepening crisis on farms due to the ongoing wet weather. While all sectors are suffering, the tillage sector is at breaking point as farmers are not able to plant their crops. “It is stated Government policy to increase the amount of tillage in the country, but instead […]
Farmers Need Support as Weather Conditions Persist
IFA Deputy President Alice Doyle said the ongoing weather conditions are placing farmers under serious pressure and adding to stress levels for families. “The level of rainfall has made it impossible to move livestock; planting and sowing is way behind; and bills are mounting as farmers struggle to keep on top of their work.” St […]
Deadline Extension for Hedgerows the Right Call – IFA
IFA Rural Development chair John Curran said the Dept decision to extend the deadline to plant hedgerows under ACRES until March 2025 is the right call. He said farmers have faced a number of obstacles to carrying out the work, including the lack of native supplies and very poor weather conditions. “It’s good to see […]
Huge Variation in Interest Rates Needs Explaining – IFA
IFA Farm Business Chair Bill O’Keeffe has highlighted the ongoing issue of the variations in interest rates between Irish lenders. “At the moment farmers who have loans with the likes of AIB and MilkFlex are incurring interest rates of up to 3% and more above what is available with other lenders. A 3% higher interest […]
