Bernie Commins

Bernie Commins Profile Picture

Senior News Journalist

Bernie Commins has an honours degree in journalism from Dublin Institute of Technology. She previously worked in the world of agri media as editor of several industry publications and as a journalist she has covered a variety of topics from farm safety to rural-life matters. She also has a background in regional newspaper reporting. From south Tipperary originally, she spent her formative years on her uncle’s dairy farm.

‘Four boxes of chuck beef with no labelling’ – six enforcement orders served on businesses

Agri-Business

‘Four boxes of chuck beef with no labelling’ – six enforcement orders served on businesses

A build-up of food debris; rodent droppings observed under shelving; and no labelling of animal-origin foodstuffs were just some of...
Less than 1% of farms have registered female farmer – WASG

Agri-Business

Less than 1% of farms have registered female farmer – WASG

Less than 1% of farms in the country have a woman registered as an official partner, according to the Women...
Protesters to target national hare-coursing event in Clonmel

Rural Life

Protesters to target national hare-coursing event in Clonmel

A protest involving a “variety of animal-protection groups” will take place this Sunday (February 6) at the National Hare Coursing...
Pig farmers ‘will go to the wall if not supported’ minister told at crisis meeting

Agri-Business

Pig farmers ‘will go to the wall if not supported’ minister told at crisis meeting

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue met with more than 100 pig farmers this evening (Thursday, February...
Angry forest owners contradict ‘inaccurate’ licence-backlog narrative

Forestry

Angry forest owners contradict ‘inaccurate’ licence-backlog narrative

The government has been accused of circulating an inaccurate narrative around the forestry-licence backlog by members of the Irish Forest...
Confusion and uncertainty prevail as checks continue despite Poots’ order

Agri-Business

Confusion and uncertainty prevail as checks continue despite Poots’ order

Despite ordering his officials to stop agri-food checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland (NI) from Great Britain, Stormont’s agriculture...
Interview: Pig sector faced with change and challenge ‘but you will succeed’

Agri-Business

Interview: Pig sector faced with change and challenge ‘but you will succeed’

As many pig farmers struggle to keep afloat in the face of soaring feed costs, rising energy prices, and a...
‘Road safety is a shared responsibility’ – hedgerows must be cut

Rural Life

‘Road safety is a shared responsibility’ – hedgerows must be cut

Landowners are being called on to cut their hedgerows before the March 1 deadline, to ensure that a “potential serious...
Up to €300k announced for agri-tourism initiatives

Agri-Business

Up to €300k announced for agri-tourism initiatives

The call has gone out for submissions of proposals for agri-tourism initiatives with a total of €300,000 available for projects...
Lidl commits to ‘proactively engage with and support suppliers’

Pig/Poultry

Lidl commits to ‘proactively engage with and support suppliers’

German retailer, Lidl, has said that it will continue to be proactive in its engagement with and support of suppliers,...
Pig farmers to seek rescue package at ‘national crisis meeting’ with minister

Agri Politics

Pig farmers to seek rescue package at ‘national crisis meeting’ with minister

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, will meet with pig farmers tomorrow (Thursday, February 3) to address...
Gardaí appeal for info following 66 incidents of telephone cable theft

Rural Life

Gardaí appeal for info following 66 incidents of telephone cable theft

Gardaí are appealing for information from the public following more than 60 incidents of theft of telephone cables in parts...
‘Further expansion of the seed potato area must be industry-led’ – minister

Agri-Business

‘Further expansion of the seed potato area must be industry-led’ – minister

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, visited his department’s potato centre based at Tops Farm in Raphoe,...
€1.2m allocated to next tranche of organic investment scheme

Agri-Business

€1.2m allocated to next tranche of organic investment scheme

The next tranche of the Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme for 2022 opens today (Tuesday, February 1), and is supported...
‘An absence of frogs from an area would raise questions’ – IPCC

Agri-Business

‘An absence of frogs from an area would raise questions’ – IPCC

To celebrate World Wetlands Day (Wednesday, January 2), the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) is launching its annual ‘Hop To...
Drummonds-Fane Valley joint venture gets final go-ahead

Agri-Business

Drummonds-Fane Valley joint venture gets final go-ahead

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has given the green light to Fane Valley’s purchase of a 50% stake in...
Ethical Farming Ireland launches new pig-awareness campaign

Agri-Business

Ethical Farming Ireland launches new pig-awareness campaign

Ethical Farming Ireland has launched a new campaign with My Lovely Pig Rescue called Pig Awareness Ireland. The national billboard...
Arla’s ambitious solar park plan expected to cover 33% energy consumption

Agri-Business

Arla’s ambitious solar park plan expected to cover 33% energy consumption

A collaboration between Arla Foods in Denmark and a renewable energy company that will involve the creation of four solar...