Charles O'Donnell

Charles O

News Journalist

Charles studied History and Politics, and later Journalism, at NUI Galway between 2011 and 2016. He has had stints with the Sunday Business Post and DMG Media Ireland. Charles has a farming background, growing up on a suckler herd farm in east Co. Clare.

ACRES General tranche 2 applicants ‘receiving approval letters’

CAP / Schemes

ACRES General tranche 2 applicants ‘receiving approval letters’

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has said that farmers who applied for the ‘General’ approach of...
National Party leader to seek expansion of front-loading as MEP

Agri Politics

National Party leader to seek expansion of front-loading as MEP

A candidate for the Ireland Midlands–North-West constituency in the European Parliament elections in June has said that he would look...
Member states urged to apply simplified CAP rules this year

CAP / Schemes

Member states urged to apply simplified CAP rules this year

EU member states have been urged to begin applying simplified rules under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) before the year...
Call for anonymity in reporting unfair trading practices

Agri-Business

Call for anonymity in reporting unfair trading practices

The EU is being called on to allow farmers and operators in the agri-food supply chain to remain anonymous when...
ICMSA welcomes 5c/L support from Carbery

Dairy

ICMSA welcomes 5c/L support from Carbery

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has welcomed the move from dairy processor Carbery Group to issue a 5c/L...
Under 10% of ‘Ploughing 2023’ ticket sales were ‘at the gate’

Agri-Business

Under 10% of ‘Ploughing 2023’ ticket sales were ‘at the gate’

Under 10% of tickets for the 2023 National Ploughing Championships were purchased ‘at the gate’, with the vast majority purchased...
Teagasc advice helplines saw ’15 calls per day’ – minister

Rural Life

Teagasc advice helplines saw ’15 calls per day’ – minister

Two phone helplines set up by Teagasc to provide advice to tillage and livestock farmers on how to manage their...
Concerns remain on TAMS approval despite minister’s comments

CAP / Schemes

Concerns remain on TAMS approval despite minister’s comments

It appears that concerns remain over delays to approvals under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), despite a commitment from...
MEP calls for ‘wake-up call’ in EU after electric vehicles warning

Environment

MEP calls for ‘wake-up call’ in EU after electric vehicles warning

An Irish MEP is calling on the European Commission and EU member states to review how policy is formed, following...
Cowen calls for ‘fast-track’ of offshore wind energy to 37GW

Environment

Cowen calls for ‘fast-track’ of offshore wind energy to 37GW

Fianna Fáil TD and European Parliament election candidate Barry Cowen is calling on the government to “fast-track” the development of...
Unfair trading practices: EU report finds farmer awareness ‘too low’

Agri-Business

Unfair trading practices: EU report finds farmer awareness ‘too low’

Awareness among farmers and operators in the agri-food supply chain of unfair trading practices (UTPs) is “still too low”, according...
Producer prices for dairy products down 23% in last 12 months

Dairy

Producer prices for dairy products down 23% in last 12 months

Producer prices for dairy products fell back by 23.7% over the 12-month period to March 2024, according to the Central...
Humphreys announces €40 million to upgrade rural laneways

Rural Life

Humphreys announces €40 million to upgrade rural laneways

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has announced a “record” funding allocation of €40 million for repairs and...
Soil sampling requirement included in 70% slurry storage grant aid

Rural Life

Soil sampling requirement included in 70% slurry storage grant aid

Some farmers importing slurry under the 70% grant aid for slurry storage – which was announced in Budget 2024 –...
European elections: 15% of Irish people say agri-policy a priority

Rural Life

European elections: 15% of Irish people say agri-policy a priority

With the European Parliament elections just around the corner in June, an EU-wide survey has indicated that 15% of Irish...
Carbery Group announces milk price and additional 5c/L support

Dairy

Carbery Group announces milk price and additional 5c/L support

Carbery Group has announced both its milk price for March supplies, as well as an additional support payment for its...
Farm Assist: Calls for income disregard for land designations

Rural Life

Farm Assist: Calls for income disregard for land designations

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection has been told that farmers with a high proportion of land under designation...
INHFA claims greenways ‘running out of steam’ due to less users

Rural Life

INHFA claims greenways ‘running out of steam’ due to less users

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) has called for a cost-benefit analysis to be carried out on the...