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.

20% of food businesses say market outlook ‘has improved’ due to Covid-19

Agri-Business

20% of food businesses say market outlook ‘has improved’ due to Covid-19

Some 20% of food businesses say that market outlook for them has improved due to Covid-19, according to new research...
2019 CAP payments ‘expose inequalities in Irish agriculture’ – Carthy

CAP / Schemes

2019 CAP payments ‘expose inequalities in Irish agriculture’ – Carthy

The publication last week of the beneficiaries of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments for 2019 “expose obscene inequalities at the...
‘There won’t be much of a second cut without rain’ – McCormack

Grass

‘There won’t be much of a second cut without rain’ – McCormack

With the weather holding out warm and dry at the moment, concerns over grass growth are not letting up, and...
Who were the highest CAP direct payment beneficiaries in each county?

CAP / Schemes

Who were the highest CAP direct payment beneficiaries in each county?

Last week, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine published a list of beneficiaries of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)...
Farm to Fork ‘must mean reversal of cheap food approach’

Agri Politics

Farm to Fork ‘must mean reversal of cheap food approach’

The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy “must mean a reversal of the traditional EU approach” of prioritising cheap food at...
IFA president tells EU Commissioner: ‘CAP cut simply won’t wash’

CAP / Schemes

IFA president tells EU Commissioner: ‘CAP cut simply won’t wash’

The president of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has told the European Commissioner for Agriculture that the approximate 9% cut...
Grass-fed standards for beef and dairy ‘at advanced stage’

Beef

Grass-fed standards for beef and dairy ‘at advanced stage’

The introduction of officially-recognised grass-fed standards for both Irish beef and dairy products is “at an advanced stage” according to...
World Milk Day: Tributes made to dairy farmers and processors

Dairy

World Milk Day: Tributes made to dairy farmers and processors

Today, Monday, June 1, is United Nations (UN) World Milk Day 2020, and to mark the occasion, the Irish Co-operative...
Details of reopening marts with ‘safe-sales’ emerge

Agri-Business

Details of reopening marts with ‘safe-sales’ emerge

Marts will be able to resume auctions and the use of show rings from June 8, while strictly observing new...
Farm organisations react to latest CAP proposals

CAP / Schemes

Farm organisations react to latest CAP proposals

On Wednesday of this week (May 27), the European Commission issued a revised set of proposals for the EU Budget...
N and P Statements to April 30 now available

Environment

N and P Statements to April 30 now available

Interim nitrogen and phosphorus statements (N and P Statements) for the period January 2020 to April 2020 are now available...
Which farms are most at risk of breaching nitrates regulations?

Environment

Which farms are most at risk of breaching nitrates regulations?

Research published this week indicates that younger farmers are more likely to breach nitrates regulations, while farms in the east...
‘Wolves in sheep’s clothing’ – hill farmers react to Biodiversity Strategy

Environment

‘Wolves in sheep’s clothing’ – hill farmers react to Biodiversity Strategy

The proposals outlined last week in the EU Biodiversity Strategy could potentially undermine farmer incomes, according to the organisation representing...
New EU budget proposals have ‘a sting in the tail’ – ICOS

CAP / Schemes

New EU budget proposals have ‘a sting in the tail’ – ICOS

The revised proposals for the EU budget and a Covid-19 recovery plan, which were announced today, Wednesday, May 27, will...
EU recovery fund increases EU budget – but CAP still faces cut after inflation

CAP / Schemes

EU recovery fund increases EU budget – but CAP still faces cut after inflation

While the European Commission has presented a new set of proposals for the EU budget for 2021 to 2027 –...
How will soil conditions fare over the coming dry spell?

Environment

How will soil conditions fare over the coming dry spell?

Met Éireann is predicting a dry and warm week ahead, and with that, restrictions in growing conditions in many areas...
‘Clarity required immediately’ on 2021 CAP payments

CAP / Schemes

‘Clarity required immediately’ on 2021 CAP payments

One of the country’s leading farm organisations has urged both the EU and the Irish Government to provide clarity on...
ACA members involved in 55,000 BPS applications

CAP / Schemes

ACA members involved in 55,000 BPS applications

Members of the Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) were involved in some 55,000 Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) applications on behalf of...