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.

Calls for extension of farmer repayments moratorium

Rural Life

Calls for extension of farmer repayments moratorium

There have been calls for banks to extend the moratorium on farmers’ repayments into the traditional “settling up” period in...
Future of EU-UK trade deal remains unclear

Beef

Future of EU-UK trade deal remains unclear

The future of trade deal negotiations between the UK and the EU remains unclear, with the UK’s chief negotiator writing...
David McWilliams on the future of the global economy – and return of the ‘luck penny’

Agri-Business

David McWilliams on the future of the global economy – and return of the ‘luck penny’

ONE20: The Alltech Ideas Conference took place last week as a ‘virtual experience’ with online interviews and presentations rather than...
Slight drop in agri-sector workers claiming €350/week

Rural Life

Slight drop in agri-sector workers claiming €350/week

There has been a very slight decrease in the number of workers in the agriculture; forestry and fishing; and mining...
SIPTU looks to increase pay for meat plant workers in wake of Covid-19

Beef

SIPTU looks to increase pay for meat plant workers in wake of Covid-19

Trade union SIPTU has written to its members among meat plant workers around the country to outline its plans to...
Company behind Multi Tool Trac prototype tractor declared bankrupt

Machinery

Company behind Multi Tool Trac prototype tractor declared bankrupt

One of the companies involved in the development of a prototype hybrid tractor has been declared bankrupt in the Netherlands....
5 meat plant workers admitted to ICU with Covid-19 [updated]

Beef

5 meat plant workers admitted to ICU with Covid-19 [updated]

Five meat plant workers have been admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals with Covid-19, it has been confirmed....
Yards and fields must be ‘no go areas’ for children during farm work

Rural Life

Yards and fields must be ‘no go areas’ for children during farm work

The importance of child safety on farms has been heavily stressed by the Farm Safety Partnership, which said that yards...
EU to put higher expectations on trade partners under ‘Farm to Fork’

Environment

EU to put higher expectations on trade partners under ‘Farm to Fork’

The EU will aim to place higher sustainability expectations on its trade partners in terms of food production, according to...
Unsettled conditions predicted for coming days

Environment

Unsettled conditions predicted for coming days

Met Éireann is predicting fairly unsettled weather over the coming days, with blustery and showery conditions over the weekend and...
Wood pigeon shooting to be permitted during summer months

Agri-Business

Wood pigeon shooting to be permitted during summer months

The shooting of wood pigeons by land owners will be permitted during the summer months after all, after the Minister...
Meat plants among 240 workplaces inspected by HSA this week

Beef

Meat plants among 240 workplaces inspected by HSA this week

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) began inspecting workplaces in relation to Covid-19 this week, with meat plants among the...
3 separate wind warnings issued for western counties

Environment

3 separate wind warnings issued for western counties

Met Éireann has issued three separate wind warnings for counties in the west of the country, with forecasted gusts of...
1 out of 3 farmers ‘avoid succession issue’ because their farm isn’t viable

Rural Life

1 out of 3 farmers ‘avoid succession issue’ because their farm isn’t viable

Around one in every three farmers avoid dealing with the issue of succession as they believe their farm business is...
What does the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy say about forestry?

Forestry

What does the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy say about forestry?

The European Commission released its much-talked-about Farm to Fork Strategy yesterday, Wednesday, May 20, which outlines the EU’s plans for...
Average beef farmer made €101 ha loss in 2019 – excluding payments

Beef

Average beef farmer made €101 ha loss in 2019 – excluding payments

The average beef farmer made a loss of €101/ha in 2019 – before taking other incomes into account, according to...
Dawn Meats’ Waterford plant to recommence patty production

Agri-Business

Dawn Meats’ Waterford plant to recommence patty production

Dawn Meats’ patty production facility in Carrolls Cross in Co. Waterford will recommence production of beef pattys for McDonald’s outlets...
25% of EU agriculture land to be organically farmed by 2030

Environment

25% of EU agriculture land to be organically farmed by 2030

One-quarter of agricultural land in the EU will be under organic farming by the year 2030, according to the EU’s...