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.

EPA: Contractors don’t need abstraction licenses for slurry

Environment

EPA: Contractors don’t need abstraction licenses for slurry

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that farm contractors do not need a water abstraction licence for diluting slurry....
ICSA welcomes Hogan’s defence of CAP direct payments

CAP / Schemes

ICSA welcomes Hogan’s defence of CAP direct payments

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) has welcomed Phil Hogan’s defence of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), after...
Agriculture committee calls on meat processors to appear

Beef

Agriculture committee calls on meat processors to appear

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has called on meat processors to attend a sitting of...
Action needed on flood protection – European auditors

Environment

Action needed on flood protection – European auditors

The European Court of Auditors has said that flood protection should now be improved, before climate change take its toll...
Fire safety drives appeals against Leitrim plantations

Rural Life

Fire safety drives appeals against Leitrim plantations

A Co. Leitrim group, which represents many farmers, has lodged an appeal to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the...
Sinn Fein to propose removing planning permission obstacles

Rural Life

Sinn Fein to propose removing planning permission obstacles

Sinn Fein is planning to introduce what it calls a “vital piece” of legislation to remove obstacles to planning permission...
Irish agricultural output rose at second-highest EU rate in 2017

Agri-Business

Irish agricultural output rose at second-highest EU rate in 2017

Ireland’s agricultural output value for 2017 grew at the second-highest rate among EU member states, according to new figures from...
Dairy tops list of food products bought across the border

Rural Life

Dairy tops list of food products bought across the border

Dairy products are the most sought-after foods by cross-border shoppers, according to a major consumer data firm. The statistics from...
Mild weekend promised but with moderate winds

Environment

Mild weekend promised but with moderate winds

This weekend will be fairly mild for this time of year, with fairly good drying conditions, but there will be...
Veterinary guidance an ‘attempt to stifle competition’ – IFA

Agri-Business

Veterinary guidance an ‘attempt to stifle competition’ – IFA

New guidelines from the Veterinary Council of Ireland are “a blatant attempt to stifle competition in the provision of veterinary...
Port and airport vets won’t be hired until 2019

Agri Politics

Port and airport vets won’t be hired until 2019

Despite the Taoiseach’s announcement during the summer, when he said vets would be hired to man Irish ports and airports,...
Feed machinery company Keenan hosting on-farm workshops

Beef

Feed machinery company Keenan hosting on-farm workshops

Feed machinery supplier Keenan, a subsidiary of Alltech, is organising a series of three interactive workshops around Ireland. The workshops...
First details of Bord na Mona’s redundancy deal emerge

Rural Life

First details of Bord na Mona’s redundancy deal emerge

AgriLand has learned the details of Bord na Mona’s (BNM’s) voluntary redundancy deal, which comes after several weeks of discussion over...
Brexit Secretary Raab resigns over border backstop

Agri Politics

Brexit Secretary Raab resigns over border backstop

Dominic Raab has resigned as the UK’s Brexit Secretary, citing the arrangements for Northern Ireland as his reason. His decision...
Brexit draft deal ‘secures EU’s interests as a whole’ – Tusk

Agri Politics

Brexit draft deal ‘secures EU’s interests as a whole’ – Tusk

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, has said that the draft withdrawal agreement with the UK has “secured the...
Reducing food production could cut emissions – UK report

Environment

Reducing food production could cut emissions – UK report

Reducing demand for beef, lamb and milk by changing diets could help cut back on methane and nitrous oxide emissions,...
BNM in ‘wonderland’ over indigenous biomass – Fitzmaurice

Environment

BNM in ‘wonderland’ over indigenous biomass – Fitzmaurice

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has claimed Bord na Mona are in ‘wonderland’ if they believe farmers will be able to...
ICSA expects ‘total price collapse’ in wool

Agri-Business

ICSA expects ‘total price collapse’ in wool

John Brooks, sheep chairman of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), has said that a ‘total price collapse’...