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.

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...
Weather: Dry and sunny weekend, but rain may return next week

Rural Life

Weather: Dry and sunny weekend, but rain may return next week

The weekend and early next week are set to be mainly dry and sunny according to Met Éireann, although more...
Tirlán base milk price up 1c/L for March supplies

Agri-Business

Tirlán base milk price up 1c/L for March supplies

The base price for milk supplied to Tirlán for March will be 39.58c/L, including VAT, the processor said today (Thursday,...
Farmers ‘led up the garden path’ on dairy exit scheme – ICMSA

Dairy

Farmers ‘led up the garden path’ on dairy exit scheme – ICMSA

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has claimed that farmers have been “led up the garden path” on a...
McConalogue meets UK counterpart on bilateral trade

Agri Politics

McConalogue meets UK counterpart on bilateral trade

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has met with his UK counterpart in London to discuss matters...
Dairy reduction scheme ‘off the table’ – minister

Dairy

Dairy reduction scheme ‘off the table’ – minister

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has said that a reduction scheme for dairy cows is “off...
Farm Assist: Pillar II schemes ‘should be disregarded in totality’

Rural Life

Farm Assist: Pillar II schemes ‘should be disregarded in totality’

The Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection has been told that payments from farm schemes under Pillar II of the Common...
Sinn Féin proposes bill to set up commission on family farm future

Rural Life

Sinn Féin proposes bill to set up commission on family farm future

Sinn Féin has introduced legislation in the Dáil to set up a ‘Commission on the Future of the Family Farm’....
Aurivo operating profit back 71% in 2023 as commodity prices fell

Agri-Business

Aurivo operating profit back 71% in 2023 as commodity prices fell

Milk processor Aurivo has seen its operating profit decline by 71.4% in 2023 to €5.1 million, down from €17.8 million...
Longford County Council publishes ‘ambitious’ Climate Action Plan

Environment

Longford County Council publishes ‘ambitious’ Climate Action Plan

Longford County Council has published what it calls an “ambitious” five-year Climate Action Plan for the county. Under the national...
Farmers advised to aim for mid-May silage harvest date

Beef

Farmers advised to aim for mid-May silage harvest date

Teagasc is advising farmers to aim for a silage harvesting date of around mid-May, and to close up fields now...
People need ‘legally binding rights’ on wind farm development – TD

Rural Life

People need ‘legally binding rights’ on wind farm development – TD

A TD has called on the government to publish guidelines on wind farm development, saying that people “need legally binding...