Ireland has made shaping the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) a top priority during its EU Presidency - putting agriculture firmly at the heart of the European agenda.

Decisions to be taken on the next CAP will have a direct impact on farmers across Ireland and Europe - from how agriculture is supported and funded to how the sector responds to climate, food security and changing markets.

But what do Irish farmers think should be on the table when it comes to discussions on the next CAP.

In Agriland's new podcast series - Farm Conversations: Why CAP Matters - we hear why CAP and other farm supports can make all the difference to Irish farms.

We have been finding out exactly what farmers believe are the crucial issues - from putting the right supports in place for younger farmers to helping older farmers exit properly to ensuring that CAP payments should be ring-fenced for the farmer producing food rather than the landowner. 

Farmers also tell us about what works on the ground when it comes to CAP, the realities of farming today, and the difference these supports can make to family farms.

From dairy and drystock to tillage and mixed enterprises, each episode hears directly from the people farming every day.

We'll also examine why CAP is about more than just payments—it's about supporting farm families, keeping rural communities alive, and ensuring Irish farming has a viable future.

The podcast series - which debuts on Agriland on Monday, September 7 at 5pm - features farmers from Kerry to Cavan and hears how schemes like Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes have made a difference on some farms.

EU Agriculture Ministers

Agriland's latest podcast will launch as Ireland hosts an informal meeting of EU Agriculture ministers from Sunday (September 6) until Tuesday.

The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, and see ministers, the European Commission, and senior officials discuss key issues facing the future of European agriculture.

It is expected that ministers will focus on the role of livestock in European agriculture during their meetings in Ireland.