Why is the Government’s plan to plant trees and not tillage crops? November 17, 2019 Opinion This week there was a lot of talk about climate change in the national media. The Government’s intention to plant 440 million trees…
Opinion: Farm politics is in chaos; that is the sad reality November 7, 2019 Agri Politics Farm politics in Ireland is in chaos; that is the sad reality. Farmers don’t know where to look, who to trust, or what…
Beef Plan Group: It would make you proud to be part of the beef sector November 17, 2018 Beef Many suckler and beef farmers in this country are at breaking point. These men and women work endless hours week-in week-out – sometimes…
Love it or loathe it, we need a QPS grid for lambs October 29, 2018 Opinion Love it or loathe it, the Quality Pricing System (QPS) – or grid – for beef has presented farmers with an avenue and…
Don’t let the Leaving Certificate results put a dampener on your future plans August 15, 2018 Opinion Thousands of second-level students will make the final trip back to school this morning to collect their Leaving Certificate results. Although a day…
Government-backed straw costs a pretty penny July 15, 2018 Opinion About my weekly travels, I passed by a pet shop in the sunny south-east. It’s been years since I darkened the doors of…
Don’t judge Chinese beef access until it puts money in farmers’ pockets April 16, 2018 Opinion Earlier today, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed announced the much anticipated opening of the Chinese market to Irish…
Time we woke up to the income crisis facing Irish agriculture August 7, 2017 Opinion It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Irish agricultural sector is facing into one of the most uncertain periods in its history. Worryingly for…
The losers in organic farming June 17, 2017 Opinion By Dermot McNally “Be sure to take all your organic information with a pinch of salt.” Farmers are, among other things, business people…
Illegal acts of inconsiderate few will cost taxpayer June 11, 2017 Opinion By Pippa Hackett, an organic farmer based near Geashill in Co. Offaly, and the Green Party Spokesperson on Agriculture It will be interesting to…
Time to deal with the Irish dairy industry’s Achilles heel June 9, 2017 Opinion Those familiar with Greek mythology will be fully aware of the vulnerability of Achilles and his heel. The Greek hero, who commanded a…
What does the term ‘voluntary levy’ actually mean? December 17, 2016 Opinion January is fast approaching: so here’s a suggestion that might help those farmers who traditionally have problems coming up with New Year resolutions.…
