Opinion
Does the dairy industry need EU supports?
With less than four months go to until milk quotas are abolished, calls are being made for the introduction of...
Opinion
Opinion
Transition ‘supports’ don't help ambitious dairy farmers
The notion that the EU should introduce ‘support measures’ to help farmers cope with the end of milk quotas is...
Opinion
UK beef industry relationships preferable to Irish
There are important differences between farm-level responses to disappointing prime beef cattle prices in the UK and Republic of Ireland...
Opinion
Is the CAP falling apart at the seams?
Two months ago, EU Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos referred to the steps taken by him to provide support for those...
Opinion
Global beef demand has begun to run ahead of world supply
It is accepted that suckled beef production is vulnerable at EU and world level, even though trans-global consumption, which is...
Opinion
Productivity of food sector needs to be repeated at primary level
A recent report by the EU Commission highlights that Ireland’s food industry workers are the most productive in the EU....
Opinion
Drystock farmers should focus on what they can control
The profitability or otherwise of drystock farming in Ireland has rarely been out of the news of late. I always...
Opinion
Reward for delivering in-spec cattle is abundantly obvious
The mystery of how British prime cattle prices rose by 4p-5p last week (w/e September 6) despite a 12% increase...
EU
A quiet word of warning to our MEPs
So Big Phil has got the big job as Farm Commissioner, subject to his little chat with members of the...
Opinion
Why should farmers fund their own aid package?
Last week’s news of an ‘Aids to Private Storage’ support package for the dairy sector is a welcome development. But...
Beef
Levy collection - poll confirms perceived clash of interest
Surprise; surprise: 84% of those who participated in our most recent poll affirmed their belief that the collection of levies...
Opinion
Brussels must not be allowed to fudge butterfat re-alignment argument
This week’s aid package announcement by Brussels may well turn out to be a double-edged sword for the Irish dairy...
Opinion
Dr Doolittle of dairying at dairy open day
Anyone with either a current interest in dairy farming – or who intends getting involved in the sector – should...
Opinion
Case for a realistic drainage scheme is clear cut
Courtesy of the presentation given by Teagasc’s James O’Loughlin, delegates attending this week’s Virginia Show Dairy Conference were left in...
Opinion
Farm safety policy – too much carrot – not enough stick?
Speaking at the Tullamore Show this week the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney said that he...
Dairy
Russian food ban a reminder that volatility is outside our control
The ban on food exports to Russia, which was announced last week, could not have happened at a better or...
Opinion
Exploring the 'third option' for dairy farmers
I was recently involved in a discussion with a small group of west of Ireland dairy farmers. While delighted with...
Opinion
Organic inequalities abound
Last week saw the European Commission publish a report, highlighting the growth of the EU’s organic sector. I think, however,...
