Forestry Programme Mid Term Review Must Be Used to Address Issues in Sector – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton has called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to use the mid-term review of the 2023-2027 Forestry Programme to address long-standing issues that are impeding the development of the forestry sector. “If the objective to expand our forest resource is to be achieved, then Government policy […]
Trump Tariffs Pose Significant Threat to Irish Food & Drink Exports
IFA analysis carried by Chief Economist Tadhg Buckley shows the significant threat posed to Irish food and drink exports if the tariff hikes proposed by US President Donald Trump go ahead next week. Ireland exported circa €1.9bn worth of food and drink products across the Atlantic last year. IFA President Francie Gorman the US market […]
Minister Far Too Casual About ACRES Debacle – IFA
Reacting to comments made by Minister Heydon in the Seanad, IFA President Francie Gorman said the Minister is out of touch and disconnected from the stress and financial hardship endured by farm families because of his Department’s failure to deliver ACRES payments as contracted. “How can the Minister say ‘real progress’ is being made when there […]
IFA and Bord Gáis Energy Announce Winner of Solar Competition
IFA and Bord Gáis Energy are delighted to announce that Ann Keohane, from Crosses, Innishannon, Co. Cork, has been selected as the winner of their joint solar competition. Ann, a dairy farmer, receives €5,000 off the cost of the installation of her rooftop solar system. The competition was open to all farmers who ordered solar […]
Minister O’Sullivan calls on the public to protect our birds as nesting season approaches
• Nesting Season (March 1st to August 31st) is a critical time for birds and wildlife as they prepare to breed • Hedgerows provide both food and shelter for our birds and wildlife. Legislation prohibits damage to hedgerows from the beginning of March until the end of August, with limited exemptions. The bird nesting season […]
Horticulture Grant Scheme Re-Opens to Growers Impacted by Storm Damage
IFA Horticulture Chair Mark Walsh said the announcement of the targeted re-opening of the 2025 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector for growers who suffered severe losses goes some way in recognising the impact of the recent storm. “There was positive engagement with the new Minister of State with responsibility for […]
Farmers Encouraged to Engage with Farming for Water EIP – IFA
IFA Dairy Chair Martin McElearney has encouraged farmers to get involved with the Farming for Water EIP. “Improving water quality is critical to maintaining our nitrates derogation, this EIP can assist farmers to put more investments in place on our farms to protect water quality,” Martin McElearney said. Launched in 2024, this EIP is worth €50m […]
Salvaging Windblow Timber Following Storm Must be a Priority – IFA
IFA Farm Forestry Chair Padraig Stapleton said there was good engagement with the new Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, Michael Healy-Rae, at the second meeting of the Windblow Taskforce this week. IFA highlighted to Minister Healy-Rae that there are precedents where Governments in Norway and Germany responded to such national emergencies. International help […]
Conference to highlight commercial market opportunities for organic vegetables
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, and Minister of State for Forestry, Horticulture and Farm Safety, Michael Healy-Rae TD, today announced a conference on “Commercial Market Opportunities in Organic Vegetable Production 2025 – Field Scale and Protected Cropping” at the Department’s facilities in Backweston, Co. Kildare on Monday, 17 February 2025. […]
Ministers of State at Dept of Agriculture Confirmed
IFA President Francie Gorman said he looked forward to working with the three Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture. The full roles and responsibilities of Ministers of State Noel Grealish, Michael Healy-Rae and Timmy Dooley were confirmed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. They are: Noel Grealish TD, Super Junior Minister with responsibility for Food […]