There is good news for farmers this week as Donegal minister, Charlie McConalogue, has announced that the balance of payments in respect of participation in the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) in 2023 are commencing this week. Commenting on the decision, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: “Payments will issue to 26,677 […]
IFA Presents pre-Budget Priorities to Minister for Agriculture
IFA President Tim Cullinan led a delegation to meet the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConologue yesterday afternoon to discuss farmers’ priorities for Budget ’24. “At the outset, we made it clear to the Minister that his plan to delay payments to farmers this year is totally unacceptable, This must be revisited,” he said. Tim Cullinan […]
Over half of farmers have been victims of theft
Researchers studying farm-based crime have found that more than half of farmers have been victims of theft. Researchers at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) surveyed 1,333 farmers and alarmingly, 55 per cent have been victims of theft. These are among the many findings of a research report by Dr Nicola Hughes and Dr Matt Bowden, […]
Minister ignoring sheep sector challenges – IFA
THE IFA Sheep Chairman has called on the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to step up for sheep farmers. Kevin Comiskey said the income crisis on sheep farms is there for everybody to see, with Teagasc figures clearly showing the extent of the problem for sheep farmers last year where incomes collapsed by over 80% […]
Exemption from residential zoned land tax needed for farmed land – IFA
The Government must move now to make all genuinely farmed land exempt for the Residential Zoned Land Tax, according to IFA Farm Business Chair Rose Mary McDonagh. The call comes following media reports over the weekend that there’s a realisation changes are needed to this tax. “It is encouraging to see that the Government are […]
Sheep Sector Crisis Deepening, Urgent Action Needed – IFA
IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said the crisis in the sheep sector is deepening as prices continue well below last year’s levels. He said prices this year are still 70c/kg behind last year with input costs on sheep farms showing no signs of reducing. “Last year’s margins of just €7/ewe as presented by Teagasc at […]
Consignment of Fertiliser Delivered from the North to Galway
As part of IFA’s campaign on fertiliser prices, IFA Connacht Regional Chair Pat Murphy has sourced fertiliser from the North for farmers in Galway. It was distributed on Friday morning. “We are now at the point of the year where all farmers need fertiliser. It will be spread in the next few weeks, both for […]
IFA President hits out Agriculture Minister over delayed farm payments
IFA President Tim Cullinan said the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue cannot stand idly by while his officials railroad through changes which will mean up to a month’s delay in some farm payments. The Department met with IFA and others last week to negotiate a new Farmers’ Charter, including payment dates. They proposed to significantly […]