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Tuesday 28 November 2023 Dublin: 1°C

# Farming

This month
November 2023
Farmers welcome compensation for unharvested crops after 'major losses' due to extreme weather
Tillage farmers can claim up to €20,000 in compensation for ruined crops.
Dr Catherine Conlon: Where does BSE come from and what are the risks?
Following the discovery of a case of Atypical BSE, what now for the Irish beef trade abroad?
Martin hopes China beef exports can resume in 'matter of months' after pause over Atypical BSE case
BSE, commonly called Mad Cow Disease, comes in two forms, Classical BSE and Atypical BSE.
Last month
October 2023
Disasters in last 30 years have caused losses of $3.8 trillion in crops and livestock
Floods, droughts, insect infestations, storms, disease and war have caused about $123 billion per year in lost food production.
Irish tillage being squeezed out in favour of renting land to dairy farmers
A report by
Niall Sargent
Noteworthy examines how dairy expansion has combined with years of policy neglect to leave grain growers struggling to survive.
Rental prices to go up 14% this year, with higher rates where dairy is dominant
Farmers say State plans to grow tillage are unworkable until land rental issue resolved
Land in tillage is set to fall by almost 10% by 2030 despite State targets to grow the sector
Ash dieback disease a ‘national emergency requiring a national response’ says independent report
First detected here in 2012, the disease now affects approximately 16,000 hectares of ash forests in Ireland.
September
September 2023
Mairead McGuinness not in favour of a farmers' party but says 'without them we won't eat'
McGuinness said “a good and honest conversation” was needed about implementing changes in the industry.
Ryan says water quality 'not something we can concede on' pointing to Lough Neagh algae example
Lough Neagh has made headlines recently due to the resurgence of toxic algal blooms.
Eamon Ryan: Ireland isn't going to 'change tack' on nitrates derogation
His comments follow the Taoiseach’s invitation to EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius for a meeting to discuss the issue.
Taoiseach to seek meeting with EU Commission on nitrates derogation after meeting farmers
The IFA said the Taoiseach will seek to meet with the commissioner after a “positive” discussion with farmers today.
Agriculture minister says renegotiating nitrate limit 'not viable' due to water quality failure
McConalogue said there is no guarantee that Ireland will be able to maintain the already controversial incoming nitrates derogation limit of 220 kg/ha.
Farmer groups picket Agriculture Minister's meeting following nitrates cut
The decision to cut Ireland’s nitrates derogation limit arises out of the harm nitrates can cause water due to nutrient pollution.
Farmers say there will be 'massive ramifications' over decision to cut nitrate derogation limit
Ireland’s nitrates derogration provides farmers an opportunity to farm at higher stocking rates when they take extra steps to protect the environment.
Farmer: Irish farming is connected with nature - we are not the enemy
Vincent Roddy of the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association argues for a continuation of the Irish farming system as is.
August
August 2023
Opinion: So, it's now forbidden to tweet about reducing meat consumption - in a climate crisis?
Dr Catherine Conlon examines the controversy this week surrounding a deleted EPA tweet advocating reducing meat consumption.
The Explainer: Why is there so much talk about a farmers' party in Ireland?
This week on we’re joined by journalist and organic beef and dairy farmer Hannah Quinn Mulligan to look at the growing talk of a farmers’ party in Ireland. What are the types of policies they would implement? And what are their chances of success?
Three in four farmers would vote for a new farmers’ political party, survey shows
The Irish Farmers Journal carried out the survey amoung 1,982 readers.
New grant of €1,500 to help older farmers plan for the inheritance of their land
Farmers aged 60 and above will be eligible if they have been farming a minimum of three hectares of land for at least two years.
Two new farming apprenticeships aim to 'help labour shortages in the agri sector'
The first apprentices will begin their two-year programme in September.
This year
2023
Cairns accuses Irish Farmers' Association of 'denying reality' in defence of wildlife activist
Politicians have reacted to the sudden departure of an environment activist over a blog claiming that farm organisations were “lurching to the far-right”.
'Shameful': Strong political reaction to RTÉ Investigates exposé on dairy industry
The programme depicted young calves being kicked and thrown from trailers when being sold at marts.
Dozens more inspectors needed to tackle the 'wicked problem' of farm water pollution
The report found there to be just 11 full-time equivalent council staff for farm inspections across the country.
Department of Agriculture pressured EPA not to release list of farms pumping from rivers
A report by
Eoghan Dalton
The list, which the EPA has refused to release, also contains information on data centres and quarries.
A Social Democrats TD said they were concerned if the Department of Agriculture was 'stymieing' environmental work.
The claim appeared in a ruling in which a decision by the EPA to withhold its water abstraction register for 1,223 locations across the country was overturned.
All locations are abstraction points where water is removed as part of activities related to farming, quarries, data centres and some semi-State bodies.
Eoghan Daltun: 'Yes, state budget surpluses should be used to pay farmers to rewild their land'
The author and campaigner says if we are at all serious about reversing the death of Irish nature, we need to be rewilding on as big a scale as possible.
Two cases of bird flu detected in UK poultry workers
Both workers were asymptomatic.
Holly Cairns says she'll talk to all parties after next election but 'change' is in the air
A report by
Christina Finn
The new Social Democrats leader spoke to The Journal in a wide-ranging interview.
Young farmers group hold 'positive' meeting with Taoiseach after march to Govt Buildings
Macra is calling for stronger government support for young farmers and young people in rural communities.
West Cork farmer who died following an accident involving a bull is named locally
71-year-old Joseph Shorten is believed to have been attacked when he went to open a gate.
Ireland to contribute funding to delivery of 500 tonnes of seed potatoes to Ukraine
The seed potatoes will be given to 10,000 highly vulnerable small farmers in rural areas of the frontline.
Last year
2022
Intensive farming set to ramp up if planned pig and poultry farms approved
If given the go ahead, up to 12 million more chickens and 55,000 more pigs would be industrially reared.
If given the go ahead, up to 12 million more chickens and 55,000 more pigs would be industrially reared
This would produce roughly 26,000 tonnes of excrement annually, Noteworthy reports
Climate scientist: Proposed increase 'especially concerning' given impact on ammonia emissions
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Is Ireland a dumping ground for poultry manure?
'Canary in the coal mine': Protected nature areas under pressure from poultry farming
‘Unacceptable cultural barriers’ preventing women taking over family farms
Charlie McConalogue pledged to do ‘everything we can’ to bring in policy changes.
Cabinet to sign off on new Common Agicultural Policy worth close to €10 billion for farmers
For the first time, there will be specific measures to support female farmers.
Citizens’ assembly on agriculture the wrong model, says farming group
The Labour Party has proposed a citizens’ assembly be held on the future of agriculture and food production.
Deaths of at least 80 cows in last decade linked to spreading of poultry manure
A report by
Niall Sargent
Cross-border investigation reveals concerns over regulation of the trade in poultry litter, an increasingly important natural fertiliser used on crops and vegetables.
16 farms inspected in last decade over concerns with poor spreading of poultry litter, Noteworthy reveals
In the most impactful case, 19 dairy cows died across two farms from botulism linked to litter spreading
Difficult for authorities to identify farms of origin of the litter for inspection or further action
'Canary in the coal mine': Protected nature areas under pressure from poultry farming
'Potential fraud' in poultry farm planning applications investigated in the North
'Canary in the coal mine': Protected nature areas under pressure from poultry farming
Cross-border investigation reveals serious environmental and air quality concerns from ammonia produced by the rapidly expanding poultry industry on the island of Ireland.
'Potential fraud' in poultry farm planning applications investigated in the North
A report by
Niall Sargent
Noteworthy cross-border project reveals serious concerns over the authenticity of documents claimed to be from an Irish State body.
Falsified or altered Teagasc letters used in 23 poultry farm planning cases in the North, Noteworthy reveals
Both national and local authorities in the North are currently investigating the issue
Several cases of dumping of poultry litter discovered in Northern Ireland since 2015
Suspected false documents and illegal dumping: the murky world of poultry manure
Noteworthy reveals serious concerns over authenticity of files used in some poultry farm planning cases in the North and where the manure is going.
'The conflict takes two forms': How worsening droughts are fuelling tensions in Kenya
In times of drought, farmers move their animals to look for water and pasture. This can create a rift with crop farmers.
Over the Hill: Persistent overgrazing causing 'devastation' in vulnerable habitats
Many upland areas are experiencing ongoing grazing pressure and degradation, with rare plants disappearing.
Many upland areas are experiencing grazing pressure and degradation, with rare plants disappearing
Anthea Lacchia of investigative platform Noteworthy reports that overgrazing remains an issue despite being recognised as a problem for at least two decades
Protected areas will be lost if farmers are not given more support, according to experts
Irish farmers urged to grow more crops in response to Ukraine war
The Government is hoping a new multi-million scheme will ensure the co-operation of farmers.