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Tesco is the first retailer to announce a cut in the cost of butter, although its likely others will follow

Supermarket chains cut price of butter

Following widespread falls in the price of milk across the main supermarkets over the weekend, consumers in a number of supermarket chains will also now benefit from a drop in the price of butter.

Ireland • 03 May 23

The marchers reached Dublin this afternoon (Pic: RollingNews.ie)

Young farmers say rural Ireland needs to keep its youth

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar alongside Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State Martin Heydon and Minister of State Pippa Hackett held a meeting with members of Macra na Feirme this afternoon.

Ireland • 26 Apr 23

Marchers will walk from Athy in Co Kildare to Government buildings in Dublin

Young farmers begin march from Kildare to Dublin

Under grey skies and with a chill in the air, scores of people gathered at the Macra na Feirme sundial monument in Athy, Co Kildare, for this evening's march.

Ireland • 25 Apr 23

Gardaí say fraudsters mostly targeted hardware stores, builders providers and agricultural cooperative stores

Rise in building and agricultural thefts in 14 counties

Gardaí are appealing to the public and in particular to those working at building and agricultural material providers, who may have been victims of credit card fraud, to come forward.

Regional • 19 Apr 23

The safe use of tractors and quad bikes used on farms will be the main focus of the two-week inspection campaign

HSA begins inspection campaign on farm vehicles

The Health and Safety Authority is beginning a two-week national inspection campaign on farm vehicles. The campaign comes as machinery activity on farms increases, ahead of the beginning of the silage season.

Ireland • 17 Apr 23

A file image of St Finian's Bay in Kerry

Call for expansion of Traditional Farm Buildings Grant

The Heritage Council has called for an expansion of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, as the scheme is oversubscribed despite applications still being open for another ten days.

Agriculture • 15 Apr 23

Bord Bia said that both Easter and the Muslim festival of Ramadan have helped boost lamb prices a little

Sheep farmers seek higher payments for their animals

Sheep farmers are seeking increased payments for their animals as prices for sheep meat remain below 2022 levels, even though production costs increased hugely in the last 12 months.

Regional • 04 Apr 23

The majority of farmers believe improving environmental sustainability will have a positive impact on their income

Survey shows farmer optimism is growing

72% of farmers consider their farm economically sustainable, an increase of 18% in 2 years, according to the latest AIB Agri Tracker Survey.

Ireland • 30 Mar 23

Cattle for sale at Kilcullen livestock mart, Co Kildare, in 2020

CSO: Cattle and sheep herds grow while pig numbers drop

Ireland has 7.4 million cattle, six million sheep and 1.6 million pigs, according to the latest Crop and Livestock Survey released by the Central Statistics Office.

Agriculture • 29 Mar 23

The European Commission had instructed that 20% of all land and sea be designated for nature restoration by 2030

Warning that EU habitats plan will fail without funding

Unless a lack of funding is addressed, an ambitious EU plan to restore natural habitats will fail, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Agriculture • 28 Mar 23

Doubts have been raised about whether the Climate Action Plan target of increasing the amount of land under tillage can be met

Tillage group to be set up amid doubts on land targets

A new group to examine the future of the tillage sector is being established by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue

Ireland • 23 Mar 23

My Lovely Pig Rescue in Co Meath now cares for 150 pigs, up from 50 a year ago

Pet pig rescue forced to close doors to new animals

The only dedicated pet pig rescue in the country has been forced to close its doors to new pigs, due to a threefold increase in the number of unwanted and abandoned pigs they are caring for.

Leinster • 06 Mar 23

Charlie McConalogue said the scheme will be based on 2022 milk production levels (stock image)

Exit scheme for dairy farmers by 2024, cttee hears

A voluntary exit scheme for dairy farmers will be put in place next year, the Minister for Agriculture has indicated.

Ireland • 02 Mar 23

The Dept of Agriculture received 46,000 applications for the ACRES scheme

All valid applications for ACRES scheme to be accepted

After months of speculation and delay, it has been announced that all valid applications for the new farmer environmental scheme will be accepted.

Ireland • 01 Mar 23

The survey of 1,160 farmers was conducted between October and December last year (stock image)

Farmers 'concerned' over rising input costs - survey

Around 75% of Irish farmers remain deeply concerned about rising input costs, according to the findings of the fifth annual Irish Farm Report.

Business • 16 Feb 23

Former IFA president Padraig Walshe pictured in 2006

IFA pays tribute to former president Padraig Walshe

The Irish Farmers' Association has paid tribute to its former president Padraig Walshe, who died suddenly.

Ireland • 02 Feb 23

People are urged to practice good kitchen hygiene and cook chickens properly

No public health concerns after salmonella outbreak

Chicken is safe to eat, despite an outbreak of salmonella on eight poultry farms, the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer with the Department of Agriculture has said.

Ireland • 31 Jan 23

The discovery of infection in poultry flocks is being treated seriously by authorities (Stock image)

Culling at poultry farms after salmonella detected

Culls of flocks at eight poultry farms have begun after a number of salmonella outbreaks were detected.

Agriculture • 30 Jan 23

Last year, Coillte planted just 200 hectares, the year before a tiny 50 hectares, and it hopes to reach 300 hectares in 2023 (Stock image)

Coillte's controversy: A UK-based fund and Govt summons

Weeks of controversy over Coillte's decision to link up with an institutional investor fund to buy land and forests leads to a ministerial summons, but the investor fund stays, writes Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent Joe Mag Raollaigh.

Analysis and Comment • 22 Jan 23

The National Dialogue on Women in Agriculture conference will be held on 1 February in Portlaoise

Conference to recognise role of women on farms

An expert on agricultural legal matters has said conditions faced by women in farming are changing.

Agriculture • 21 Jan 23

Negotiations with Chinese authorities were finalised in recent days

China lifting 2020 ban on Irish beef imports

After two and a half years of refusing to accept Irish beef because of BSE fears, Chinese authorities have lifted their ban, allowing for the resumption of Irish beef exports to the world's most populous country.

Ireland • 05 Jan 23

As it has always said, the Government is not looking to directly cut bovine numbers, but many of its proposed actions would in effect reduce numbers on a gradual basis (Stock image)

A year in agriculture that couldn't have been predicted

Everyone thought they knew what was ahead for Irish farming, then the war in Ukraine started and everything changed, writes Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent Joe Mag Raollaigh.

Analysis and Comment • 28 Dec 22

H5N1 avian flu was found in two turkey flocks in Co Monaghan (Stock image)

Avian flu restriction zone in Monaghan lifted

Avian Flu Surveillance Zone restrictions that were in place in Co Monaghan for a number of weeks have been lifted.

Ireland • 22 Dec 22

The report says 2023 will be another year of high agriculture productions costs (file image)

Average incomes up for dairy, tillage farmers - Teagasc

A new economic analysis from research and advisory body Teagasc estimates average dairy farmer income rose to €148,000 for 2022, while average incomes for tillage farmers rose 10% to €64,000.

Ireland • 15 Dec 22

66% of farmers are finding it difficult to get workers

Labour shortage may prevent farms functioning - report

Farmers fear there will not be sufficient labour available to keep their farms working fully next year, according to new research published this morning.

Ireland • 12 Dec 22