Tag Archives: agriculture

Angry farmers may stage a rolling demonstration outside a local beef processor unless there is a breakthrough in the national dispute over beef prices, local IFA leaders have warned. Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas has not ruled out a resumption of the action, which involved the staging of protests outside 30 meat plants recently. Mr Dundas warned that Clare farmers would be back on the picket line on Sunday unless there is a major improvement in beef prices from meat processors and a permanent solution to market specification issues. This could include a demonstration outside venues in Ennis and Nenagh. The Clare IFA leader confirmed a final decision on whether or not to take further action against beef factories would be taken following a meeting this weekend. “There is still a lot of anger amongst Clare farmers, with the huge gap that has opened up between Ireland and the UK. Beef prices have risen by about 30 cent per kilo …

A  new report on the land market shows that land prices increased in 2013 and activity levels are up 5% in the first quarter of 2014. The land report, which was compiled by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Authority, shows that prices for agricultural land up to 50 acres increased nationally in 2013. According to the report, the average national price for land up to 50 acres with entitlements and a residential holding per acre is approximately €10,722. In Dublin, it is €13,000; in Leinster, it is €11,132; in Munster, €11,378 and in Connacht/Ulster €7,375. The largest increase in land prices was seen in the Munster area, where the average selling price in 2013 increased by 14.3% for land up to 50 acres with a residential holding. In Leinster, prices increased by 13.9% and in Connacht/Ulster they increased by 2%, compared to the previous year. In contrast to the smaller land …

THE Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney this Wednesday announced the opening of iNet, an online application facility for the Single Payment Scheme It will open on this Thursday and the closing date for receipt of applications as 15th May. “The opening of iNet over two months before the application closing date is very much in line with my commitment to maximise the use of technology for farmers’ benefit,” he said. The minister said that over 73,000 applications were submitted online under the 2013 Scheme, representing a ten-fold increase since iNet was launched. “With almost 40,000 applications submitted under the 2013 Scheme with no change recorded from the previous year, there is huge scope for many applicants to submit their 2013 applications sooner rather than later,” Minister Coveney noted. “Initially, farmers and their approved agents were attracted to iNet by the fact that it guaranteed immediate, verifiable receipt by my department of their applications,” he added. Minister …

Clare farmers along the estuary who have seen their lands swamped by recent flooding will be making their case for a funding reprieve from government when Minister for Agriculture and Marine, Simon Coveney visits the county this afternoon. But Minister Coveney will not be concentrating his visit on areas of flooding , he will also survey some of the damage experienced by coastal communities, areas hardest-hit by Storms Christine and Bridgid. Minister Coveney, who will be accompanied on his visit by Clare TDs Pat Breen and Joe Carey and Senator Tony Mulcahy, is due at Liscannor Pier at 2.30pm. He will then head down along the coastline to Ballynacally and Kildysart where vast tracts of land, an estimated 1,200 acres,  have been submerged with flood water after the embankments in the Shannon were breached. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has admitted not enough money has been earmarked for flood defence works in the years ahead, but Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen …