Ireland Achieve Brucellosis Free Status
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today confirmed that the EU Commission has approved Ireland's application for official brucellosis free status.

Irish Concerns Raised for Fodder Deficit
IRELAND - The bad weather and extremely low rate of grass growth in April and May has left a serious winter fodder deficit on some drystock farms.

Grass Shoots Profits Skyward for Top Producer
IRELAND - Farmers in the north-east will have a unique opportunity today to visit one of the best beef producers in the country.

Irish Beef Production Falls Nine Per Cent
IRELAND - Recently released figures from the CSO indicate that Irish beef production eased by almost nine per cent during the first four months of 2009 due to a combination of lower cattle supplies and some fall in carcase weights.

Beef Exports: Indonesian Officials Visit Ireland
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, yesterday welcomed the current visit of veterinarians and public health officials from Indonesia to Ireland.

Brucellosis Could be Wiped Out in Parts of Ireland
IRELAND - A contagious disease which causes cattle to abort could be eradicated in the North, Stormont sources claimed today.

Teagasc Launch New Suckler Beef Research Farm
IRELAND - Teagasc announce the establishment of a new suckler beef research demonstration farm at its Beef Research Centre in Grange, County Meath.

€69 Million May Lead to Market Driven Processing
IRELAND - IFA President Padraig Walshe said the announcement by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen of €69m grant-aid investment for the beef and sheepmeat processing sector is a positive development for Irish agriculture and agri-food exports.

Dawn Invests €35 Million in Plants
IRELAND - The Irish Government support for the beef and sheep processing sector announced at the weekend includes support for three Dawn Meats plants, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Charleville, Co. Cork and Grannagh, Waterford.

Heavy Irish Rains Affect Livestock Farms
IRELAND - The cumulative effects of the ongoing heavy rains are now having a serious impact on livestock farms across most of Ireland. Many affected farmers have rehoused cattle particularly on heavy soils, while they wait for ground conditions to improve....

AFBI and Teagasc Sign Scientific Collaboration MoU
IRELAND - Scientific collaboration between the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and Teagasc has been formally recognised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

IFA: Commitment to Fallen Animals Must be Delivered
IRELAND - Following a meeting with Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, the IFA Deputy President Derek Deane said the commitment given to him by the Minister Smith to provide real competition in the area of animal collection must be delivered on i...

Fallen Animals Responsibility Rests with Minister
IRELAND - Irish livestock farmers have called on the Irish agriculture minister to ensure rules ands regulations are adhered to to allow full competition over the question of disposal of fallen animals.

IFA Demands Change on Animal Disposal Rules
IRELAND - Irsh Farmers Association Deputy President Derek Deane said the Minister for Agriculture must immediately change the rules and regulations for fallen animal disposal, in order to break up the collection and rendering cartel operating this service...

Organic Opportunity May Hold Hope for Ireland
IRELAND - The Teagasc National Organic Conference heard that the market in Ireland for organic produce is now worth €104 million per year, but potential growth in beef and dairy could make that figure much higher.

Protests in Nenagh: IFA Fight Factory Price Cuts
IRELAND - IFA today staged protests outside the AIBP beef factory in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, Kepak in Athleague, Co Roscommon and the Dawn Meats Group plant in Granagh, Co Waterford over the beef price cuts inflicted on winter finishers in recent weeks...

Chinese Market Opens for Irish Bovine Semen
IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Brendan Smith TD, today welcomed the opening of the Chinese market for Irish bovine semen.

Irish Breakthrough in Genomic Bulls
IRELAND - A historic breakthrough for Irish Agriculture has been announced by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD. This breakthrough is based on a new science known as genomics in which Ireland is already a world leader.

Winter Finishers Resist Low Beef Prices
IRELAND - IFA National Livestock Committee Chairman Michael Doran said winter finishers are furious with the factories over the way they have attempted to manipulate a pull in quoted beef prices. He said there is no basis or market justification whatsoever...

Irish Farmers Told to Bridge Price Gap
IRELAND - Farmers in Kerry have been advised to fight factories to bridge the massive price gap between prices paid in Ireland and the United Kingdom.