Agriculture McConalogue warns farmers that it will be a ‘big challenge’ to retain EU nitrates exemptionThe EU is restricting the exemption Irish farmers have from the nitrates directive because the run-off of slurry and fertiliser from these farms is continuing to damage water quality.
Agriculture Over 70% of farmers would vote for a new farmers’ political party - surveyNew research shows growing discontent in rural Ireland towards the mainstream political parties
Sport Life in the old dog: Greyhound industry fighting back as interest wanesThe sport’s pivot towards industry meetings and a focus on betting companies may see it survive longer than expected – even if numbers visiting the track keep declining
Politics Government supports EU proposals for voluntary scheme to pay farmers to return land to natureDetails of a “non-paper” put together by the European Commission which proposed finding additional EU funding for member states to establish nature restoration schemes were revealed last week by the Business Post
TRADE Bord Bia hosts first post-Covid trade mission to ChinaThe government agency is bringing representatives from 14 Irish businesses to China for the trip
food Food industry hits out at plan to force supermarkets to reveal profit marginsProposed food ombudsman would have powers to probe suspected unfair trading practices as chains are accused of price gouging
Politics Charlie McConalogue the minister with highest emissions from St Patrick’s Day tripsThe government is sending representatives to dozens of countries for the holiday
Climate & Environment Stakes are high as €1.3bn strategy aims to grow forestry farmingThe government’s new €1.3 billion forestry programme, unveiled last week, will need to win over a farming community largely uninterested in tree planting – and mistrustful of the state’s forestry service
Agriculture Cork research farm cuts carbon emissions by almost 20%Farm Zero C research project is also testing methods to reduce methane, nitrous oxide and ammonia output
Politics Rhetoric, tension and pressure but no revolt in coalition wrangle over farm emissions targets Environment minister Eamon Ryan gave agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue a bowl of cherries from his garden, a gesture that may have helped to sweeten the atmosphere in the negotiations over reducing emissions in the agriculture sector
Climate & Environment Farmers to get lower carbon target with review in 2025The compromise target is likely to be agreed after backbench rural TDs threatened to resign their party whips, but it could be raised if methane-inhibiting technologies prove viable
Agriculture Milk production to decline by 1% in 2022Irish dairy farmers, grappling with increases in the cost of energy, fertiliser and animal feed, are reducing their cattle numbers
Wildlife Old Irish Goats given special status Breed with origins going back an estimated 5,000 years currently has no legal protections
Agriculture Retirement scheme and emissions cap among radical measures proposed for dairy sectorThe Minister for Agriculture is to receive a report setting out options to reduce emissions from Irish dairy farms, but some of the proposals could prove controversial
Agriculture Radical reforms needed to slash dairy emissions, report warnsA cap and trade system on methane levels and retirement scheme are among the measures proposed
Agriculture Editorial: Government must act quickly on key issue of dairy farming emissions The threat posed by the climate crisis means that Irish farmers will need to agree to a cut of close to 30 per cent in emissions
Lorcan Allen: Exhorting farmers to plant more crops won’t make much difference to food shortfall As shortages loom, the government target of an extra 25,000 hectares looks likely to be meet but it doesn’t account for a drop in yields due to the fertiliser shortage
Susan O’Keeffe: For the wrong reasons, Ireland could become a self-sufficient, food-secure country Charlie McConalogue may be wrong in the moment to encourage the growth of feed crops rather than food but he is right in the longer term
All farmers to be told to plant crops amid fears of food security crisisGovernment also plans to introduce swing mechanism for excise duty to stabilise petrol and diesel prices
Ministers approved €53k salary boost for new Horse Racing Ireland chiefSuzanne Eade was appointed to the role late last year on an annual wage of €190,000, despite the starting salary for the position being €137,356
