EU EU to extend duty-free access for Ukrainian food exports until June 2025A compromise agreed on Wednesday provides more safeguards for European farmers while also allowing tariff free imports of Ukrainian food shipments
EU Ireland may row back on EU deal to aid Ukraine food imports The government is considering backing Poland, France and Italy in their bid to reopen a deal on duty-free food imports from the eastern European country
Trade Explainer: What are the new post-Brexit customs rules and are Irish firms ready for them? Long-delayed customs reforms will take effect in Britain from midnight on Wednesday, with Irish food firms expecting to take the changes in their stride
Agribusiness Analysis: Food industry braces for impact of government imposed wage hikesIrish food companies have had to grapple with several challenges of late but the most recent is of their government’s own making
Agribusiness Long-awaited biomethane strategy to be published ‘imminently’, says McConalogueGovernment is due to publish its first ever biomethane strategy, which will set out the roadmap to developing a large-scale biogas industry in Ireland
Agribusiness Agrifood exports reach record high of €19bnEmployment in agri-business sector dropped in 2022, despite exports rising 76 per cent since 2013
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