Budget report

The IFA has prepared a comprehensive report on Budget 2018, which is available on the IFA website. Find out how the budget affects you, your farm and your family, how much has been allocated to farm schemes and the main taxation measures affecting agriculture and farmers. Read it now at www.ifa.ie.

Pig price

IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan has called on all processors to stop cutting the pig price. Farmers have had to take a reduction of up to 20c/kg over the last two months. Hogan said this undercutting has to stop and stability must be returned to the market. The pig processing sector must be cognisant of the financial strain pig farmers have endured and the financial commitments they must meet and halt the price cuts.

National Potato Day

Marking National Potato Day, last Friday, IFA president Joe Healy called on consumers and retailers to support the Irish potato sector, which is worth €85m at farm gate. The IFA is insisting that retailers recognise and respect the massive investments potato growers have made and ensure potatoes are sold as a premium product. He called on consumers to support the industry by buying Irish.

Slurry spreading

Environment chair Thomas Cooney has restated his call that farmers who need to spread slurry this winter are not penalised. Having written to both the Departments of Agriculture and Local Government on the issue, he said it is essential that no farmer is penalised for doing the right thing and not spreading slurry at this time.