Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., has announced the opening of the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme for 2019.

The Animal and Plant Health Association (APHA), the representative body for manufacturers and sole distributors of animal health (veterinary medicines) and plant health (plant protection/agrochemical) products in Ireland, has launched its Compendium of Veterinary Datasheets as a fully digitised resource and smart phone application providing access to detailed information on over 600 veterinary products for animals.

The latest phase of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership aims to tackle global challenges facing the agri-food sector. 

Teagasc has organised a nationwide series of personalised Forestry Advisory Clinics between 21 January and 1 February promoting the establishment of forestry as a sustainable and rewarding land use on Irish farms.

IFA pigs committee chairman Tom Hogan has called on the pig factories to recognise the devastating consequences of paying below the cost of production. Current prices range from €1.38c/kg to €1.42c/kg, with the cost of production around €1.60c/kg.

Responding to the report published by The Lancet, IFA president Joe Healy said the report fails to take any account of how carbon efficiently food is produced in different regions of the world, or the very high standards that Irish farmers adhere to.

Following the release of the latest figures of work related fatalities by the Health and Safety Authority, which saw farm fatalities represent 41% of total fatalities, the IFA’s Health & Safety Executive William Shortall has announced the rollout of IFA’s peer-to-peer farm safety learning initiative in 2019.

Bord Bia has released Irish food, drink and horticulture export figures for 2018, with value for the year at €12.1 billion, down 4 per cent from a record high in 2017.