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Bought and paid for
There seems to be plenty of enthusiasm for paid leave for farmers. That would presumably include...
Low bar for farm viability
While over half of Irish farms are described as economically viable in Teagasc’s 2025 National...
Defending Europe’s food security
Commenting on the actions and utterances of President Donald Trump is a dangerous exercise. No...
Defining the undefinable
Ask anyone to define a farmer, and you are likely to get any number of definitions. Even within...
Do we need a compulsory renewable energy programme?
It’s been 80 years since a compulsory tillage programme was introduced during The Emergency,...
Who's complaining about the cost-of-living crisis?
Discretionary spending habits are showing little evidence of changing despite the cost-of-living...
Acting the ostrich is not a viable strategy
The temptation to reduce fertiliser application must be avoided. Fertiliser is far too...
Angela’s medal
So, they gave Angela another medal. That’s the Angela who led Germany as chancellor from 2005 to...
Feed, fertiliser, and fuel challenges
The three Fs have come centre stage again this year. As we enter the second quarter of 2026,...
It looked like an easy win
Imported beef from Brazil was linked to a company managed by the chair of Ireland’s food...
No easy decisions ahead for Government
By comparison with what lies ahead in terms of agreeing with or opposing novel European Union...
Enough to drive you to drink
Wouldn’t tillage farmers love to be sending out the following message in a press release: ‘Grain...
Parliament holds the line
There is a discrepancy in beef-production standards between European and South American countries.
Is a Mercosur deal inevitable?
Despite the postponement, yet again, of the Mercosur trade deal, Matt O’Keeffe asks if there is a...
Hard-won derogation extension
Ireland’s three‑year Nitrates Derogation extension offers brief relief BUT one thing is...
New year wishes
Wishful thinking rarely delivers positive outcomes. Likewise, new year resolutions are only...
The price of peace and prosperity
If we needed certainty on European Union priorities, it came in the closing weeks of 2025....
Living in the real world is uncomfortable
Our long-standing neutrality policy is self-serving.
A changed landscape
My December editorial usually prompts a look back at the year just ending.
The real environmental activists
Who are the real environmental activists? Are they the ones who constantly blow hot air about...