Good week for…

  • Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, who secured enhanced access for Irish beef to Saudi Arabia, as well as confirmation that the ban on Irish sheepmeat has been lifted by the Saudi authorities.

  • Farmers with cattle to sell, as it emerged that Irish exporters are in advanced negotiations with Turkish authorities to ship 47,000 cattle.
  • Fr Paddy Mooney, whose drive-through service in Glenamaddy on Ash Wednesday, was the talk of the nation.
  • Meath farmer Larry Fay, who revealed the part he played in ending a high-speed car chase by An Garda Síochána.
  • FBD chief executive Fiona Muldoon, who reported an €11m profit for the business in 2016, helped by higher insurance premiums and a mild winter.

    • Bad week for…

  • Farmers who were slow to apply for low-cost agri loans as two banks, Bank of Ireland and AIB, revealed their funding has already been exhausted.

  • Farmers waiting for GLAS and AEOS payments, with no information on any new payments forthcoming from the Department of Agriculture.
  • Kildare dairy farmer Larry Martin, who has serious questions about the cause of death of 22 replacement heifers on his farm.