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Negotiations are under way between the Department of Agriculture and the IFA on the proposed tillage crisis fund for farmers hit by last year’s bad weather. This follows six nights of occupation by protesting farmers at the department’s head office – Pat O’Toole and Amy Forde met them on their way out.

The IFA also published its pre-budget submission this Wednesday. The association’s farm business chair Martin Stapleton calls for an extension of this year’s low-cost loans scheme in Budget 2018.

On Tuesday, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed launched a new National Farmed Animal Health Strategy for the next five years. News correspondent Thomas Hubert asked him about changes he is introducing in the way we deal with livestock diseases, including the ongoing review of Regional Veterinary Labs

Co Offaly beef farmer Ken Gill is the first organic participant in the BETTER Farm programme. He spoke with beef specialist Ciaran Lenehan – read more about his farm this Thursday in the Irish Farmers Journal.

Last week, Barry Cassidy joined the Teagasc organic walk on the vegetable farm of Kenneth Keavey in Co Galway. Kenneth employs 25 people on just 41 acres.

On Thursday, pedigree specialist Shane Murphy was at the Irish Holstein Friesian Association’s open day in Co Wicklow. He met some of the participants including the farmer hosting the event, Victor Jackson.

In this week’s Irish Country Living, Barry Cassidy reports on one of the first alpaca farms in Ireland. Ciara Leahy asked him for more details.

Missed the previous episodes of the podcast? Catch up here: www.farmersjournal.ie/podcast