Foal levy

Richard Kennedy, IFA deputy president and chair of the IFA horse project team, has called for a review of the 2011 Thoroughbred Foal Levy Regulation. At a meeting with the Department of Agriculture last week, the IFA raised issues around the regulation, which the Department is considering. The IFA supports the principle of a levy and the need to support the industry for all breeders.

Climate report

IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney has welcomed the climate report published by the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee last Thursday, and called for its proposals regarding farm-scale renewables and supports for improving on-farm efficiencies to be urgently implemented. He said, this report has identified the necessary actions. It is now time for Government action.

Lamb price

IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy warned the factories that lamb prices must stabilise and there is no need for any further price cuts. He said he has met all the main factories and all agreed that prices need to stabilise at this stage. He said market demand is strong, supply numbers are forecast to be less than last year and the main Muslim festival of Eid is on 22 August.