Good week for…

  • The 100,000 farmers in disadvantaged areas, who will see their ANC payment rise by €250 next year after Budget 2018.
  • Demand for Irish cattle from Turkish buyers, as both heifers and bulls are wanted.
  • Anyone with a traditional farm building to do up, as a popular grant scheme opens up.
  • Glanbia grain farmers, who will be paid slightly more than their Dairygold comrades for barley.
  • Planning for farm development, as a new low-cost loan scheme is in the pipeline.

    • Bad week for…

  • Anyone buying farmland, as the stamp duty rate was controversially tripled to 6%.

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  • Communication between two key Government departments, as Finance and Agriculture were at odds on stamp duty.

  • Waterlogged farmers, as slurry can only be spread on a case-by-case basis from 15 October.

  • Beef finishers, with prices under pressure and higher costs to deal with.