Good week

  • For the board members of Glanbia, as they are set to receive more money for their roles on the board of the plc in 2018.

  • For dairy farmers, as the heads of Glanbia and Kerry Group revealed they are confident in the short-term outlook for milk prices.
  • For ABP, as it announced a three-year supply agreement with Asian restaurant chain Wowprime Corporation to supply beef to its restaurants in China.
  • For suckler farmers, as a motion calling for a €200/cow suckler payment received cross-party support in the Dáil and was accepted by the Government.

    • Bad week

  • For farmers, as it has been revealed that empty tissue tags are costing them €1m.
  • The IFA accounts, as it settled two legal actions with its former secretary general Pat Smith for €1.9m.
  • For sheep farmers, as it was revealed that over 900 lambs per day, or between 7% and 9% of the kill, are being classified as Category C or dirty and are being rejected from the factory for slaughter.
  • For bioenergy, as 10,000t of miscanthus was exported to Britain at a cost of €8m to the Irish economy.