It was a good week for

  • Sheep farmers, as prices have risen across the board for sheep at factories.
  • North Cork Co-op, as its acquisition of Feale Bridge and Headley Bridge Co-op has been cleared by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
  • For beef farmers, as Tánaiste Simon Coveney has stated that he believes Ireland will commence beef exports to China in the coming months.
  • Rory Best and Tadhg Furlong, two of Ireland’s famous farmers, as they brought the bacon home from Twickenham last weekend after they helped the Irish rugby team trounce the English,winning the Grandslam in the process.
  • It was a bad week for

  • Farmers, as the Oireachtas Committee on Finance heard that farm loans could be sold to vulture funds.
  • The first case of avian influenza this season was confirmed in a wild bird in Co Antrim on Friday.
  • For marts, as it was revealed that their insurance premiums have almost doubled, with some costing well beyond €50,000 a year.
  • For FBD, as it is expected that the net cost of Storm Emma for the insurance company will be between €6m and €8m.