It was a good week for

  • Irish meat factories as Ireland became the first EU country to gain access to the Chinese beef market.
  • Farmers and contractors as they are exempt from new tractor testing rules.
  • Tillage farmers as Minister Creed has said that the three-crop rule will not apply for this year.
  • Cattle farmers as discussions are to progress on Irish cattle exports to Turkey with Irish and Turkish officials set to meet on technical requirements before the end of June.
  • Auctioneers, with more property coming to the market on the back of improving weather conditions.
  • It was a bad week for

  • Farmers in the Tipperary as Carrick-on-Suir Mart was severely damaged by a fire and will be closed for a period of time.
  • For dairy farmers as March milk price bonuses hid base price cuts.
  • Farmers attending marts as a number of marts have banned farmers from cattle lairages due to health and safety reasons.
  • For all farmers, as more stringent emissions targets for the agriculture sector have been approved by the European Parliament.