It was a good week for…

  • Dairy farmers, as over 60,000t of SMP was sold out of intervention stocks, which could boost dairy markets next year and potentially milk prices, should the demand for SMP continue.
  • Cattle farmers, as the Minister for Agriculture announced that he would name the factories that were fined for excessively trimming carcases.
  • Active farmers, as, at two IFA CAP meetings, they heard that in the next CAP the active farmer has to be looked after over so-called couch farmers.
  • Dairy farmers in Northern Ireland, as farmers were upbeat at this year’s Winter Fair after a good year of milk prices.
  • BDGP farmers, as up to €38m in payments started to hit farmers' accounts under the scheme.

    • It was a bad week for…

  • A Tipperary farmer, as his vintage tractor was stolen from his farm yard.
  • Vegetable and potato farmers, as Marks & Spencer reduced the price of certain Irish produce to 39c in their Irish stores.
  • Cattle farmers, as it emerged new proposals from the EU could hit Ireland's live export trade if they were to come into effect.
  • A farmer in Co Armagh, as 12 of his sheep died in a dog attack.

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