Smart Farming event

Smart Farming, the voluntary resource efficiency programme led by the IFA in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, will hold a farm talk in Geashill, Co Offaly, on 31 August. Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten and IFA president Joe Healy will be guest speakers at the farm talk. Attendance is free.

Drought action plan

IFA president Joe Healy has acknowledged the confirmation by Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed of a fodder import scheme for €4.25m as another important element identified in the IFA’s drought action plan. The IFA president again called on Minister Creed to immediately introduce the low-cost loans which were promised in last October’s budget.

Pig crisis

IFA pigs chair Tom Hogan has called on factories to realise that they made a serious error when dropping prices by 4c/kg a few weeks ago. He said: “This needs to be reversed immediately and further increases are required. The situation on Irish pig farms has become alarmingly worse with losses up to 20c/kg on factory pigs, equating a €16 loss on every pig.”