Sheep market

IFA sheep chair John Lynskey said demand for lambs will be very strong over the next number of weeks in the lead in to the Eid Muslim festival and farmers should demand full value for their stock. Retail demand for lamb is strong and in the lead into the Eid Muslim festival peak weekly kill would normally exceed 70,000 head.

GLAS plans

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has called on planners to submit all outstanding GLAS nutrient management plans as soon as possible. Some 14,000 plans are outstanding, holding up the final 15% payment due to the farmers involved. Submitting the plan will help in the first instalment of the 2017 GLAS payment.

Climate

In a submission to the Citizens Assembly, the IFA said that environmental sustainability must be considered in tandem with economic and social sustainability. The submission highlights that agriculture has an important role to play in tackling climate change, but the need to safeguard food production must be respected.