Meat factories
Phelim O'Neill on 13 Jan 2022
Second-generation grading machines now in place
Updated versions of carcase grading machines are now in place in 22 Irish beef factories.
Phelim O'Neill on 08 Jan 2022
Irish factories would benefit from transparency, as well as farmers
The level of information on beef beyond the farm gate has meant that US beef factories can credibly push back against the charges made by the Biden administration.
Phelim O'Neill on 05 Jan 2022
Biden blasts US meat factories
President Biden and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack attack the UK meat processing industry for squeezing farmers and independent competition, exploiting workers and increasing consumer prices.
Phelim O'Neill on 15 Dec 2021
US administration attacks meat factory profits
Meat factories in the US are accused by the Economic Advisory council of making excessive profits and causing a quarter of total food inflation
Barry Murphy on 09 Dec 2021
Beef processors can, but won’t pay more - ICSA
The ICSA has warned that Irish beef processors have to start treating winter finishers fairly on price.
Darren Carty on 24 Nov 2021
Sheep management: liver fluke, drafting lambs and important webinars
Farmers in the west and northwest should be vigilant of a high threat of liver fluke following the release of the Department of Agriculture's Liver Fluke Forecast.
Declan O'Brien on 28 Oct 2021
Crunch time on labour front for meat sector
Meat Industry Ireland estimates that factories need 2,000 extra workers, while SIPTU says pay and conditions are the problem. Declan O’Brien reports.
Peter McCann on 27 Oct 2021
Carbon and grazing audit added to FQAS
The plan is for the revised audit process to be rolled out from autumn 2022 onwards.
Caoimhe Harney on 06 Oct 2021
‘Cartel-like’ practices in sector need to be addressed – Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy has said farmers have been expected to operate in unfair market conditions for far too long.
Caitríona Morrissey on 04 Oct 2021
‘Emergency action needed now’ to avert cull of 150,000 British pigs
Labour shortages at meat processors could see a massive cull of healthy pigs this week unless the British government takes action, farmers have warned.
Caoimhe Harney on 30 Sep 2021
‘We might be forced to euthanise thousands of pigs’ – IFA
The IFA pig chair is extremely concerned that pigs will have to be euthanised if visas are not issued to take the pressure of the factories labour force.
Caitríona Morrissey on 26 Sep 2021
IFA calls for fast-tracking of work permits for pig sector
Workers are needed in the processing sector and on farms, IFA pigs chair Roy Gallie has said.
Amy Forde on 25 Sep 2021
Meat factories and butchers audited on halal controls
The halal audit was conducted in 25 businesses between July 2019 and February 2020.
Peter McCann on 15 Sep 2021
DAERA plans to ‘name and shame’ on BVD
The proposals would allow letters to be issued to NI farmers if someone in their local area has not culled an animal which is persistently infected with BVD.
Phelim O'Neill on 15 Sep 2021
Biden cracks down on meat factories
US administration puts the spotlight on US meat factories as prices soar in the retail sector.
The Dealer on 08 Sep 2021
Dooher does more than Gaelic football
Tyrone senior football manager Brian Dooher is also deputy chief vet at Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture.
Declan O'Brien on 01 Sep 2021
SIPTU rejects factory calls for more work permits, despite worker shortage
SIPTU has rejected meat industry calls for additional non-EU work permits for meat processors despite severe labour shortages.
Peter McCann on 01 Sep 2021
Staff shortage pushes processors to ‘breaking point’
Agri-food industry bodies are calling on the UK government to introduce a 12-month COVID-19 recovery visa programme.
Noel Bardon on 24 Aug 2021
UK meat plants look to prisons to fill worker shortage
Meat industry bodies in the UK have met with the UK government to put plans in place to allow more prisoners to work in meat factories to fill the worker deficit.
Declan O'Brien on 11 Aug 2021
Labour shortage starts to bite for meat processing and mushroom sectors
Up to 2,500 workers are currently required by the meat factories and horticulture businesses.