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Farmers in Europe depend on their Common Agriculture Policy or CAP payment for up to 40% of their annual income.
However, since the UK is set to leave a large hole in CAP funding post-Brexit and with CAP policy set to change in 2020 all eyes are on Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan and his proposals for a future CAP.
Our correspondent Phelim O’Neil was at the EU Outlook Conference in Brussels and asked Commissioner Hogan what he felt the reaction had been to his proposals.
Listen to “Phil Hogan at EU Agricultural Outlook Conference” on Spreaker.
Our correspondent Peter McCann was at the RUAS Winter Fair in Balmoral Park, where he spoke to the Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster about the current Brexit arrangement.
Listen to “DUP not adopting softer stance on Brexit – Foster” on Spreaker.
There were rumblings in the forestry community last week when it came to light during an Oireachtas Committee that the government owned commercial forestry business, Coillte, may have been dishonest with a large group of farmers regarding contracts signed a number of years ago.
Pat Collins, Forestry chairman with the IFA spoke to our correspondent Thomas Hubert about where the problems lie between Coillte and the farmers.
Listen to “Farmer anger at Coillte partnerships” on Spreaker.
Dairy farming has gone from strength to strength this year, with good milk prices pushing up the average farm income up by 30% according to Teagasc.
But will the good times last for dairy farming in 2018?
Former chairman of Dairygold Bertie O’Leary, received the industry’s highest mark of recognition for services to the industry, the Plunkett award, from the Irish Co-Operative Society last Friday in Dublin.
Hannah Quinn Mulligan spoke to him about the changes he’s seen in the industry and the future for dairy prices.
Listen to “Former Dairygold chair Bertie O'Leary” on Spreaker.
Brexit was one of the main topics of conversation at a seminar held by the Irish Exporters Association and our correspondent Lorcan Allen spoke to chief economist for Ulster Bank, Simon Barry about the impact it has had on the UK economy.
Listen to “Irish economy post-Brexit” on Spreaker.
And finally, from a box of oranges to an Xbox, Christmas, and the presents we give and receive have seen some changes over the generations.
Tracey Donaghey spoke to me about an article she wrote for Irish Country Living this week about Christmas through the generations.
Listen to “Christmas through the generations” on Spreaker.
Missed the previous episodes of the podcast? Catch up here: www.farmersjournal.ie/podcast
Weekly podcast: fodder crisis, future weather and forgotten Christmas traditions
Weekly podcast: Young Farmer of the Year, CAP 2020 and labour shortage
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