Irish Farmers Journal news correspondent Thomas Hubert met John O'Reilly, chief executive of forestry company Green Belt, who responded to farmers’ concerns over the growing amount of land going to forestry plantations.

Listen to "Forestry company defends the sector" on Spreaker.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture’s Common Agricultural Policy consultations kicked off in Carlow this week. News correspondent Amy Forde spoke with Minister of State Andrew Doyle at the first meeting.

Listen to "Andrew Doyle at the first CAP 2020 meeting" on Spreaker.

News correspondent Hannah Quinn-Mulligan heard from concerned citizens and TDs Alan Kelly and Michael Fitzmaurice at a cross-party consultation on the proposed National Planning Framework, at the Hodson Bay Hotel, in Athlone.

Listen to "TD’s call for NPF revision" on Spreaker.

And finally, the Macra na Feirme National Leadership Awards took place in the Red Cow Hotel on Tuesday night. Three out of the six finalists came away with an award, sponsored by ABP. News correspondent Pat O’Toole first spoke to Sean Wallace from Donoughmore in Cork, then with Sarah Condren and Jennifer Hall, both members of Macra clubs in Wicklow.

Listen to "ABP Macra National Leadership awards" on Spreaker.

Missed the previous episodes of the podcast? Catch up here: www.farmersjournal.ie/podcast

Weekly podcast: Save Our Sucklers and CAP consultation

In this week's podcast we hear a forestry company respond to farmers' concerns and chat to farmers in marts across the country about the Save Our Sucklers petition.