IFA President John Bryan said that the fodder and cash flow crisis on farms now required immediate further action from the Government to help with what is going to be a difficult and costly recovery for the sector. Mr Bryan said that the cost and damage on farms from almost a year of poor weather is running into hundreds of millions, and thousands of farmers are now in a desperate position trying to cope with saturated ground, no fodder [...]  Read More...

IFA President John Bryan has said that any proposal for a mandatory increase to PRSI for the self-employed would place an unfair additional cost on self-employed workers and must be rejected. Mr Bryan said, “Under the existing PRSI system, employees receive benefits that are not available to the self-employed, such as Jobseeker’s and Illness benefit. If there is to be an increase in the PRSI rate for the self-employed, this must be [...]  Read More...

Commenting on today’s publication of the Teagasc National Farm Income figures for 2012, IFA President John Bryan said that the main reasons for the drop of 15% in average farm income were the dreadful weather conditions, and the impact of continued cuts by Government to farm schemes.“The implications of this ongoing disastrous weather event will be that farm incomes will be hit further this year. Without an immediate and prolonged [...]  Read More...

IFA President John Bryan said all farmers need to make sure they have lodged their Single Farm Payment application form with the Department of Agriculture in Portlaoise in good time and well before this Wednesday closing date of May 15th.  John Bryan said this is the most important piece of paperwork farmers will complete this year as it is the key to receiving Single Farm Payment, Disadvantaged Areas payments, REPS/AEOS and all [...]  Read More...

Aurivo Co-operative Society Ltd has been endorsed by Connacht Gold shareholders as the west coast co-op’s new name.Shareholders unanimously approved the new name in a vote at a special general meeting in Claremorris on Friday 10th May.The rebrand was flagged a few weeks ago at Connacht’s unveiling of its 2012 accounts. The co-op says the new name will better suit its expanded geographical base, having acquired Donegal Creameries’ [...]  Read More...