Midland Farmer - September 2023

MIDLAND
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SEPTEMBER 2023
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2 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Department sent
almost 2,500
farmers satellite
inspection notices
The Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine (DAFM) has contacted almost
2,500 farmers in relation to issues arising
from satellite farm inspections. DAFM confirmed
that it had notified 2,471 herdowners of
an AMS notification on Monday, 14 August;
153 notices were issued for Meath, 108 notices
were issued for Offaly and 69 notices were
issued for Westmeath.
The Area Monitoring System (AMS) is
mandatory across all EU member states as
part of the new Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) to monitor compliance with farm
scheme criteria.
This year, the system is being used to monitor
the Basic Income Support for Sustainability
(BISS); Areas of Natural Constraint
(ANC); Protein Aid Scheme (PAS); and Straw
Incorporation Measure (SIM).
These notifications related to potential identification
of an incorrect crop declared on a
land parcel or the potential presence of multiple
crops, that is two or more crops within the
land parcel where only one was declared.
They also relate to the presence of an ineligible
feature, such as a house, farm roadway
or farm building which was not delineated
from the parcel in the BISS application. Farmers
or their advisors are being asked to review
the land parcel(s) that are highlighted in their
notification. A response must be submitted to
the DAFM on or before 2 October.
In June this year, around 4,750 farmers
received notifications from DAFM arising
from satellite farm inspections.
These notifications related to the potential
presence of artificial surfaces such as buildings,
farmyard extensions and farm roadways,
on land parcels.
Experimental calf vaccine shows
promising results against crypto
An experimental vaccine for cryptosporidium
parvum (crypto) from MSD Animal
Health has shown positive results.
At the European Buiatrics Congress and
ECBHM Jubilee Symposium 2023, MSD outlined
what it described as two sets of pivotal
field study data evaluating the efficacy of its
experimental vaccine to provide protection
against crypto in new-born calves.
Crypto is highly infectious and is passed on
to other calves when they ingest oocytes that
have been residing in the environment or shedded
from an infected calf.
It is usually seen in young calves between
one- and four-weeks-of-age. It is a life-threatening
scour and can cause a calf to quickly deteriorate
if left untreated.
The symptoms occur rapidly; calves begin to
scour and shed huge quantities of oocytes in
the dung to the surrounding area. They
become severely dehydrated, weak and find it
difficult to get up.
Some calves can become infected and do not
show any signs, but still spread the infection
through the oocytes in their dung.
The data which was presented at the symposium
evaluated the experimental crypto vaccine
for protection against C. parvum
infection in neonatal calves by passive immunisation.
Global technical director of ruminant biologicals
at MSD, Geert Vertenten said:”Cryptosporidium
parvum is a highly infectious
zoonotic parasite that is associated with
neonatal calf diarrhoea, the leading cause of
calf morbidity and mortality.
“There is a critical need to treat and prevent
this harmful infection.”
In the study, healthy pregnant heifers were
given the experimental crypto vaccine and
Bovilis Rotavec Corona during the third
trimester of pregnancy.
After the calves were born, researchers collected
colostrum from the vaccinated heifers,
then randomly assigned viable new-born
calves to receive the colostrum within four
hours of birth before being exposed to C.
parvum oocysts up to four hours later.
The results showed that new-born calves fed
with colostrum from crypto-vaccinated heifers
had a significantly lower chance of having
diarrhoea, as measured by health and diarrhoea
scores.
MSD also shared a second set of analyses
that investigated the antibody response of the
same crypto vaccine in cattle in relation to C.
parvum parasitic infection stages and an invitro
infection model.
The results showed that high level anti-gp40
in vitro neutralising antibodies were significantly
increased in animals that were given
the crypto vaccine compared to the non-vaccinated
control group.
This data, according to MSD, further validate
that gp40 is an important protein expressed on
the exterior of different C. parvum infection
stages.
Associate vice-president of the global ruminant
business at MSD, Philippe Houffschmitt
stated that MSD is taking the lead in protecting
cattle against the most common and harmful
pathogens.
He said it also offers solutions that guide
herd management decisions to help improve
animal welfare and operational efficiency.
Houffschmitt said: “That responsibility
begins with equipping those in bovine herd
health management with the tools they need to
keep animals healthy and minimise the need
for treatment.”
“We are excited to share our latest research
in C. parvum prevention, which we hope adds
to the growing body of scientific evidence that
is enhancing the comfort and care of livestock
and helping bovine production medicine specialists
make better decisions about health
interventions for animals.”
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September 2023
MIDLAND FARMER
3
Final preparations being made for
National Ploughing Championships
The National Ploughing Championships are
just a few days away and the NPC team are
putting the finishing touches to the grounds in
Ratheniska, County Laois, getting ready for
the 92nd year of the National Ploughing Championships
that will take place from 19 to 21 September
2023.
It is important to note that the economic
impact of ‘The Ploughing’ is over €50 million
for the Irish economy, with a large chunk of
this coming from overseas visitors.
Visitors to the Ploughing this year can enjoy
free parking - with wheelchair and camper-van
parking available, tracked walking areas to all
stands, grandstand seating area, a medical
centre and first aid area as well as baby changing
and feeding areas.
Shuttle buses are being provided between the
Ploughing venue and train stations in Portlaoise,
Portarlington and Athy.
THE PLOUGHING IN NUMBERS
There will be 200 acres of ploughing competitions
taking place over three days, from
10.30am to 2.30pm daily, with over 320 competitors
participating.
Over 1,700 exhibitors will be in attendance at
the event, with up to 300,000 plus visitors
expected throughout the championships.
There will be exhibitors from every part of the
country, a large number from Northern Ireland
and record international interest with
exhibitors coming from an array of countries
such as Italy, Slovakia, Australia, France, Scotland,
Spain, Estonia, Wales, Belgium, Netherlands
and England.
Millions of Euros worth of agricultural and
plant machinery on display with specialist
technical experts and sales advisors available
with an opportunity to enter the prestigious
‘Machine of the Year’ competition.
There will be 37km of metal trackway
required to provide the sites internal road network,
with 14km kilometres of fencing (7,000
fencing panels).
To supply electricity to the site this year
there will be an intricate cable network with
hundreds upon hundreds of metre required,
with 10 generators that will put out enough
electricity to power a small town with a population
of about 8,000 people.
LIVESTOCK
The Ploughing is the perfect place to showcase
stunning Irish bred animals and an extensive
selection of Breed Societies with expert
information and advice on hand to answer
questions from farmers and anyone interested
in the animals.
To feed and keep the livestock during the
three days required approximately 300 round
bales of straw, 100 bales of hay and seven
tonnes of meal is required.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE PLOUGHING
The very popular Enterprise Ireland Innovation
Arena is back this year, having teamed up
with the NPC team to run the Innovation
Arena where ground-breaking technologies
and cutting-edge ideas come to the fore. There
will also be 120 international buyers from all
over the world present at the NPC.
Over 2,000 temporary staff, volunteers,
judges and stewards will assist in hosting the
NPC 2023, with over 500 journalists, reporters,
media personnel and well-know faces in attendance.
There will be approximately 600 picnic
benches located throughout the site for you to
enjoy some of the fantastic food on sale on the
day, or bring your own picnic and enjoy with
the family.
To showcase country style at its best, three
Fashion Shows will take place daily, compered
by Celia Holman Lee. Super prizes can be won
for the stylish ‘Most Appropriately Dressed
Lady and Gent’ competitions - so come well
dressed to the ploughing!
A large fayre of uniquely Irish crafts, artisan
food and beverages and lots more, including
the National Brown Bread Baking competition,
fun fair, hunt chase, sheep shearing,
sports and media personalities, threshing,
cookery and craft demonstrations, vintage display,
live radio, TV and entertainment, retail
pop-up hub, Government of Ireland Village,
Meggers, Agritech Pavilion, seminars and
talks, house and home, lifestyle and tourism,
business and education, health and wellness,
motor show, tyres, tools and components, rural
organisations, machinery demonstrations and
much more.
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4 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Price of dairy
products down by
17% over 12
months
Producer prices for dairy products dropped
by more than 17% in the year to July 2023,
according to the Central Statistics Office
(CSO).
The Wholesale Price Index for June 2023,
published on Tuesday, August 22, shows that
producer prices in the food products index
dropped by 2.8% in the month to July 2023 and
this overall index was 8.1% lower than in July
2022.
Producer prices for meat and meat products
were back 2% in a year, while grain milling,
starches, and animal feeds decreased by 1.2%.
Vegetable and animal oils and fats were
down by 9% in the year and prices for other
food products decreased by 10.7%.
Several food categories were higher compared
with July 2022, including fruit and vegetables,
(+14.9%), fish and fish products
(+1.4%), and baking and starch products
(+0.9%).
The CSO data also shows that wholesale
electricity prices decreased by almost 18% in
June and were 64% lower in July 2023 when
compared with July 2022.
Petrol prices were unchanged from June but
were down 14.4% when compared to July 2022.
The price of diesel rose by 3% month-onmonth
but was back almost 19% on a year
ago.
Domestic producer prices for manufactured
goods were on average 0.2% higher in July
2023 compared with a year earlier, while producer
prices for exported goods fell by 5.4%.
Overall, manufacturing producer prices
were 5.2% lower in the year.
Wholesale prices for construction products
decreased by 0.4% in the month to June 2023
but rose by 2.2% in the 12 months since July
2022.
Lakeland Dairies launches campaign
on shareholding gender balance
Lakeland Dairies, the island’s largest cross
border dairy co-operative, has launched a targeted
campaign to encourage more women and
other family members to become involved as
shareholders in the co-op.
Currently some 12% of herd owners in the
country are women but this does not reflect the
huge, often unseen, work carried out in farm
businesses by women.
Across Europe, the co-operative movement in
general has struggled to encourage women to
become involved at representative and Board
levels.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign,
Lakeland Dairies’ chairman Niall Matthews
outlined the benefits of becoming involved in
co-op shareholding.
“This is one of the most transformative
times in the history of the co-operative movement.
We are seeing considerable change coming
to farming and with change comes
opportunity. I’m a firm believer that having as
many voices as possible from diverse backgrounds
within our co-operative helps continually
to foster progressive ideas and
strategies.”
“Becoming involved in your local co-op is
hugely rewarding. It is your co-op, it is your
business and, in many instances, it is your
livelihood. I believe it’s important to have a say
in the running of your co-op and this is done
by becoming a shareholder and getting
involved in the democratic processes that
decide the overall direction of the business.
“Lakeland Dairies is a progressive, modern
and sustainable co-operative, producing food
to the highest standards, while supporting the
wellbeing of our farm families and rural communities.
We want to sustain that in every way
possible for the future and having greater
diversity throughout our shareholder base is a
key part of that process.”
“We are now rolling out this campaign across
Pictured at the Lakeland Dairies launch of a targeted campaign to encourage more
women and other family members to become involved as shareholders in the co-op, are
Susan Casey, Lakeland Dairies Teagasc Joint Programme; Niall Matthews, Chair and Sinéad
Brady Lakeland Agri.
our membership base over the coming weeks
and months. We have information for those
who want to learn more about the process
including how to have shares in joint names
and how to have the milk account in joint
names.”
Lakeland Dairies has a dedicated channel to
support women who want to become shareholders
in Lakeland Dairies. The co-operative
has written to all shareholders encouraging
joint shareholding among family members.
Lakeland Dairies welcomes more female and
family participation in the life and in the governance
structures of Lakeland Dairies cooperative
and is encouraging wives, spouses,
partners, family members and young farmers
to become joint shareholders as a way of further
improving the overall vibrancy and success
of their co-op.
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September 2023
Production of milk increased
in EU in first half of 2023
A European Commission report shows that
the production of raw milk increased in the
EU by 0.8% in the first six months of this year.
The latest milk market situation report published
by the commission highlights that total
collections of milk in the EU also increased by
0.8%.
According to the report from January to
June the production of dairy products – with
the exception of whole milk powder (WMP) –
increased across the board in the EU.
Although WMP dropped by 2.7% the production
of cheese for example was up by 1.2%, butter
by 1.7% and skimmed milk powder by 3%
year on year in 2023.
But while collections may have increased
across the EU milk prices have not followed
the same trajectory with average prices falling
in the first six months of 2023 below corresponding
2022 prices.
According to Noel Murphy, chair of the Irish
Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association
(ICMSA) dairy committee, the “direction of
travel” in relation to milk prices is a concern
for dairy farmers.
Murphy said the latest prices confirmed by
processors in Ireland for July supplies has left
many farmers “disillusioned”.
“We are in a very difficult space, farmers are
producing at a loss and the fact that demand is
so negative is not creating any confidence.
“Irish farmers are getting paid prices below
the EU average, we need to ask why that is happening
and find out if processors are just protecting
their own margins?” Murphy added.
He believes the key issue that needs to be
addressed urgently is one of supply and
demand.
“We hear a lot about sustainability issues
when it comes to dairy farmers these days –
and that is something farmers are very aware
Graph showing the change in milk prices throughout the EU for June 2022 and June 2023.
of but we also need to be looking at economic
sustainability because there are farmers who
are really in a bad position now.”
“There are farmers who have no choice but to
cancel planned investments – there are new
sheds and milking parlours that were planned
and are no longer getting built.”
“What we need is to look at how farmers can
be supported at this time,” Murphy added.
The ICMSA has put forward a proposal that
an EU supply reduction scheme is one way that
the current imbalance between supply and
demand could be addressed.
“We need the EU and the Irish government to
get on board with this, demand is negative but
supply is still there so we need to deal with
that,” he added.
MIDLAND FARMER
5
Straw Shortage
Must Drive Change
To Organics
Scheme
ICSA Organics chair Fergal Byrne has said
consideration must be given to changing the
Organics Scheme requirements around housing
winter cattle so that housing in existing
slatted sheds can be facilitated.
“We have lots of ambition when it comes to
targets for organic farming but there are barriers
to making that transition and these barriers
need to be addressed,” he said.
“For livestock farmers one of the biggest
barriers is the fact that cattle cannot housed
in slatted sheds and that straw must be used
as bedding. This is a real impediment for
many due to the scarcity of straw and massive
cost associated to converting yards and
sheds to suit the Organics Scheme.
Mr Byrne said the shortage of straw predicted
for later in the year needs to focus
minds on these challenges. “Weather conditions
have been very unfavourable leading to
lower yields, so we know straw is going to be
in short supply and it is likely to be expensive
too. We also know that many cattle and sheep
farmers are in dire straits financially due to
high input costs and relentless processor
price cuts so it makes sense to do everything
we can to make switching to organics that bit
more achievable.”
“While there are limitations on what we can
do because of EU regulations on organic production
there is the scope at a national level
to make these changes. We need more farmers
choosing to farm organically and removing
the obstacles that are preventing farmers
from switching must be a priority.”

6 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Farmers
can
register
interest
for SFI
Farmers can now
start registering their
interest for the Sustainable
Farming
incentive (SFI).
The Department for
Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs
(Defra) will accept
applications for the
scheme from Monday,
September 18.
Pre-registration will
ensure farmers are
supported to have all
necessary information
in place so they
are ready for when
the department starts
to accept applications,
Defra said.
There are 23 actions
on offer under the
new 2023 scheme,
including on soil
health, moorland,
hedgerows, integrated
pest management,
farmland
wildlife, buffer strips
and low input grassland.
Secretary of State
for Food and Farming
Thérèse Coffey said:
“The Sustainable
Farming Incentive is
important for sustainability
– for production
and profitability.”
“With opening up
the options, from mid
September for everyone,
there is likely to
be an opportunity for
every eligible farmer
to join SFI.”
Defra said payments
under SFI 2023 will be
paid quarterly to support
farmers’ cashflow
and activities
required in the
scheme.
Farmers are encouraged
to pre-register
for the scheme and
have all necessary
information in place,
including online
maps and land use /
cover details, before
applications start
being accepted.
COUNTRYSIDE
STEWARDSHIP
The application
window for 2024
Countryside Stewardship
(CS) Mid Tier
agreements has been
extended until Friday,
September 15.
Defra said farmers
are able to be in SFI
and Countryside
Stewardship at the
same time as long as
the actions are compatible
and they are
not being paid for the
same action twice.
Genomics will ‘revolutionise’
performance in sheep sector
The science of genomics is set to revolutionise
the pace at which genetic
improvement can be secured within the
sheep sector.
This was the key take-home message
delivered by Signet Breeding geneticist,
Sam Boon, during his presentation to
the recent EasyCare sheep open
evening, hosted by Co. Antrim flock
owner Campbell Tweed,
According to Boon, 2023 marks 50 years
of the Agricultural and Horticultural
Development Board (AHDB) Signet programme
in the UK, a period of time that
has seen a revolution in the science associated
with the performance recording
of sheep.
“The good news is that the rate of
genetic gain within the sheep sector is
now increasing at an exponential rate.
And this is tremendous news for commercial
flock owners,” he explained.
“It is now possible to breed for so many
traits that are performance recorded.
“These include ewe longevity and the
ability of a ewe to rear her lambs. Lamb
growth rates remain a critically important
trait to assess within all sheep
enterprises.”
SHEEP RECORDING
Boon went on to point out that the
numbers of sheep being recorded does
matter. The larger the population of
sheep under assessment, the faster rate
of genetic gain that can be achieved.
“Where sheep are concerned, the generational
interval is quite small. Hence
the potential to drive genetic progress
that much faster,” he commented.
In the case of Campbell Tweed’s Ballycoose
flock, 4,000 lambs are recorded
courtesy of the Signet programme on an
annual basis.
Campbell also utilises the recording
facilities available through Sheep Ireland.
PARASITE RESISTANCE
Specifically, where parasite resistance
to wormers within sheep flocks is concerned,
Boon stressed the important
role that genetic evaluations can play
into the future.
But is the challenge one that centres
solely on genetic resistance or should
flock owners be breeding for flock
resilience, where these matters are concerned?
Research has identified genetic differences
between sheep in the strength of
their acquired resistance to internal
worm parasites.
If these differences can be identified
by measurements in sheep, this trait can
be incorporated into genetic evaluations
and improved through selective breeding.
But selection for resistance alone
comes at a cost, which can result in a
reduction in overall performance.
In the opinion of Sam Boon, flock owners
should select for resistance in conjunction
with other performance traits,
such as growth rate, carcase quality and
maternal ability.
CARBON FOOTPRINT
According to the Signet breeding specialist,
ongoing genetic assessment will
also allow farmers to identify sheep
with a low carbon footprint.
July of this year saw the sheep sector
in England awarded £2.9 million by the
Department of Agriculture, Environment
and Rural Affairs (Defra) in order
to specifically identify animals with a
Chatting at the EasyCare open evening (l-r): Richard Gorey and his daughter Amy, from Bennettsbridge in Co. Kilkenny
with Mark Cloney, from Enniscorthy
low carbon footprint.
This work will constitute a three-year
initiative. The project has been titled
‘Breed for CH4nge’.
It will measure methane emissions
from a total of 13,500 sheep in 45 flocks,
collect the necessary data and build and
develop the tools required to genetically
reduce methane emissions and improve
the efficiency of the national flock.
The initiative will eventually demonstrate
the impact of low-carbon sheep on
whole farm carbon footprints.
Signet is one of a number of organisations
delivering scientific expertise to
the project.
“AHDB is delighted to share news of
our involvement in ‘Breed for CH4nge’,
an industry collaboration that will help
to breed sheep with a naturally low carbon
footprint,” Boon continued.
“There are a number of exciting elements
to the project that align closely to
AHDB’s research interests, and the
genetic services delivered by Signet.”
“The project will enhance our knowledge
of genomics, breeding for parasite
resistance and CT scanning, whilst
assessing the benefits of using Portable
Accumulation Chambers to predict
methane emissions in grazing sheep.”
THE BALLYCOOSE FLOCK
Ballycoose farm is home to 3,000 Easy-
A group of EasyCare ewes
Care ewes.
The entire operation is managed by
three full-time staff. This, in itself, is a
very powerful illustration of what
‘EasyCare’ sheep management is all
about.
Campbell took the decision of going
down the self-shedding route after the
wool price crash of 1999.
His initial investment centred on the
acquisition of Wiltshire Horn rams,
which he purchased in Northern Ireland.
Up to that point, the Ballycoose
flock comprised a mix of Newton Stewart
Blackface and Colbred ewes.
Within a relatively short period of
years, he fully committed to the Easy-
Care breed, the first of which he
imported from Iolo Owen in Wales.
The EasyCare is a composite breed of
sheep comprising mostly Welsh Mountain
and Wiltshire Horn bloodlines. It
was developed almost 60 years ago with
breed members specifically selected for
their wool-shedding and polled traits.
10 years prior to his switch to self-shedding
sheep, Campbell had committed to
complete animal recording within the
flock.
“There is no splitting of the flock into
groups. Each lamb is tagged at birth
and, thereafter, electronically recorded
on a regular basis throughout the period
of its stay on the farm,” he explained.
“From a breeding point of view, we
cull on a consistent basis.
“Obviously, we will assist any ewe that
has a problem lambing. However, that
female and her lambs will not be
retained for further breeding purposes.
Nor will we sell these animals on to
other breeders; they are all sent for
slaughter at the appropriate time.
“We take a similar approach, where
lameness is concerned. Obviously, any
animal can succumb to a problem of this
kind. However, if the issue arises again,
after the initial treatment, it will not be
retained for breeding.”
EASYCARE SHEEP
Campbell believes that EasyCare sheep
have a key role to play on sheep farms of
all types.
“They are particularly suited to flock
owners who work from 9:00a.m to
5:00p.m between Monday and Friday. To
a large extent, the sheep can manage
themselves,” Tweed said.
Campbell is currently selling both
breeding EasyCare ewes and lambs to
flock owners throughout Ireland and the
UK.
“We are offering fully recorded stock
that can add significantly to any sheep
enterprise. Demand for EasyCare bloodlines
is on the up and this trend shows
no sign of diminishing,” he said.
He is quick to confirm that the selfshedding
ability of the breed is a big
selling point.
“Back when Blackface sheep were our
main focus, we would have sold up to 7t
of wool on an annual basis,” Campbell
further explained.
“Last year that figure dropped to
around 600kg.”
On the back of the commitment to
comprehensive sheep recording,
demand for Ballycoose bloodlines is
increasing on an international basis.
In 2020 EasyCare rams were selected
by Shrewsbury based Farmgene Ltd.
from the Ballycoose flock.
Progeny from this selection were sold
very successfully in two sales in New
Zealand earlier this year.

September 2023
MIDLAND FARMER
7
CSO: Less people working in
agri, forestry and fishing sectors
The number of people working in the agriculture,
forestry and fishing sector fell by 6,600
people over the 12 months to quarter two 2023,
new figures from the Central Statistics Office
(CSO) show.
Although the latest Labour Force Survey
released on Thursday, August 24 by the CSO
shows a jump of 88,400 in the overall number
of people in work in the year to quarter two,
the sector which recorded the largest drop of
people in employment was agriculture,
forestry and fishing.
In contrast the sectors which saw the biggest
jump in employment was public administration
and defence.
According to the CSO the number of people
with a job in the agriculture, forestry and fishing
sector fell by 6.3% in the year to quarter
two bringing total employment in the sector
down to an estimated 99,200 from 105,800 a year
earlier.
According to the latest Labour Force Survey
the total number of people with a job rose to
2,629,300 in quarter two of this year – up from
2,554,600 a year earlier.
The increase in the number of people in
work was made up of an additional 25,900
males and a further 62,500 females in employment.
The employment rate was lowest among
those aged 15-19 years (28.4%) and highest
among those aged 35-44 years (85.6%).
Meanwhile the rate of youth employment,
for those aged 15-24, stood at 48.0% and was
slightly higher for females (48.6%) than for
males (47.5%).
According to the CSO the number of employees
increased by 94,100 (4.3%) in the year to
quarter two this year to 2,286,200, while the
Chart showing the comparison of employment in Q2 2022 and Q2 2023
number of self-employed decreased by 5,500
(1.6%) to 335,400.
The latest statistics also highlight that
employment increased throughout the country
– based on Nomenclature of Territorial Units
for Statistics (NUTS) – with the mid-east
region recording the largest increase in people
in employment.
The CSO also examined absences from work
and hours worked in its latest report.
The latest figures show there was a reduction
in the number of hours worked per week in the
agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in
quarter two 2023 compared to the same period
a year earlier.
In quarter two this year the total number of
hours per week worked by people with a job in
the sector dropped back to 4.5 million from 4.8
million a year earlier and 5 million in the same
period in 2021.
The latest CSO figures also suggest there has
been an increase in the rate of absences from
work in the agriculture, forestry and fishing
sector in quarter two 2023.
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8 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
EU agri-food exports worth €96bn
in first five months of 2023
After a slowdown in EU agri-food trade in
April, the European Commission has said that
both exports and imports “bounced back” in
May.
A higher increase in exports compared to
imports allowed the EU agri-food surplus to
increase by 2% month-on-month in May, reaching
€5.1 billion.
The latest monthly agri-food trade report
published on Friday, August 25 shows that EU
agri-food exports climbed by 8% month-onmonth
in May, reaching €19.4 billion.
That figure is the same amount as in the
same month last year.
AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS
The data shows that EU agri-food exports
from January to May 2023 totalled €95.7 billion
overall, up 8% from the corresponding period
in 2022.
Exports increased in May across most product
categories compared to the previous
month.
From January to May 2023, the biggest
increase in exports was recorded for fruit and
vegetable preparations which rose by €974 million,
up 25% compared to 2022.
Confectionery and chocolate exports
increased by 18% or €645 million on the first
five months of last year, while grain preparations
and milling products were up by €1.3 billion
(+15%).
The commission said that most of these
increases in export value can be explained by
higher prices, as opposed to larger volumes.
However, the data shows that vegetable oils,
oilseeds and protein crops, and cereals
increased export volumes by 40%, 23%, and
16%, respectively.
The top three destinations for EU agri-food
exports between January and May were the
UK, the US and China.
Exports to the UK and China increased compared
to 2022, while they decreased in direction
of the United States and Egypt.
IMPORTS
The EU Commission report shows that EU
agri-food imports jumped 10% month-onmonth
in May to €14.3 billion.
This is 8% below the May 2022 level as unit
values of agri-food imports have decreased
over the year.
Since the beginning of 2023, total imports
remained 3% higher than at the same period in
2022.
Cereal imports increased by €1.7 billion from
January to May 2023, with a 48% increase in
volumes.
Sugar imports nearly doubled and tobacco
imports increased by 53%, the commission
said.
Imports of vegetable oils decreased both in
value (-23%) and volume (-10%), similar to
mixed food preparations (-11% in value and -
14% in volume).
Margarine and other oils and fats imports
decreased in value by 16% mainly due to lower
import prices.
The top three origin countries for EU agrifood
imports between January and May were
Brazil, the UK and Ukraine.
Imports from Ukraine had increased in comparison
to 2022, while imports from Argentina
and Russia had decreased.
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September 2023
Rugby star Ringrose partners
with NDC for milk promotion
MIDLAND FARMER
9
Ireland and Leinster rugby star Garry
Ringrose has partnered with the National
Dairy Council (NDC) for a milk promotional
campaign.
Ringrose’s image will feature on in-store promotional
displays at 103 Tesco outlets around
Ireland throughout September and October.
According to NDC, the campaign will promote
its guarantee mark, which is based on
locally farmed and processed milk, coming
from family run dairy farms.
NDC said its aim is to “explore the important
contribution of Ireland’s world-class dairy
produce in supporting sport stars to make an
impact”.
Commenting on the campaign, Ringrose
said: “I am proud to be working with NDC as
an ambassador and to promote the significant
benefits of milk.”
“Just as I commit myself to rugby, Irish dairy
farmers pour their hearts into their land.”
“It’s the same commitment and dedication,
and this is what makes our dairy produce truly
exceptional,” he added.
The rugby international continued: “Eating
well is essential and adapting your nutritional
intake to your sport is a necessity.”
Tesco Ireland and NDC have been partners
for several years at this point, according to
Tesco Ireland’s fresh category director John
Brennan.
“We’re once again proud to partner with
NDC, whose commitment to quality produce
and promotion of dairy products in creative
ways supports [us] in attracting new customers
to the categories,” Brennan said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing this campaign
in stores in the coming weeks,” he
added.
According to NDC, Ringrose will work with
the council on a number of other activities
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The announcement of the campaign comes
shortly after NDC released the results of its
back-to-school survey.
The survey results, announced earlier this
month, found that the recommended three
servings a day of dairy for children costs an
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10 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
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‘Farmers cannot continue
to sustain this level of cuts’
Minister accused of ‘sitting idly by while sheep sector is collapsing’
Meat factories and the government have been
heavily criticised by the national sheep chair
of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) for the
“lack of meaningful support” for the sheep
sector.
Kevin Comiskey said that an estimated €10.5
million have been wiped off sheep farmers’
incomes in 2023 to date, when compared to the
price differential from last year.
The crisis in the sheep sector is “deepening”
as prices continue to lag behind last year’s levels,
with farmers in a critical loss-making situation,
according to the IFA national sheep
chair.
Accusing Minister for Agriculture, Food and
the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and the government
of “sitting idly by while the sector is
collapsing”, he said:
“Factories and the government are acutely
aware of the loss-making situation sheep
farmers are in but refuse to support them.”
Minister McConalogue has “failed” to take
action on the situation of Irish sheep farmers
which, Comiskey said can be only addressed
with immediate direct supports.
“The minister must come forward and provide
farmers with a €30/ewe payment by building
on the supports of the Sheep Improvement
Scheme (SIS) of just €12/ewe,” he said.
The IFA national sheep chair urged the minister
to indicate what actions he is going to
undertake to resolve the “challenging situation”
on sheep farms as a matter of urgency.
SHEEP SECTOR
Input costs on sheep farms have increased by
over 40%, according to Comiskey, which is
“effectively eroding all margins in an
extremely low-income sector”.
“Teagasc figures showed income levels on
sheep farms dropped by over 80% last year to
just €7/ewe which included the [previous
Sheep Welfare Scheme] SWS payment.”
“Farmers cannot continue to sustain this
level of cuts, and confidence in the sector is
extremely low and farmers are exiting the sector
due to the lack of support displayed to
farmers,” he said.
Speaking about the impact of New Zealand
(NZ) and Australian sheepmeat imports to the
UK on Irish sheep prices earlier this week,
Comiskey said Irish farmers “can’t compete”
with such low prices.
Stating that NZ lamb is coming in at €3.95/kg,
and Australian lamb is coming in at €2.89/kg,
the IFA national sheep chair said:
“That’s supplying the UK market, and the UK
lamb is making its way to the European market
and distorting the market and putting it
under pressure.”
“You can’t compete, our biggest market is
between the UK and France, and when NZ and
Australia are putting in lamb at those prices,
we can’t compete at over €6.00/kg.”
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September 2023
MIDLAND FARMER 11
SKIN IN THE
GAME
,aseh i ,alldune ean Thehennd i vk 4uualdp 0oe vstelle
uagild oa-e yrilt a clyalldmsrffessurl oihemtnahic ah ualle
aigal fllefti yrsiess -en toe last BC deansk John an
dihael Jr CocMelloe s.be t Ciaran srennan ayrt toe sefnet t
toein srffessp toe urtrne u toe fg.ad ah toe nle u bafbend
ah oihemtnahic i toe srstaiayilitd issrek
PHOTOS: YVONNE COLE DUPUIS
J&M&Son Exports Ltd began operations
from their yard in Ballyfore in 1982 and continue
to expand their exports business. The
animal collection enterprise was formed by
John Costelloe along with his father and has
established itself as a mainstay in the midlands'
agricultural scene.
The company primarily trades animal hides
which are exported globally. It also collects
fallen animals for disposal and provides their
service to local farmers and the County Council.
It’s a significant operation which is managed
collectively by John Costelloe along with his
sons Michael Junior and Eamonn.
Best wishes to John
Costelloe and Family
Beechfield
Products
Transport Ltd
Animal Collection Service
“We’re an international business,” Michael
Jr told Midland Farmer. “We sell hides to Belgium,
Portugal, the Netherlands, The Far East,
Italy.”
Larger hides that are exported are generally
used for upholstery while smaller hides are
mainly used in the production of footwear.
John and his father, Michael Senior, started
the business together almost four decades ago
with John taking over proceedings a number
of years ago.
Mick senior sadly passed away in 2017 but the
firm’s legacy has been in safe hands for a long
time.
• Continued on page 12
Best wishes to John Costelloe & Family
A Midlands based company
with over 40 years in business
-- covering all of Ireland and UK
with a 24-hour service to all
customers.
John Costelloe, JJ Costelloe, Conor Costelloe and Michael Costelloe
Best wishes to John Costelloe and Family
E.K. TYRES
• Licensed Haulage
• Casualty Animal Collection
• Fast Efficient Service
(0505) 21991
Beech Walk
Roscrea
Co. Tipperary
1850 272 634
info@ogradycranehire.ie
Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Car Tyres • 3D Wheel Alignment • 24 Hr Call Out
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Killane, Edenderry, Co. Offaly

12 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Staff members Adilio Nasario de Aquiar, Melio Vaz de Mouro, Cleiton Oliverira Tavares
and Renato de Silva Braganca
Best wishes to John Costelloe
and Family
The premises at J&M&Son Exports
• Continued from page 11
It has transformed since the early days when
John and his father travelled
from their home in England
to Ireland where they collected
hides for days at a
time.
At this time, they
worked from a rented
yard in Nenagh,
county Tipperary trading
hides which were
sent to mainland
Europe for leather
production.
In 1982, John and
Michael Snr decided
they needed a more central
location to be able to
collect animal hides from
around Ireland.
They settled on a
yard in Ballyfore
outside
of
Eamonn Costelloe
Edenderry and the family have operated from
there ever since. The company also has a yard
in Ballykilleen used “specifically to be able to
export factory hides to China because they
need special treatment,” said Michael Jr.
The Costelloes said they were grateful to
all of those in the community that have
helped them in their journey. They
gave particular thanks to Noel Murphy
who helped them to establish
themselves in Kilbeggan,
Tyrrellspass and Mullingar.
A number of people helped the business
on its road to success including the
staff at J&M&Son throughout the years
whom Michael Jr and John gave thanks
to. Brian “Spang” Spence and Máíre
Flynn were also given a special mention
by the family.
The Costelloes also operate Charlie Lawless
Ltd which is based in Portlaoise and
decided to keep the “well established” name.
J&M&Son’s success is partially down to
the strong reputation they have built up in
the industry as well as one simple fact:
“We just provide a good service to
be honest,” said Michael Jr.
“If someone has a dead
animal and they don’t
know how to get rid of
it, someone gives
them our number.
They’ll stick with
us then.”
The company gets
the vast majority
of their hides from
animals slaughtered
in meat factories.
It is “dirty
work” according
to Michael Jr
who said it is
imperative that
they keep in step
with current
legislation.
“We’re obviously
licensed by
the Department of
Agriculture. They
have their own rules
and regulations that
we have to comply with. This
includes the conditions the
premises have to be in.”
Tom Darcy's
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Centre
Daingean
057 9353 048 / 53666
087 251 9361
087 9586 059
darcytyres@gmail.com
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Best wishes to John
Costelloe & Family
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September 2023
MIDLAND FARMER
13
Agriculture was identified as a key industry
in the climate change challenge. A number of
regulations have been put in place to combat
the issue which are impacting traditional agricultural
activities.
While it has not directly affected the Costelloes
who Michael Jr described as “an ancillary
service to agriculture”, the attitude towards
animal hides used in clothing has altered the
business.
John said that J&M&Son’s service is an
important part of having a more sustainable
environment.
“The livestock industry needs to dispose of
carcasses in a professional, ecological and
environmentally friendly manner,” he said.
“It becomes more important now in terms of
the environment that everything is disposed of
correctly.”
One aspect of ensuring this process is carried
out effectively is the traceability of the
animal.
This procedure involves the collection of a
fallen animal’s passport which must match
their ear tag. Farmers are then given a document
“so they have proof that the animal has
gone through the correct channels for disposal”,
explained John.
“Then it gives the Department of Agriculture
the wherewithal to certify that the country is
following environmental guidelines and providing
traceability for all stock.”
“Traceability is vital for the Department of
Agriculture,” he added.
The industry has evolved in this sense since
John first started collecting hides with his
father.
“Years ago there was no traceability. You collected
the cow, brought it back, skinned it, sold
the hides, cut off the meat for the greyhounds
and chucked the rubbish into the bin. Then the
bin went off. Done.”
The industry continues to adapt and change
and Michael Jr said it is important for
J&M&Son to “move with the times”.
“The new process involves a lot of technol-
• Continued on page 14
John Costelloe
Michael Costelloe.
Best wishes to John Costelloe & Family
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14 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
• Continued from page 13
ogy,” said John. “The chaps coming behind me
are more modernised with the electronic side
of stuff, I wouldn’t have a notion.”
“Every generation takes on a new angle or a
new part of the progression within the industry.”
John’s wife Monica was responsible for this
aspect of the businesses before she passed
away in 2015.
“She took care of the paperwork. She liaised
with the farmers on difficulties and problems.
If problems would arise she would take care of
that,” said John.
During the difficult time of Monica’s passing,
the family received support from their
community including Ballyfore GAA who
John said were “very helpful”.
J&M&Son remains very much a family business
and this is something Michael Jr is proud
of.
“My lad there is 5 years old and he comes
with me in the truck sometimes. We were with
a farmer one day who said my son was the
fourth generation of Costelloe to be in that
farm collecting animals.”
“It’s nice to hear that you've been providing a
good service for so long and that there are four
generations of Costelloe’s doing it.”
Michael Jr said his kids, five-year old JJ and
three-year old Conor, are free to decide their
own future but expressed hope that the business
will be operating for years to come.
“I want them to do what they want to do.
Hopefully the business will still be here. It’s
been going for the guts of 40 years and hopefully
it’ll go for 40 more if they want to do it.”
While J&M&Son can approach the future
with confidence, the industry is something
that John feels needs to be reassessed.
“We would like to feel with people becoming
more environmentally friendly that they could
move away from plastics and synthetic material
to go back to leather.”
“Personally I feel people should take stock
and look at what they’re actually wearing and
using.”
“There’s a natural product which is being
discarded,” said John, who thinks people are
spending too much money on synthetic materials
which are then discarded.
“People need to realise that there’s a natural
product that can be and should be utilised. A
natural product which there is a very small
value on at the moment. We need to get back to
using natural materials.”
“It’s a natural product that’s being undervalued,”
he concluded.
Máire Flynn, Key Administrator for Costelloe’s
LITTLE HELPERS: Third Generation Conor and JJ Costelloe
Best wishes John Costelloe and Family
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September 2023
Farming ‘bureaucracy’ a threat
to rural Ireland, say rural TDs
The Rural Independents group of TDs has
said that the level of bureaucracy in farming
is a “threat to rural Ireland”.
The group said that, since Friday, 1 September,
farmers now “grapple with a fresh wave of
bureaucratic demands”, when new rules on
fertiliser purchases come into effect.
As of last Friday, it is an offence to purchase
or sell fertiliser without being registered on
the new National Fertiliser Database.
The Rural Independents has said that the
database has “sparked concerns among farmers”
and that apprehensions around the new
rules persist, particularly among farmers
“who are less comfortable with technology”.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 29, one member
of the group, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath,
said: “The incessant cycle of red tape, rules
and bureaucracy is taking a toll, weighing
heavily on our farmers. The [government’s]
approach has exacerbated the situation,
adding stress without yielding genuine economic
benefits.
“Even the Common Agricultural Policy
[CAP] support, vital for farmers’ livelihoods,
has transformed into a complex web of regulations
that penalise our industrious agricultural
community,” he added.
However, McGrath said that the issue goes
beyond CAP.
“Both EU and national regulations, particularly
those linked to habitat and environmental
preservation, impose substantial financial
burden on our farmers,” he said.
“Unfortunately, despite accumulating over
time, these regulations fall short of delivering
the promised environmental benefit.
“The burden of rules and regulations has
now reached a point where it threatens the sustainability
of farming in our country, and it’s
time to put a stop to it,” the TD added.
According to McGrath, many farmers “live
in constant fear” of inadvertently violating a
“plethora of rules and regulations”, potentially
leading to cuts in their farm payments
and even forcing some out of business.
“The government appears to prioritise a narrow
Green Party agenda over the welfare of
rural Ireland and its farmers. An example of
this is the inflexible, legally binding emissions
reduction targets that disproportionally
impact farmers,” he claimed.
“This ill-timed policy mandates a reduction
in food production capacity at a time when the
world requires more sustenance, not less.”
McGrath continued: “Farmers stand as the
backbone of rural communities, yet their
voices remain unheard, and their concerns
unaddressed by this [government]. What’s
urgently required are practical regulations
that offer support instead of placing further
burdens on our farmers.
“It’s high time for the government to listen
and take decisive action. Presently, it seems
[the government] is entirely aligned with the
Green Party agenda. The sole solution lies for
a new government that’s dedicated to prioritising
the interests of rural Ireland in all policymaking,”
he added.
MIDLAND FARMER
More tractors
reported stolen in
2023 compared
to 2022
15
An Garda Síochána has confirmed that there
has been an increase in the number of tractors
reported stolen in the first eight months of this
year compared to corresponding figures for
2022.
A number of active investigations are currently
ongoing throughout the country in relation
to reported tractor thefts which according
to gardaí have climbed to 24 between January
to 10 August.
This compares to 17 tractors reported stolen
between January 1, to 10 August, last year.
Sgt. John FitzPatrick, crime prevention officer
with An Garda Síochána, said farmers
should be constantly aware that “thieves are
opportunists”.
“When farmers are busy security can slip
down their list of priorities but if farmers
were to ask themselves ‘can I afford to lose this
tractor’ and the answer is no – then they can
see why it is important to have good, practical
day to day, crime prevention habits in place.
“There are a number of practical steps that
farmers can take to protect their tractors –
from making sure they have GPS devices fitted
to security marking them,” Sgt. FitzPatrick
added.
It is also a good idea, according to gardaí, for
farmers to consider installing an alarm or
CCTV in vulnerable areas out of view of their
farm house.
LICENSED
According to the Central Statistics Office
(CSO) there were slightly more imported tractors
licensed for the first time in July than new
vehicles.
Latest statistics show that 259 “used” vehicles
were licensed in July compared to 242 new
tractors in July.
Ballyheashill, Rhode, Co. Offaly, R35 HC97 • Phone: 046 973 7000
www.swainagri.ie

16 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
CSO: Meat prices
increased in July
Meat prices have increased since 2022, and
continued to rise from June to July of this
year, according to the national average prices
for selected goods and services just published
by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The figures released recently show increases
across the board for many meat variations.
Sirloin steak per kg rose from approximately
€15.85 in July 2022 to €16.75 in July 2023. The
average price for June was €16.53.
Striploin steak per kg increased from around
€22.13 in July 2022 to €22.45 for the same period
this year. In June, the price averaged at €22.15.
Lamb meat prices fluctuated over the last
year. Lamb prices for a whole leg had a
decrease in July 2023 from about €14.30 compared
to July 2022 at €14.39.
However, prices did increase from the previous
month. Prices for June 2023 stood at
around €14.18.
Lamb loin chops increased per kg, from
approximately €20.83 in July 2022 to €21.47 in
June 2023 and €21.582 in July 2023.
Sausages had a similar increase per kg, from
about €6.59 in July 2022 to €6.96 in June 2023 to
€7.05 in July 2023. Uncooked chicken, ham fillet
and salmon also rose from last year and last
month.
CSO PRICES
Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages
rose overall by 8.8% compared to this time last
year, according to the Consumer Price Index
from the CSO.
The CSO stated this is due to higher prices
across a range of products such as meat, vegetables,
bread, cereals, milk, cheese and eggs.
Full-fat milk per 2L increased by 15c in the
year, while the average price of Irish cheddar
per kg rose by 41c and butter per pound rose by
24c.
There were also price increases for an 800g
loaf of white sliced pan, which was up 5c, and
an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan was up 6c
when compared to July 2022.
Key considerations when
constructing farm roadways
Farm roadways have a significant role to play
on dairy farms to ensure that maximum benefit
is achieved from grazed grass.
Grazed grass is the key to the Irish dairy production
model, and access to this grass via
roadways is needed on farms.
To ensure the maximum benefit from roadways
is obtained, farmers need to make careful
considerations around not only their construction,
but also their location.
LOCATION
When building new farm roadways it is
important to ensure that they are built in a
location where they can be most useful.
Farmers need to ensure that they are being
built somewhere that will allow them to have
access to the maximum number of paddocks
possible and ensure good cow flow.
Often a main central roadway, with other
roadways running off this, works the best to
ensure that all paddocks can be accessed. For
some paddocks, there may even be access from
multiple roadways.
FARM ROADWAYS
A major consideration when constructing a
farm roadway is the number of cows that are
going to be using it.
For a herd with 150 cows or fewer, a roadway
width of 4.5m is adequate, with a additional
0.5m for every extra 100 cows advised.
In areas that will have a large amount of traffic
such as around the parlour, farmers could
consider having the roadways even wider to
improve cow flow.
It is also important to remember that some
machinery will be using the roadways so adequate
width should be provided.
Controlling the flow of water from roadways
is important; laying water will only cause
damage to the roadway surface.
The slope of the roadway will depend on
whether farmers choose to have a one-sided
slope or two-sided slope:
1:20 one-sided slope;
1:15 two-sided slope.
It is also important to remember the changes
in legislation to prevent direct run-off of
soiled water from farm roadways.
If constructing a new roadway or making
changes to an existing one, farmers should
ensure that the roadway is not in breach of legislation.
SURFACE
Surface selection is also important. The surface
has to provide some cushioning to cows’
feet while also being able to allow machinery
to travel on it.
Having a good road surface for cows to walk
on is a key control measure to reducing lameness
issues on dairy farms.
It will not completely eliminate lameness,
but it can reduce the number of cases considerably.
It is recommended to use 50-75mm of fine
material on the surface of the roadway and to
have it well compacted.
Once a new roadway has been constructed it
is then important to maintain the quality of
the surface.
Some farmers have started putting astroturf
down to increase the cushioning for cows and
extend the lift of the roadway.
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September 2023
43% of pig producers could
leave sector – survey
Almost half of pig producers in Ireland may
have to consider leaving the sector because of
a shortage of skilled workers according to the
results of an industry survey.
The survey, which was carried out by the
Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA), revealed that
43% of farmers indicated that they will find it
“hard to keep going without a pool of skilled
workers”.
The survey results showed that “nearly half”
of Irish pig producers would be “forced to consider
exiting the sector if suitable employees
are not available in the short-term”.
According to the IFA, the survey – which is
representative of 75% of the national sow herd
– also highlighted that there would be a potential
loss of €623 million to the national economy
and a potential reduction of €396 million
in annual exports.
IFA pig chair, Roy Gallie, said: “The Irish pig
sector is facing a critical challenge as it grapples
with acute shortages of skilled workers,
which is negatively impacting on productivity,
growth, and the overall health of the industry.”
PIG PRODUCERS
The IFA survey results detailed that out of
the jobs advertised by pig producers in Ireland,
36% received no applications, while a total of
66% of the applications were “not satisfactory”.
It was also found that 48% of pig producers
have vacancies, with 36% having more than
one position vacant.
One other trend identified by the survey
showed that 25% of pig farmers currently have
no successor identified, with 35% of successors
“undecided if they will pig farm”.
A total of 35% of pig farms have an employee
turnover rate of 10% or less, while pig producers
are seeing 65% of vacancies lasting over
three months.
To gain skilled staff, the survey showed that
91% of pig producers were “willing to provide
full training”.
A total 88% of pig producers said they would
be willing to “fund time off for QQI training”
by the Teagasc Pig Department.
PIG SECTOR
Gallie said: “The pig sector’s success is vital,
not only for the farmers and workers directly
involved, but also for the wider economy and
the food processing sector.
“To ensure the sustainable growth of the
Irish pig sector, collaborative efforts from
stakeholders, policymakers and government
are essential to ensure pig farmers can continue
to source quality suitable employees for
their farming operations.”
He said that the IFA has made a submission
to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and
Employment and “is urgently seeking an allocation
of work permits for the sectors including
pig, horticulture, dairy, and poultry”.
MIDLAND FARMER
17
IFA elections:
Nomination process
formally opens
Nominations for the The Irish Farmers’
Association (IFA) elections can now be
made.The nomination process will close on
September 12, at 12:00p.m.
Candidates running for president and deputy
president require a nomination from their own
County Executive and five other county chairpeople.
Candidates running for regional chairperson
require a nomination from their own
County Executive.
Deputy president Brian Rushe said: “All our
branch officers, county officers and national
officers are elected by farmers. The president
and deputy president of IFA are elected
directly by members. The opening of nominations
is the beginning of that process.
“In an era where we have lots of individuals
and new groupings claiming to speak for farmers,
and others claiming to know the minds of
farmers, having a transparent and fully democratic
process was never more important,”
Rushe added.
Election debates will take place throughout
October, with voting beginning in November.
The national count will take place in December.
The IFA said that a schedule of meetings and
the voting timetable will be finalised shortly.
As announced by the IFA earlier in the year,
the voting process for president and deputy
president will be a hybrid model. Each member
will receive their ballot papers in the post.
They will have the option of bringing their ballot
to their branch annual general meeting
(AGM) or returning it by post.
According to Rushe, this system has been put
in place in order to make it “as convenient as
possible” for members to use their vote.
Another change will see the president, deputy
president, and regional chairpeople elected for
a maximum of one four-year term, as opposed
to the current two two-year terms.
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18 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
SOMETHING OLD
Falling
beef prices
costing
farmers
€2m per
week –
Cullinan
The Irish Farmers’
Association (IFA) is
estimating that
falling beef prices are
currently costing
Irish farmers around
€2 million per week.
The association said
that the gap between
Irish beef price and
the Bord Bia export
benchmark price currently
stands at
19c/kg, and is continuing
to widen.
IFA president Tim
Cullinan is calling on
meat factories to
immediately address
this gap which he
said is costing the
Irish livestock sector
millions.
“We estimate that
the gap between the
export benchmark
price and the Irish
beef price is costing
the Irish beef farmers
about €2 million
per week at the
moment.
“This is at a time
where farmers are
really struggling due
to bad weather and
escalating costs,” he
said.
BEEF PRICES
The IFA president
said that “farmers
need every cent that
is in the market to be
returned to them”.
“Instead of closing
the gap with the
benchmark price, factories
are going in the
other direction with
beef price,” he said.
Cullinan said that
while beef prices
internationally are
on a downward trend,
the recent declines in
Irish prices have been
much steeper than
what has occurred in
other markets.
IFA National Livestock
Committee
chair, Brendan Golden
added: “It’s about
time factories started
supporting farmers
instead of shortchanging
them which
is clearly the case at
the moment.”
As reported
recently, factory
quotes for finished
cattle this week have
continued to fall with
most outlets reducing
quotes by an further
5c/kg across the
board.
Price quotes for
heifers and bullocks
(steers) have now
fallen by approximately
60c/kg since
quotes peaked in
April of this year.
SOMETHING NEW
Revitalising rural Ireland’s old houses
“I love seeing older houses on farms brought back to
life but farmers have a set of obstacles like no-one else
when it comes to bringing these buildings back into
use,” Maggie Molloy, the presenter of the RTÉ programme
‘Cheap Irish Homes’ said.
“Some are lived in by the older generation until all
the sons and daughters are sorted and living in their
own houses and then when the main house becomes
empty, it’s almost surplus to everyone’s needs,” she
said.
“You can’t easily sell it because it’s normally down in
the middle of the farm and even renting it isn’t
straightforward, with a working farmyard more than
likely based outside the back door.
“But these older buildings within a farm contain so
much history when it comes to the families that were
reared in them.
“Even the traditions practiced inside their walls and
the memories associated with ancestors now gone are
so important,” she added.
“The solution may not be as straightforward as a simple
switch over once the house is vacated, but even
maintaining and valuing the building until the next
generation is grown could see some willing grandchild
raise their hand, ready to take on granny’s old place,”
Maggie said.
This is the 4th season of ‘Cheap Irish Homes’ in
which Maggie presents people interested in older properties
around the country with options to meet their
requirements and budget.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the series to
be so popular,” she said.
“I always thought I was in the minority when it came
to old houses. But it turns out a lot of people around the
country are willing to roll up their sleeves and take on
a renovation project,” she said.
“I think in a small way we have managed to change
thinking about how derelict or dilapidated houses in
rural areas can be revamped to provide housing for
people.
“I see so many empty cottages and farmhouses now
being rented, sold, renovated or just passed on to family
members and I think before the show and before my
Instagram feed, the conversation around these older
houses just wasn’t happening on such a national scale.
“I even hope we played some part in opening the government’s
eyes to the potential in old vacant houses.
The new grant we have for these houses offers home
buyers some much needed money to invest in essential
upgrades,” she said.
TOO QUICK TO DEMOLISH OLD HOUSES?
We have absolutely been too quick to demolish in the
past, Maggie contended.
“There’s a phrase I hear constantly and every time it
comes up it just makes me worried for the state of the
houses we have left. It’s; ‘Sure it’d be cheaper to knock
that and rebuild’,” she said.
“Firstly, in a lot of cases, this simply isn’t true.
“If you want to turn your three-roomed cottage into a
five-bedroom bungalow complete with glass box extension,
then maybe, but if all you plan to do is insulate it,
upgrade your windows and fit a new kitchen then it’s a
fantastic home for you,” Maggie said.
“A lot of vacant houses around rural Ireland already
have all their services, internal bathrooms, sitting
rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and roofs. And these kinds
of houses don’t need as much done to them as people
think.”
Maggie is delighted that there are new grants now
that will incentivise the owners of derelict houses to do
them up.
“The vacant property refurbishment grant makes
€50,000 available to people willing to renovate a house
Maggie Molloy
that has been empty for at least two years,” she said.
“If the house is classed as derelict you can apply for a
further top up of €20,000 and if you have a traditional
farmhouse and are considering applying for the grant,
you can get an additional allowance of up to €7,500 for
expert conservation advice on how to refurbish your
property.”
A ‘BUZZ’ IN RURAL IRELAND
“Covid-19 changed a lot of things for a lot of people
and definitely there’s a buzz about living in rural Ireland
like I’ve never seen before.
“Sure it’s expensive to run a car and you can’t get the
bus everywhere, but rents and mortgages are more
affordable and remote working is making the move a
realistic option for a lot of people who never dreamed
they’d have the chance at a better way of life,” contended
Maggie.
“If we embrace this new found bubble of enthusiasm
for rural Ireland by encouraging young people to live
here, incentivising them to set up new businesses here,
to work from home if their broadband is good enough,
to set up co-working spaces in our towns and villages if
the broadband is better in there, then everything will
snowball.
“Other supporting businesses will come, the local
mechanics will be back, the corner shop will re-open,
the pubs will be alive again, our schools will fill again,
and it could very easily in our lifetime all come back to
how it was, only better than before.
“It’s been a long time since people have so openly on a
national scale talked about moving out of our cities
and into the countryside, but it’s ours to lose if we
don’t fight for it.”
Maggie has been inundated with requests to do follow-ups
to give an insight into whether people featured
on the programmes bought the properties showcased
on the series.
“I’d love to do a follow up show and we’re currently
exploring the possibility of doing one,” she said.

September 2023
Over 90% of Irish households
throw out food – research
A total of 82% of people in Ireland are concerned
about food waste in their household yet
94% are still throwing out food, according to
new research from SuperValu.
Of those people concerned about food waste
in their household, 80% would like to reduce
their food waste. Fruit is the most common
food item thrown out by Irish households.
Bananas, apples and strawberries are the
fruit thrown out the most. Lettuce, carrots and
potatoes are the top three vegetables most
likely to be binned, SuperValu said.
Spoilage, expiration and overbuying are the
three most common reasons for food waste in
Irish households, the research, commissioned
as part of SuperValu’s ‘Take Local Action,
Make Global Impact’ campaign, found.
FOOD WASTE
Ireland generated a total of 753,000t of food
waste in 2021, of which households accounted
for 29%, according to latest figures by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
On an annual basis, each person throws out
44kg of food which costs the average Irish
household about €700 every year. Nationally,
that’s a cost of €1.29 billion, the EPA said.
While 89% of people are making a conscious
effort to reduce their food waste, only 32% of
the 1,200 surveyed adults regularly use leftovers,
the research found.
A weekly meal plan is prepared by 44% of
people and 36% said they portion correctly.
Survey results also show that 10% of people
never use leftovers when cooking.
Shopping better, freezing food and using leftovers
are the most popular ways by which people
are reducing food waste.
CAMPAIGN
The ‘Take Local Action, Make Global Impact’
campaign aims to showcase how collectively,
small lifestyle changes can lead to bigger
global impacts.
Speaking about the initiative, head of sustainability
at SuperValu, Owen Keogh, said
that research shows that people want to make
changes but sometimes don’t know where to
start.
“Across all our digital channels and in-store,
we will be encouraging and highlighting ways
people can take small local actions that can
contribute to a global impact,” he said.
“From recipes to help reduce food waste with
recycling tips and highlighting in-store the
extensive plant-based options and range of
locally sourced Irish products,” he said.
SuperValu estimates that if the average
household reduces its food waste by 50%,
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission per person
could be reduced by 37.4kg.
Improving Ireland’s recycling rate by 10%
could yield a 13kg GHG emissions reduction
per household, according to SuperValu which
aims to cut food waste in their operations by
50% by 2030.
Recommended dairy servings
for children cost 65c/day
The recommended three servings a day of
dairy for children costs an average of 65c,
according to a new back-to-school survey.
The survey, carried out by the National Dairy
Council (NDC), examined the cost of including
a portion of milk, yogurt or cheese in children’s
lunch boxes.
This included comparing the prices of dairy
products in four Irish supermarkets: Dunnes
Stores; Tesco; SuperValu and Aldi.
The survey found that it costs an average of
21c for a 200ml serving of milk, 14c for a 25g
serving of hard cheese, and 30c for a 125g pot of
yogurt.
This comes at a time when food price inflation
in Ireland is running at more than 10%.
MIDLAND FARMER
19
Planning for 2024
on tillage farms
Planning for 2024 will start to rise up the
pecking order of importance for tillage farmers
over the coming weeks.
Growers of oilseed rape have already started
this planting process with crop plantings now
underway.
They will be quickly followed by farmers
drilling winter cereals, weather permitting,
over the coming weeks.
Getting the correct crop mix on a farm correct
is important, in order to spread risk. But
rotation also plays a key part in adhering to
Department of Agriculture, Food and the
Marine (DAFM) regulations.
On the latest Tillage Edge podcast, Teagasc
tillage specialist Shay Phelan confirmed the
breadth and scope of the new Good Agricultural
and Environmental Condition (GAEC)
regulations.
He explained that tillage farmers, when
signing-up for the new Basic Income Support
for Sustainability (BISS) payments, also committed
to maintaining a number of farm management
standards.
Phelan said: “Many of these would have
been covered by the previous greening regulations.
These would have included the likes of
buffer strips along water courses.
“Also included would have been the two and
three-crop rule.”
According to Phelan, there are now a total of
9 GAEC regulations in place. And tillage
farmers will be familiar with the subject
areas covered by these measures.
These include the likes of specifying the criteria
that must be followed when ploughingup
grassland. Another relates to the
restrictions placed on burning arable stubbles.
However, there are a number of new regulations
covered by the GAEC measures, which
specifically relate to tillage farmers.
“The crop rotation measures that are covered
in GAEC 7 will be new to tillage farmers
as are the new catch crop regulations that are
linked back to the new nitrates measures,”
Phelan added.
“The main GAEC measures that will be of
direct interest to tillage farmers are the following.
“GAEC 1 relates to the ploughing up of
grassland; GAEC 3 relates to the prohibition
of burning arable stubbles. GAEC 4 covers
the need to place buffer strips adjacent to
waterways. These have been increased from
2m to 3m. The width increases further to 6m
for late harvested crops.
“GAEC 5 deals with measures that reduce
the risk of soil degradation and erosion.
GAEC 6 deals with the issues of maintaining
soil cover and reducing poaching. This is the
condition that is causing a lot of commentary
at the moment,” he said.
DAIRY
The Department of Health’s recommendations
for healthy eating includes three servings
from the ‘milk, yogurt and cheese’ food
group for those aged 5-8 years; with five servings
recommended for 9-18 year olds, due to the
importance of calcium during this life stage.
“Back to school is one of the most expensive
times of the year for parents and, with food
prices rising across the board, it has never
been more challenging to feed a family affordably
whilst also guaranteeing that kids get a
healthy balanced diet,” Dr. Mary Harrington,
senior nutritionist with NDC, said.
“Our survey of supermarket prices found
that the recommended three servings of dairy
per day for 5-8 year olds, costs on average €0.65,
so putting a dairy product in your child’s
lunchbox provides excellent value for money
while also packing a real nutritional punch.
“One serving each of milk, yogurt and
cheese, provides a wide range of nutrients,
including calcium, protein, iodine, phosphorus
and B vitamins – all of which play an
important role in your kid’s health,” she
added.

20 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023

September 2023
Number of students in school
milk scheme decreasing
MIDLAND FARMER
21
Over 90,000 farmers
registered on
National Fertiliser
Database
The number of students participating in the
EU School Milk Scheme has decreased for the
second year in a row by over 7,000 students
compared to the previous year.
The number of pupils that participated in the
scheme for the 2021/2022 school year was
35,782.
A total of 42,998 participated in the 2020/2021
academic year, while in contrast 55,042 students
participated for the 2019/2020 year.
The number of schools that participated for
the 2021/2022 school year, including preschools,
primary and secondary schools, was
1,750.
This was a rise from the previous year, when
533 schools participated.
This reduction in figures may be due to the
Covid-19 pandemic as schools were closed
between January and April 2021.
During this period a home-delivery programme
ran, which provided weekly deliveries
of food parcels containing portions of fruit,
vegetables, milk and cheese directly to homes
or to a designated collection point.
NDC SUPPLYING MILK
The EU School Milk Scheme has operated in
Ireland since 1982, with the objective of “promoting
and encouraging” the consumption of
milk among school children.
Milk is supplied to the schools on a charged
basis by their local participating dairy co-operative.
To pay the cost an annual budget of €250 million
is allocated and a parental contribution
applies. The EU contribution is used to reduce
this parental cost.
The scheme is managed through the National
Dairy Council (NDC).
The NDC said it is “concerned” that many
Irish children are not getting enough calcium
in their diets.
NDC set up ‘Moo Crew’ to address the situation
and increase awareness of the “importance”
of milk in diets. It wanted to show that
milk, yogurt and cheese are part of a “balanced
diet”.
NDC runs web-based lesson plans on the
importance of dairy through this programme
The Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine (DAFM), together with the NDC
has began working on a devised model of
implementation to halt the decline and
increase participation.
The model will focus on “enhanced communication,
new accompanying measures and the
reduction of the parental contribution”.
Over 90,000 farmers are registered on the
National Fertiliser Database which has came
into effect last Friday, September 1, the Department
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
(DAFM) has said.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the
Marine, Charlie McConalogue welcomed the
“fantastic level” of engagement with registration
and urged remaining farmers to sign up.
Any farmer or other professional fertiliser
end user who wishes to purchase fertiliser,
including lime, must be registered as a professional
fertiliser end user with the DAFM.
Farmers, or their agents can register on
agfood.ie. Those farmers involved in the
import of fertiliser, farm-to-farm transfers,
and/or retail sale of fertiliser must also register
as fertiliser economic operators.
Thanking every farmer that has registered
for the National Fertiliser Database, Minister
McConalogue commented: “There has been
phenomenal engagement with the new system
by farmers and their agents which further
demonstrates farmers’ willingness to embrace
positive changes.
“Registration is a very simple process. I
encourage those who have yet to register to do
so as soon as possible to avoid any potential
disruption to their farming operations.”
FERTILISER DATABASE
From last Friday all fertiliser imports into
the state must be notified to the database
within 72 hours of import, and all data on fertiliser
transactions must be recorded by fertiliser
economic operators.
Department officials will be available at the
National Ploughing Championships later this
month to assist with any queries or difficulties
regarding registration or use of the National
Fertiliser Database.
www.johndixonplanthire.ie
JOHN DIXON PLANT HIRE
087 813 1099 / 087 416 1181
Sarsfieldstown, Killucan, Co Westmeath
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Precision chop cut pit silage with various
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22 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Coleman Livestock
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‘Never too early’ to start
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Farmers have been called on to look to the
future by Macra president Elaine Houlihan,
who said that it is “never too early” to commence
succession planning.
Under the new Succession Planning Advice
Grant (SPAG), farmers aged 60 years and above
will be provided with a maximum payment of
€1,500 to seek succession planning advice.
Macra welcomed the launch of the new
scheme which opened on 19 September, by
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Charlie McConalogue.
While the payment of up to €1,500 is welcomed
and will assist in generational renewal,
the Macra president said it will “not on its own
move the dial” from the current low percentage
of young farmers.
Speaking after the announcement, she said:
“This is not the first time that financial incentives
have been introduced to facilitate succession.
We have the €5,000 tax credit available for
succession partnerships since 2017.
“We have approximately 280 financial supports
available under CAP [Common Agricultural
Policy], yet less than 7% of farmers are
under the age of 35.
“Given that over one third of all farmers are
over the age of 65, it is imperative for the
future of our industry that farmers engage
with services such as the Land Mobility service,”
Houlihan added.
Macra continues to work with the Department
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
(DAFM) and the government in the development
of its succession scheme.
The organisation’s succession scheme will
“deliver significant change in Irish farming
circles and will be a model for the rest of the
EU to emulate”, Macra said.
SUCCESSION GRANT SCHEME
The new scheme with a maximum payment
of €1,500 to help farmers seek succession planning
advice, will cover up to half of vouched
legal, accounting, and advisory costs.
Farmers aged 60 years or above must be
farming a minimum of 3ha of land for at least
two years prior to making their application.
Applications will be open until the end of
2023, with the first tranche payment being
made in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.
An online information webinar for the new
scheme is scheduled for 6 September at
7:00p.m.
SCALLY
PRECAST
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ALL GRANT
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Tel: 044 922 3211
Mob: 087 793 3736
Kilbeggan,
Co. Westmeath
PG Plant
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All areas of agri and construction
hire covered from digger,
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cutting both saw and fail.
padraic@pgplanthire.com
085 768 1786
Milltownpass
Mullingar
Co Westmeath
MULLINGAR
AGRI STORE
Mullingar Bus. Pk,
Mullingar
Tel. 044 934 7440
For all your agri feed
and hardware needs
Suppliers of pet food
Open
Monday - Friday 9-6pm
Saturday 9-1pm
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of stock
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BARCRETE
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Extensive knowledge in
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087 2501 275
barry@barcrete.com

September 2023
Children in rural areas have
better immune systems – study
MIDLAND FARMER
23
FDI calls for food
sector support in
budget submission
Children raised in rural environments, who
spend a lot of time outdoors with some exposure
to animals, grow to have better regulated
immune systems than children living in urban
environments, a new study has found.
The research, led by APC Microbiome Ireland
(APC) and University College Cork (UCC),
shows that the early development of immune
systems is highly dependent on a child’s living
environment and lifestyle.
The immune system must learn not to overrespond
in early life in order to avoid excessive
reactions in later life that can lead to disease.
STUDY
The study focused on children in South
Africa aged from 15-35 months who were living
in both rural and urban areas.
The scientists examined how environmental
factors are linked with the presence of atopic
dermatitis (AD) or eczema.
Researchers found that the immune systems
of children living in rural areas possess several
ways of identifying and dealing with
threats.
During childhood, our bodies develop multiple
immune pathways in response to “protective
exposures”, such as time spent outdoors
and with animals, and “potentially detrimental
exposures”, including pollutants and
viruses.
The findings of the study support a body of
evidence that exposure to certain environmental
stimuli and lifestyle factors during childhood
can have significant consequences on a
person’s short- and long-term health.
The research was conducted by APC Microbiome
Ireland and UCC with the University of
Cape Town, Swiss Institute of Allergy and
Asthma Research, Stanford University and
Karolinska Institute.
Prof. Liam O’Mahony, APC principal investigator
and UCC professor of Immunology, led
the study.
“This ‘immunological window of opportunity’
plays a critical role in establishing the
limitations and reaction trajectories of our
immune system that stay with us for life and
influence the risk of immune mediated diseases,”
he said.
“These protective and detrimental early life
environmental exposures help shape our
immune response.
“Growing our understanding of the mechanisms
and role of environment on immune
development is highly important, and research
such as this can help pave the way for new
developments in early disease diagnosis and
expediting interventions for more specific and
safe modulation of immune activity,” Prof.
O’Mahony added.
Food Drink Ireland (FDI) has published its
Budget 2024 submission which calls for additional
supports for the food sector to assist its
development into a low carbon economy.
FDI, the Ibec group representing the food
and drink sector, is seeking incentives to support
investments in low carbon processes.
Paul Kelly, FDI director said: “High levels of
input cost inflation (energy and commodities)
are impacting on margins, competitiveness,
and investment decisions.
“At the same time, there is an increased
need to build resilience against high ongoing
energy costs and wider competitiveness pressures
whilst investing heavily in low carbon /
resource efficient processes and accelerating
digital transformation measures.”
For the food and drink sector to achieve its
emissions reductions targets in agriculture,
the FDI has stated it will require significant
government support.
The agriculture emission reduction target of
-25% by 2030, and a reduction target of -35%
for the industry sector by the same period
“will require significant government support
to assist the food sector in the transition to a
low carbon economy in the decades ahead”
according to the FDI director.
The FDI budget submission also calls for
Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding to
be extended into 2024 to “future proof the sector
from the increased costs of trade due to
Brexit” and for “measures to support the
experience economy’s competitiveness and
productivity”.
Moate, Co. Westmeath
Mobile: 086 252 8219
Portlaoise, Co Laois
gaffeybrosagril@gmail.com
086 2433 721
087 656 2625
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NO ANNUAL
WATER CHARGES
Contact:
Tel: 045 528981
Mob: 087 2445685
Email: aidandempseywelldrilling@yahoo.ie
AGRI & SILAGE
Killucan, Co. Westmeath.
Ph: 044 931 7035 / 085 811 4444
www.rkc.ie
- Silage Maize
- Miscanthus and Willow
Cutting Land Drainage
- Structural Steelworks
- Groundworks
- Cobble Blocking
- New Builds and Extensions

24 MIDLAND FARMER
September 2023
Millennium House, Unit 2, Athlone Road,
Ballymahon, Co. Longford, N39YW40
Phone: (090) 643 2498
James Gorham
+353 87 193 4045
james@eliteenergies.ie
Graham Williamson
+353 87 932 9530
graham@eliteenergies.ie
Elite Energies specialize in the current TAMS 3 Grant
Scheme offered to Farmers. You can receive a grant of
60% (Ts & Cs apply).
Elite Energies will assist you with your application &
submission - a one-stop shop to clean free energy. TAMS
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