Topic Newspaper Midland Farmer Supplement

FARMING AUTUMN 2016

2

Feel good factor now returning to the Irish farming industry TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

‘Majority of agri-food professionals are worried about Brexit impact’

The majority of Irish agri-food professionals are worried about the impact of Brexit, a recent survey has shown.

The Agricultural Science Association (ASA) recently released the results of the first ASA Agri Career Barometer, which tracks sentiment and career progression within the Irish agri-food sector.

Its shows that 82% of agri-professionals remain concerned about the impact of Brexit on their business in the future.

The research findings were released to over 400 delegates at the opening of the ASA Annual Conference in Co. Kilkenny, where Irish and international expert speakers will discuss and debate how to best lead Irish agriculture into the future.

However, despite the concerns relating to Brexit, almost 30% of the participants believe that Brexit offers some opportunities for the industry.

The research also reveled that agri-food professionals remain loyal to the sector with more than 90% of those surveyed saying that they would encourage graduates to pursue a career in the industry.

Farming does have appeal and there is a lot of job satisfaction involved, according to one young Westmeath dairy farmer, Kenneth Bray. The 32-year-old Delvin man chose to pursue a career in farming following university and he has no regrets about the career path he chose.

“I always wanted to be a farmer and have no regrets about the career I chose,” he said.

“Having gone to university, I came home to farm and it’s a decision I’m glad I made. The demand for food will always be there; there are opportunities in farming for young people and, longterm, there are good prospects,” he enthused.

Farmers have the unique opportunity to watch their product grow and the end result provides a strong sense of fulfillment. Be it dairy farming, grain or livestock, the contentment of watching your work come to fruition is something money simply cannot buy. While the feel good factor is back, there is the challenge to make ends meet and that’s something all farmers are too well aware of.

“There are going to be ups and downs and planning is so important. However, there are good opportunities on the dairy side to make a decent living. In 2008 when I came home it was a tough time for farmers, but in the last three or four years the industry has recovered and that sense of pride has returned,” remarked the new Westmeath IFA Chairman.

Recent years have seen fluctuations: 2013 was good, ’14 was

excellent and last year, while not as strong, was also satisfactory in terms of yield. To date, 2016 has been challenging and the battle for farmers to make a return on the long hours they invest is ongoing, but very recently there are positive indications that things may improve; green shoots, as farmers might say.

“Below cost production in grain and dairy has presented its challenges this year, but in July there was a 1 cent increase for dairy producers and we’re hoping that continues,” observed Kenneth.

‘Brexit’ provided a real scare for the farming industry and the outcome of the British referendum is not something the industry anticipated. With 55% of Irish beef exported to the UK, factories didn’t know how it would impact on them and there was trepidation, but there is now a sense of calm.

“It’s not the outcome we anticipated and we don’t yet know what will happen, but there are positive indicators around Irish exports. We are one of 27 countries in the E.U. and we hope things will work out, but there is €4.5 billion being exported to the UK each year and the historical link is there. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward,” noted Kenneth.

And the upcoming National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore is a major event.

“I usually go for a couple of days and it’s a great opportunity to network. But there’s a wonder-

Kenneth Bray on his Delvin farm.

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ful social side to it also and it’s a great family occasion. Naturally, it’s a big event for farmers and the industry, but people from all walks of life enjoy it,” he remarked.

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Great excitement as countdown is now underway to “Ploughing 2016” TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

With just over one week to go to the staging of one of Europe’s largest outdoor events, preparations at the site in Screggan, Tullamore are well under way for this year’s National Ploughing Championships. Last week, the media were treated to an exciting preview of what to expect, as the event was officially launched on the Co. Offaly site.

At the launch, the media and special guests were entertained by local performers from Offaly while prize-winning animals, quality machines, horses and hounds were all on display. Models from the Holman Lee modelling agency took to a mini catwalk to provide a glimpse of the highly anticipated fashion shows that will take place throughout the three days of the event. Local and national boutiques/fashion houses provided a taster of the latest styles and the fashion of the forthcoming season.

Launching the event, NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh said “The Championships not only provide a national stage for showcasing all things agricultural, but also bring together people from all sectors of Irish society, both rural and urban, to enjoy three days immersed in country living,” “It is great to see the phenomenal interest in the Ploughing Championships with countries such as Australia, France, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada and Belgium exhibiting. With 281,000 visitors attending last year and over 1,500 stands the Ploughing Championships is one of the market leading Agriculture Trade Fairs worldwide.”

Improving visitor experience is always a priority for the National Ploughing and this year is no exception with NPA pilot-

AUTUMN FARMING

ing a park ‘n ride system for Dublin traffic. The service will be complimentary and operate frequently each way throughout the 3 days giving visitors the added benefit of a drop off point within a few hundred metres of exhibition arenas.

Visitors to this year’s National Ploughing Championships will also have the opportunity to get train transport from around Ireland to travel to Tullamore, where Bus Éireann will operate a shuttle service for the short (5 km) trip to the Screggan site over the days from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 of September.

There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways. The very latest models in agricultural machinery will be on display, quality livestock, a Forestry Village, Food Fayre, an International Business Centre in the Innovation Arena and an extended Local Enterprise Village with over 80 exhibitors as well as National Baking Competitions, Garden Displays, Craft Shows and many topical seminars.

An extended trade arena will see the return of the popular Tented Retail Village with demand necessitating the return of the “Dome” the biggest arcade ever, with over 120 exhibitors displaying in the one arena plus hundreds more located in specialist pavilions.

Exciting new initiatives this year will include the Machine of the Year competition, charity calves auction and Ireland’s first ever tractor football matches. The Volkswagen Amorak V6 Experience, an exhilarating 4 x 4 off-road driving experience, which is not for the faint hearted.

3

Fall in EU milk price causing increase in the number of cows sent to slaughter 4

AUTUMN FARMING

Cow slaughterings in the EU for the first half of the year is up 8% compared to this time last year, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB Beef and Lamb).

The increase in the level of cow beef has been put down to the fall in the average EU milk price, says the AHDB, with milk prices in June down by 14% on a year earlier and as much as one third lower compared with early 2014.

France, the largest producer of cow beef in the EU, reported a 5% increase in the number of cows slaughtered in the first half of 2016 compared to a year earlier, figures from the English organisation for beef and lamb show.

This increase has resulted in a lower import demand for cow beef, which has implications for supplying countries, given France is also the most significant importer of cow beef, according to the AHDB. All major supplying countries experienced a reduction in trade, says the AHDB, with the exception of Ireland, for which shipments were unchanged.

In Poland and the Netherlands total slaughterings were up around 14%, and in both cases

mainly consisted of dairy cows, the beef and lamb organisation says.

Ireland and Italy, the AHDB says, were the only significant producers for which slaughterings recorded a marginal decline in the first half of this year.

The build-up in cow slaughterings this year so far has meant that there was no seasonal increase in the EU average price, which normally occurs over the first half of the year, according to the AHDB. Last year, the EU price for cows graded O3 increased by 16% from January to June. So far in the year to mid-August, the O3 price has averaged 5% below that of a year earlier, says the AHDB, and by August was running 10% lower.

EU COW TRADE CHART

Milk production in Northern Ireland falling, as prices still below those of 2015 TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

In July the average farm gate price of milk in Northern Ireland, including retrospective bonuses, was 18.47p/l, falling by 0.45p/l compared to July 2015, according to the Northern Irish Department of Agriculture.

Statistics collected by the department show the average producer prices for raw milk sold off farm and the volume of raw milk collected from Northern Ireland farms

from 2000 to 2016.

This is the lowest level milk prices in Northern Ireland has fallen to in the month of July since 2009, when the price stood at 15.58p/l, statistics show.

In contrast, the price of milk reached 31.02p/l in July 2013, and has been on the decrease since then with the sharpest fall happening in July 2015 when the price fell by close to 10p/l.

Statistics published by

the department also show that the weighted average farm gate price of milk during January to December 2015 was 20.77p/l, compared to 29.31p/l in the same period in 2014.

In July 2016 the volume of raw milk produced reached 191.94m litres, 5.98% lower than July 2015, figures show.

Meanwhile, in the period from January to December 2015 the volume of raw milk pro-

duced was 266.26m litres, 2.8% higher than the same period in 2014.

The department runs a compulsory monthly survey of registered milk purchasers in Northern Ireland to collect information on the volume and value of milk purchased, transport costs and the value of bonuses paid.

The fall in milk production has led some UK dairy processors to increase September’s

milk price, with prices up by 0.75-1p/L (0.88-1.17c/L).

The Head of Procurement with Dairy Crest in the UK, Ruth Askew said the processor will increase its September milk price by 1p/L (1.17c/L).

“We are increasing our milk price against a backdrop of falling UK milk production. Dairy Crest wanted to reflect this in our milk price as soon as possible,” she said.

Larger reductions in prices have taken place in Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, while the UK has experienced the largest price fall, down 14% in euro terms, the table shows.

However, this has been magnified due to the drop in the value of sterling, as in UK currency terms the price drop only amounted to around 5%, the AHDB says.

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Public urged to combat farm related thefts

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

A new campaign was launched rcently to combat the problem of farm related crime and thefts.

Every year thousands of tools, vehicles and farm machinery and equipment are stolen from farms throughout Ireland. Since 2010, over 28,642 farm related crime incidents have been reported to the Gardai, including burglaries and vehicle, machinery and equipment theft, according to the latest CSO figures. The most common incidents are thefts from farm yards, with over 2,000 incidents being reported every year since 2010. The next most common occurrence is theft

from outhouses or sheds, followed by burglary.

Jointly organised by Crimestoppers, the Irish Farmers Association, an Garda Síochána and DoneDeal the campaign is aiming to raise awareness among the public and in particular those in the farming community, of the issue of thefts from farms. This initiative follows the joint campaign run by Crimestoppers and the IFA last year to combat livestock theft.

Farmers are being reminded to sign up to the TheftStop scheme at www.theftstop.ie.

The joint initiative by the IFA and An Garda Síochána provides members with a

unique Security I.D. Members can then mark their machinery and equipment with this I.D and upload an image of the item to the TheftStop site.

Marked and branded items are significantly less attractive to criminals to steal as they’ll be more easily recognisable by the public and harder to sell on.

Information on any suspicious activity can be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers confidential telephone service by calling 1800 25 00 25. Alternatively, information can be provided to your local Garda station.

Decisions tillage farmers make now will have an impact on next year’s harvest’

Decisions made on tillage farms in the coming weeks will have a big impact on next year’s harvest, according to Teagasc’s Shay Phelan.

The Teagasc Tillage Specialist said that farmers should start planning for the 2017 harvest now with a focus on practices to control crop diseases on their farms.

Phelan told over 200 delegates at the Teagasc National Crops Forum in Newbridge that they should take a close look at last years crops before making any decisions.

He said that many farmers were disappointed with the yields produced from winter barley this year, but he said it was difficult to pin point just one reason for falling yields.

“From a farmer’s point of view you need to look at your own situation, it is probably due to a combination of reasons, It is not just one factor.”

The Teagasc Specialist said that winter barley crops produced both fewer tiller and grain numbers in 2016.

Phelan said that some winter barley crops were sown in unsuitable soils and this made management practices such as

fertiliser applications difficult last spring.

“A lot of crops were sown in fields that weren’t suitable. Some winter barley crops were sown on heavy or wet soils which made it difficult to spread fertiliser in the critical period in the spring.”

He also said that winter barley crops experienced higher levels of disease, with a marked increase in Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYVD) and Take All cases this year.

Crops grown in a continuous situation also experienced disease issues such as Take All, he said.

Take All was an issue on farms this year and it can cause substantial yield losses in certain years, but it depends on the level of infection.

And he recommended the use of break crops or crop rotations to clean up the fields from disease and grass weeds.

“Crop rotations can be used to break the cycle,” he said.

The disease which is caused by a grain aphid can be controlled through the use of insecticides, but resistance among the aphid population is growing, he said.

AUTUMN FARMING

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Glanbia advance payment scheme opens to grain grower members 6

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Grain grower members of Glanbia Co-op are to receive letters in the coming days outlining details of the Glanbia Advance Payment (GAP) Scheme for grain.

The scheme provides interest-free cash flow support to member suppliers in periods when market prices are weak.

Participation in this voluntary scheme will allow members draw down cash flow support from the scheme when the market price for grain falls below specific

levels or “price triggers”, which Glanbia has said are set annually by the Board of the Society.

The price trigger for the 2016 GAP Scheme was a December 2016 MATIF (Euronext exchange) price available before July 31, 2016 of less than €180/t for wheat.

As this price trigger has been reached, an advance payment is available for oilseed rape (OSR), beans, green and dried grain supplied from the 2016 harvest.

Poll shows majority of Irish dairy farmers will not apply to Milk Reduction Scheme

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

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It appears that the majority of Irish dairy farmers will not be applying to the EU’s Voluntary Milk Reduction Scheme after an Agriland poll showed that 63% of farmers will not be applying to the scheme.

Under the EU package of measures to try and combat the dairy crisis, an EU-wide scheme to incentivise a reduction in milk production, worth €150m was announced in July.

Further details of the scheme were announced recently by the Commission which included farmers being able to claim for a maximum of 50% of their milk production and that there will be penalties for failing to reduce production for the full amount (14c/L) offered.

It is expected that farmer application forms and help-sheets on the scheme will issue to co-ops, with the temporary measure opening to applications this month.

The Commission has said that the scheme will be run as a “simultaneous examination,” meaning that the Commission will accept all bids notified by the relevant member states by the agreed deadline.

This will apply unless the claims exceed the volume (1.07m tonnes) corresponding to the available budget, in which case a reduction coefficient will be applied.

Further periods (for NovemberJanuary, December-February, and January-March) will follow until the budget volume is reached, it confirmed.

Once the period is over, farmers will then have 45 days to provide

the proof that they have reduced production – following which the aid can be paid.

Also under the most recent package of measures, it was announced that Ireland is to receive €11m, from a total fund of €350m, from the Commission in support funding.

Like the first package of aid measures announced in September 2015, the Irish Government has the opportunity to co-finance Ireland’s €11m allocation.

The French government has already decided to match its EU funding allocation of €49.9m.

Under the French scheme for the first 5% of production cutbacks, producers reducing their production will receive a compensation of 24c/kg. Beyond this limit, the compensation will be 14c/kg.

However, last week a source told

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Agriland that a decision by the Government to co-finance the monies was ‘not a foregone conclusion’.

It is also understood that lump sum payments, which dairy farmers received in 2015 under the first aid package, to farmers are also off the table.

Meanwhile, both IFA and ICMSA have clashed over what way the €11m monies under the scheme should be spent.

IFA has called for the monies to be used to provide farmers with low cost short-term loans in order to help cash flow difficulties on farms.

The ICMSA however, has called for the money to be allocated to farmers in the form of a €1,200 direct payment, which it says is permissible under the regulations of the scheme.

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Dairy farmers 66% of the way Irish beef exports to to Food Harvest 2020 targets the US valued at TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

7

€9m during first six months of 2016

Ireland exported an estimated €9m worth of beef to the US during the first six months of the year, figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

According to the Department, a total of seven Irish plants have been approved to sell beef into the US market.

As of June this year, these plants shipped 1,200t of beef across the Atlantic, which is a considerable increase compared to the corresponding time in 2015.

Between January and June of 2015, Irish exporters shipped 31t of beef direct to the US which was valued at €194,000.

The increase in Irish beef exports also coincided

Irish dairy farms have hit a significant milestone in terms of the Food Harvest 2020 milk production targets, according to Teagasc’s Pat Dillon.

The Teagasc Head of Moorepark said that Irish farmers produced 6,399m litres of milk in 2015, 66% of the target set out under the Department of Agriculture’s Food Harvest 2020 plan.

Milk production increased significantly between 2014 and 2015, he said, jumping by 748m, while cow numbers only increased by 100,000 head.

Comparing this to the quota era of 2007-2009, the volume of milk produced on Irish dairy farms in 2015

is up by 1,467m litres or almost 30%.

Along with an increase in litres, Dillon said that the volume of milk solids produced on Irish dairy farms has also increased.

Between 2014 and 2015, the Teagasc Head said that the milk fat percentage on Irish farmers increased by 0.04% while the protein percentage jumped by 0.07%.

Speaking at a joint Bank of Ireland and Teagasc Dairy Information Seminar, the Teagasc representative said that the Food Harvest 2020 target of producing 7,600m litres of milk by 2020 is achievable.

Already in 2016, he said, the volume of milk pro-

duced has increased by 5% compared to last year.

But to ensure that this target is achieved, Dillon said dairy farmers need to focus on improving the genetics of the national dairy herd.

Dillon cited independent research that showed that the EBI has delivered €631m of benefits to the Irish dairy industry up until 2015.

And, if farmers continue to use this breeding aid, the benefits from genetic

improvement would be worth €1.13 billion to Irish farmers.

“The composition of milk is a critical point,” he said, with the 0.3% increase in milk protein seen on Irish farms between 2001 and 2013 worth €107.7m to the farmers each year.

He also advised farmers to try and increase the amount of grass utilised on their farms to 11t/ha as each extra tonne of grass utilised is worth €161/ha farmed.

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Wishing all exhibitors, committee members and visitors a successful and enjoyable time at The Ploughing Championships

with a period of falling beef import volumes into the US and according to the USDA, the volume of beef imported into the US during June fell by 16% year-on-year.

This fall was mainly due to smaller volumes of beef being imported from both Australia and New Zealand.

However, the Department of Agriculture also confirmed that Ireland has yet to ship any manufacturing beef to the US, as Irish processors were only granted access to the market in early July.

Ireland was the first EU Member State to be granted such access and the opening of the market was welcomed by the Min-

ister for Agriculture, Michael Creed.

“As we know, this US market is a potentially huge prize given the size of the market and the demand we know exists there for premium grassfed beef,” the Minister said.

The US decision paved the way for the Irish beef industry to undertake the necessary steps that will enable the trade to commence.

But, at the time of the announcement, Meat Industry Ireland (the body representing beef and sheep factories) said that the trade in manufacturing beef between Ireland and the US would not happen immediately.

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8

Farms able to withstand milk price volatility the aim of Milk for Profit programme

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

Grain growers call for extension to cover crop deadline The Irish Grain Growers Association (IGGA) has called for an extension to September 15 deadline for sowing catch crops under the GLAS. The organisation representing tillage farmers has urged the relevant parties to consider extending the deadline by two weeks due to unfavourable weather conditions in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for the organisation said the weather has delayed the harvest of spring barley, oilseed rape and winter wheat crops on many farms.

And as a result, farmers’ plans to sow catch crops under the scheme have been delayed and many will struggle to have the crop sown before this Thursday’s deadline (September 15).

The group believe the two-week extension is reasonable as pushing it out any further would reduce the catch crop benefits of growing the catch crop to both the soil and the farmer.

Farmers who plan to sow catch crops under the Department of Agriculture’s GLAS scheme are required to do so by September 15, using light cultivation techniques and by either broadcasting or drilling the seed.

The development of robust dairy systems that are capable of withstanding milk price volatility is the aim of the Arrawbawn’s Milk for Profit programme, in conjunction with Teagasc.

Five development farms were selected for the programme to demonstrate the benefits of technology adaption and best practice in the areas of financial management and planning, compact calving, grass utilisation, breeding management, herd health and milk quality.

Progress on each farm will be documented and freely available to Arrabawn’s 950 suppliers.

A series of workshops and open days will also be delivered across the Arrabawn catchment area to ensure suppliers are adequately informed in their efforts to adopt best practices in areas such as grassland, fertility, milk quality and cost control.

The programme was officially launched

by Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, on the farm of Seamus and Brian Molamphy, Portroe, Co. Tipperary.

Brian Molamphy said that this is a great opportunity for them to get the best possible expertise available to see how they can drive efficiencies and profitability.

Year one of the programme will largely be spent getting a baseline understanding of the operations and after that the Arrabawn and Teagasc experts will begin making their recommendations.

“We are looking forward to having this expertise on board and will be particularly keen to look at a number of specific areas, including grass management.”

“We have pretty high stocking rates so we will be looking at how, in particular, we can

maximise grass management and reduce the amount of supplement feed we need.”

“We will also be keen to look at the finer details of breeding. We will be keen to look at anywhere we can find improvement.”

Meanwhile, launching the Milk for Profit programme, Minister Creed said that recent market volatility in the global dairy sector has highlighted again the need to maximise on-farm efficiency in order to

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remain competitive.

“Ireland is one of the world’s leading providers in terms of milk quality and our dairy farmers deserve to be supported with programmes like this that will ultimately help them get the best possible return for their efforts.”

“Milk for Profit will ensure the five monitor farms will receive the very best expertise available from Arrabawn and Teagasc,

Director of Teagasc, Prof Gerry Boyle, Seamus Molamphy, Portroe, Tipperary and Conor Ryan, CEO Arrabawn Co-Op.

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with the on-farm learnings then passed on to other farmers across the co-op’s supplier network.”

MILK FOR PROFIT PROGRAMME TARGETS • Increasing grass growth and utilisation on farms; • Upskilling suppliers in the areas of financial planning and budgeting; • Improving the six week calving rate and calving interval from the current co-op averages of 60% and 389 days, respectively.

• It will also seek to increase milk solids production per cow through optimum grassland management and improvements in herd fertility and milk quality.

Arrabawn has also established a specific ‘New Entrant Support’ aspect to the programme that will provide a dedicated service to new entrant suppliers, including one to one advice and exclusive meetings tailored to meet their specific needs.

Arrabawn CEO Conor Ryan said that maximising efficiencies are critical for any business but were not perhaps the priority over recent years when the milk price was artificially high.

“We are witnessing a slight recovery at the moment but the market will remain challenged and Arrabawn, together with Teagasc, has launched this programme to support farmers in delivering greater efficiencies that will help them cope with price volatility going forward.”

“Through the expertise of our own and Teagasc representatives, we will be working closely with the five development farms in Tipperary, Galway and Offaly to discover ways of improving efficiencies and will be passing that information on to our other suppliers.”

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

9

Large number of applications for inspector jobs

Minister ‘must insist’ on removal of confirmed PIs, says ICMSA

Some 912 people applied last month to the new Agricultural Inspector positions with the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture is in the process of recruiting a significant number of Assistant Agricultural Inspectors.

It comes following a significant fall off in recruitment by the Department of Agriculture in recent years which has seen staff numbers fall significantly with 735 staff leaving the Department between 2011 and 2016, while only 171 were hired in the same period.

The successful candidates will become members of the Agricultural Inspectorate team.

The Inspectorate team is responsible for bringing scientific expertise to bear on the development of the Irish agri-food sector, including funding of Irish agri-food research programmes, and on the negotiation and enforcement of European Union and national legislation relating to agriculture.

The latest figures from the ongoing BVD programme show that good progress has been made in reducing and eradicating the BVD virus but the pace would be much faster if the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine invested more resources in the programme over the short term and focussed on removal of confirmed PIs, according to Michael Guinan, Tullamore farmer and Chair of ICMSA’s Livestock Committee.

“ICMSA is disappointed with the level of engagement we’ve seen from the Department of Agriculture in the last number of months in relation to keeping restrictions up to date, the compensation payments for 2015 PIs and also the early notification of neighbours in relation to the presence of PIs. Those notifications need to be fully automated as soon as possible but, in the meantime, it is essential

that additional resources are given to the appropriate sections so as to ensure that PIs are removed as quickly as possible. This is the core issue here for ICMSA: the vast majority of farmers have complied with the programme but where we have individuals who retain PIs then it’s the responsibility of the Minister and his Department to absolutely insist that the animals are removed”, said Mr Guinan.

“We have repeatedly called for all PIs to be automatically removed before 7 weeks of age and now that the eradication programme is reaching its critical stage, we need to see the increased compensation that would speed up the removal of PIs and ensure that farmers are not testing longer than needs be. Compensation should be paid on all animals including Friesian bulls – but, most importantly, PI animals should be compul-

sorily removed at 10 weeks of age with compensation. Since the 2015 roll-out of on-farm restrictions on those farmers that retain persistently infected animals, the rate of retention has reduced dramatically and this has had a very positive impact on the programme: the stats are supporting our argument that now is the time for one final push on this programme in terms of resources, personnel and co-ordination towards the goal here: a BVD-free state,” said the Livestock Committee Chairperson.

“The one thing that has to be avoided at all costs is a situation where farmers continue to participate in a BVD eradication programme spending millions while the Department continues to drag its feet and not push through to the successful conclusion that’s now within reach”, he concluded.

Michael Guinan, Chair of ICMSA’s Livestock Committee.

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Average tillage farm income to fall by €14,000 in 2016 - Teagasc 10

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

Tillage farm incomes are set to drop by €1 4 ,0 0 0 in 2 0 1 6 compared to last year, Teag asc’s Fiona Thorne has said.

Speaking at the Teagasc National Crops Forum, the senior researcher said that the average income on National Farm Survey farms will be in the region of €20,000 this year, down from €34,000 in 2015.

All of this €20,000 figure, she said, will come from farm payments as the average Irish tillage farm will spend at least €2,000 of their basic payments on subsidising production on their farms.

“The current market situation is not good for tillage farmers at present.

They are making a loss from the market place, they will spend about €2,000 of their single farm payment in 2016.”

The Teagasc representative also said that there appears to be no signs of the tillage sector improving between now and 2020.

“There isn’t really anything positive, in actual terms, we will be lucky if output prices hold up,”

she said.

She also said that input prices are expected to increase by 5% in 2020, yields are estimated to drop by 3% compared to 2015 and will receive 8% lower Basic Payments.

When all of these factors are considered, she said that the average Irish tillage farm will generate an income of €22,000 or €350/ha in 2020.

WHAT CAN FARMERS DO?

To address the issue of falling farm incomes, Thorne said that farmers should focus on getting better before getting bigger.

Despite the negative outlook for the tillage sector she advised farmers to continue to sow crops, but she also said that they also need to have a handle on their costs, particularly land rental and machinery costs.

She presented figures which showed that ‘bigger isn’t always better’ when it comes to tillage farm incomes as the difference between small and large farm incomes on a €/hectare basis is small.

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TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

Dovea Genetics to auction six heifers in aid of Bóthar

Kilkenny hurler TJ Reid at the launch of the auction in aid of Bóthar.

Dovea Genetics is holding a charity auction in aid of Bóthar at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.

Six beef heifers, sired by Dovea Genetic bulls, will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to Bóthar, according to Dovea Genetics.

The organisation has a long working relationship with Bóthar, where they have been providing dairy semen to numerous countries Bóthar have a presence in, for the past 20 years, Dovea Genetics said.

At the recent launch of the charity auction, Peter Ireton, one of the founders of Bóthar outlined how the two organisations began their working relationship.

“The relationship between Bóthar and Dovea started around 23years-ago when he was on a trip to Africa where he met a local farmer who

asked if there was a way to get his cow, a local breed in calf to an ‘exotic’ bull.”

Ireton got in contact with Dovea once he arrived home from that trip, and the two organisations came to an agreement which has continued for the past two decades, according to the Tipperary-based organisation.

With Bóthar celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Dovea has decided to do something to show their gratitude for being able to work alongside Bóthar assisting and improving the standard of living of those in need.

The six heifers, bred from dairy cows, were bought in spring 2015 and were displayed at the National Ploughing Championships in 2015 to raise awareness about the auction, the beef and dairy semen supplier said.

To help with the promotion of the auction, Dovea

Genetics has enlisted the help of six well known sports personalities in different sporting areas who will lead a heifer each into the sales ring on the day of the auction.

Current GAA-GPA Hurler of the Year, Kilkenny’s TJ Reid, Cork dual player, Briege Corkery and Tipperary hurler, Seamus Callanan will lead out three of the heifers, according to Dovea.

International show jumper, Greg Broderick, Westmeath footballer, John Heslin and former Irish rugby player, John “The Bull” Hayes will also enter the auction ring, Dovea said.

The heifers will be auctioned off by a leading auctioneer, and Irish sports commentator and television presenter, Marty Morrissey will auction off one of the heifers, Dovea Genetics announced.

11

Why now is the Opportunities for women in time to put a plan agri-business to be highlighted in action for early at Ploughing Championships lambing ewes 12

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

Easter may seem like a long way away but early lamb producers should switch their attention to breeding in the next couple of weeks if they are to meet early lambing targets.

Easter Sunday falls on April 16 next year, two weeks later than last year, and to have lambs ready for the Easter trade farmers are advised to aim to have their ewes lambing down in early January.

Aording to Teagasc, farmers should aim to lamb their ewes 14-16 weeks prior to the peak period for Easter lamb sales, which is usually one week in advance of Easter Sunday.

The research body says that the majority of breed types in Ireland will require synchronisation to allow them to lamb during this period.

And, it says that the use of progestagen implanted sponges allows for oestrus to be synchronised, while PMSG can be used to increase the ovulation rates and the litter size of ewes successfully mated.

Along with the use of synchronisation aids, higher feed costs are also associated with early lamb production, and to justify the costs its is essential

that farmers meet a number of key targets.

Teagasc research also shows that synchronisation works best when ewes have been weaned at least six weeks prior to sponging.

It also recommends giving each ewe a 500-700iu dose of PMSG into the muscle at the time of sponge removal.

Farmers should also target having their ewes in a body condition score (BCS) of 3.5 at the time of breeding, while they should also have the sponges and PMSG ordered in advance of synchronisation.

When it comes to inserting the sponges, Teagasc advises farmers to take special care with first time breeders and the sponge applicator should be cleaned and disinfected between ewes.

However, rams also play an important role in early lamb production, and according to Teagasc, the ewe to ram ratio should not exceed 8:1 Only fit rams that are free from lameness and have not been subjected to elevated body temperature for the last eight weeks prior to mating should be used.

This year’s Local Enterprise Village at the National Ploughing Championships will be home to 50 businesses started by women and Local Enterprise Office Westmeath is encouraging more women to consider starting their own enterprise in the agribusiness sector.

The National Ploughing Championships, taking place from 20 to 22 September, have become Europe’s largest outdoor event with 281,000 visitors last year. To help small businesses and start-ups make an impact on the rural economy, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) in the Local Authorities network are introducing a new product launch and demonstration area within the Local Enterprise Village for 2016.

Of the 84 companies

that will be showcasing their products and services, with the support of the LEOs in every county and city, approximately 50 of them were founded or co-founded by female entrepreneurs.

The female entrepreneurs inside the Local Enterprise Village operate within a wide range of business categories, across food, drink, skincare, children’s toys, books, jewellery, fashion and giftware. Services for the agri-sector are also represented, such as soil, milk and water testing, manufacturing of sprayer attachments and genetic identification services.

Speaking about this event, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. said: “the Local Enterprise Village at the National

Ploughing Championships is a wonderful initiative run by the Local Enterprise Offices. The fact that 50 of the companies showcasing their products and services there were founded by women is very encouraging. Female entrepreneurship is an untapped source of ideas and innovation that has the potential to make a significant contribution to the local economy. Female entrepreneurs are setting up businesses in a much wider range of areas than previously. I want to fully support all women that have innovative ideas and wish to set up their own business. It’s good to see that Enterprise Ireland and LEO strategy is working and the proof of that can be seen here in this initiative. I want to congratulate the LEOs for the

success of this event.”

Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Westmeath said: “There are lots of growth opportunities in the agri-business sector and in the rural economy generally, for both business-to-consumer and business-tobusiness companies. For example, small businesses inside the Local Enterprise Village generated sales and orders worth nearly €645,000 last year. Following in the footsteps of the 50 businesses in the Local Enterprise Village that were either founded or cofounded by women, we’re encouraging more aspiring female entrepreneurs here locally to start their own business in this sector and to seek out the supports that are available to them through the

Local Enterprise Office.”

The Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, Anna May McHugh said: “There is an unprecedented number of diverse and exciting businesses exhibiting at the Local Enterprise Village, at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, and it is highly encouraging to see that so many of these companies were founded by inspirational women.

This is a unique opportunity for these small businesses to showcase their products to the large number of visitors that Ploughing attracts.”

More details around the Local Enterprise Village are available through www. localenterprise.ie and by searching #localenterprise on social media.

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At the launch of the Local Enterprise Village for women were Marcella Rudden of the Local Enterprise Offices, Fiona Dillon and her daughter, Ruth Dillon (age 13) of Tumbledown Media in Carlow; Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. and Cathy Coghlan of Celtic Gent in Fingal.

TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

13

Following success in 2015, FBD’s child safety initiative returns to ploughing NPA Managing Director Anna May McHugh and FBD’s Head of Farm & Business Christy Doherty launched the FBD: Keeping You Safe Child Safety Wristband initiative recently for this year’s National Ploughing Championships following the tremendous success last year.

The white wristbands, which will be handed-out at all of the event entrances, allow for a contact phone number to be written on the band in case the wearer wanders off amidst the crowd.

FBD’s Head of Farm & Business Christy Doherty said: “As one of the main sponsors of the National Ploughing Championships for over 25 years, we are delighted to continue our sponsor-

ship of the National ChampiPloughing onship’s Child Safety Initiative. Our aim when launching this last year was to keep all children safe as they attend the event. This initiative proved so successful last year that we will now be supporting the NPA with our added commitment to making sure our staff are there at main entrances to make sure each child entering the event is issued with one of these wristbands.

FBD’s ongoing farm safety campaign regularly focuses on child safety and we are investing significantly in our efforts to raise awareness of hazards for children on the farm. Every year, this event grows in popularity and it is therefore hoped that our FBD Keep-

ing you safe wristbands will serve as a reassurance to anyone bringing children to the event.”

“This is an excellent safety concept not just for children but anyone who is slightly vulnerable attending Ploughing throughout the 3 days, as it allays fears and adds greatly to visitors’ enjoyment of the event. As all can now rest assured that loved ones will be returned safely in case they get lost in the large crowds that attend the Championships, bearing in mind that the 2015 event was attended by 281,000 visitors,” said NPA MD Anna May McHugh The launch took place in Lynams Garden Centre in Tullamore very close to this year’s ploughing site in Screg-

Switch from grants to loans could be the future of CAP

The current mechanism of subsidising EU agriculture via grants and schemes could soon become a thing of the past.

Speaking at a recent Rural Development Conference in Cork, Werner Schmidt of the European Investment Bank highlighted that the grant element of European agriculture is declining and in his view, ‘further cuts’ are very likely after 2020.

This, he said requires new and innovative financing instruments and mechanisms to deliver successfully for the sector.

“The blending of resources to increase the efficiency of public money is currently the name of the game.

“Financial instruments are a smart way to leverage grant finance but they are not a miracle as such,” he said.

According to Schmidt, financial instruments can ensure an efficient budget allocation with high impact through leverage and its revolving nature.

He highlighted that money invested in agriculture by means of a grant can only be invested once whereas via a financial instrument the money can be used many times.

However, Schmidt did say that there

are some key challenges to the use and adoption of financial instruments in the agriculture sector.

He stressed that the migration from grant to debt based support requires a change in mindset at all levels.

He added that financial instruments are based on the principal of repayment and that they are there to support viable business but not all activities are not necessarily suitable for financial instruments.

Former IFA President, John Bryan voiced concern at such a move. He said the European consumers and taxpayers are putting an increased burden and extra demands on farmers.

He questioned how all these public goods can be delivered with reduced funding. While he conceded that financial instruments can play a role in certain areas, he stressed that for a lot of smaller farmers, particularly in outlying regions, the big threat is land abandonment which he said financial instruments can do nothing to prevent.

Bryan said the maintenance of substantial grants for smaller and medium sized farmers is absolutely essential if farmers are to deliver the public goods that they are being asked to deliver.

gan, Co Offaly.

There will be an array of new exhibitors as well as hundreds of outstanding veteran companies showcasing their products and services in dynamic ways with top quality machinery demonstrations, fashion shows, prizewinning animals, a forestry village, pony games, sheep dog trials, hunt chase, live entertainment and music, a food fayre, 4 x4 off-road driving experience, garden displays, tractor football, international business opportunities, an action-packed innovation arena and an extended local enterprise village with something for all of the family. Ireland’s farming festival is not to be missed.

MV

Launching the FBD Keeping you Safe wristbands for Ploughing 2016 were PJ Lynam, NPA chairman; Paul Lynam, Lynam Garden Furniture; David Gibbons, Christy Doherty, Head of Farm and Business FBD; Daithí Guinan and Anna May McHugh, NPA managing director.

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European agricultural machinery sales expected to drop further this year 14

TOPIC •15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

Following a sales decrease in 2015, the European agricultural machinery industry is experiencing a difficult year in 2016, with sales expected to drop further.

CEMA, the European agricultural machinery body, has said that agricultural machinery sales in almost all markets of the CEMA network (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK) are down in the first half of 2016.

It is expected that markets will decline further in the second half of 2016 with rates of decline up to 9%, as in Germany.

Spain is a notable exception with an expected increase of 9.5% in 2016 and CEMA has said that the French market is also performing well so far (+7%), yet is expected to weaken during the second half of the year to decline by 2%.

The downward trend can be observed for all major machinery types with the exception of sprayers.

Tractor sales in all European countries combined were 5.5% lower in the first half of 2016 in comparison with the first

half of 2015, according to CEMA. CEMA attributes the decrease in sales to a drop in demand for tractors between 50 and 250 horsepower as it is this power category that is mostly bought by farmers that are currently facing a difficult situation due to low commodity and milk prices.

Furthermore, it said that these difficulties could aggravate given mixed wheat harvest results in many European countries and continuously strong global supply.

For tractors below 50hp, demand is stable, while demand for high horsepower tractors is even increasing.

Looking at other machinery types, the combine harvester market is down in all CEMA markets with an overall decrease of 8.3%.

The decrease is lowest in Belgium with 4% and highest in the Netherlands with 28%. For forage harvesters, CEMA expects total demand to fall by 12% in 2016.

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Brent Pope joins former NZ team to showcase agricultural innovations Former New Zealand rugby player and well known TV-pundit Brent Pope will be lining up alongside New Zealand’s international business development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) for this year’s National Ploughing Championships.

Five New Zealand companies will showcase, for the first time, the best agricultural innovation, experience and expertise that the country has to offer, including examples of world-leading animal and pasture management tools, such as somatic cell count sensors, heat detection systems and seed drills.

Visitors to the NZTE pavilion at this year’s National Ploughing Championships will have the opportunity to experience the latest in New Zealand’s agricultural technology and hear expert advice on productivity and efficiency of farm machinery and systems to inspire Irish farmers.

There will also be a host of other New Zealand companies exhibiting at the event outside the New Zealand pavilion representing the strength of New Zealand agritech innovation, including Gallagher, Metalform, Prattley Industries, TruTest, Shoof International and Waikato Milking Systems.

Daniel Taylor, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, United Kingdom and Ireland said; “NZTE is delighted to be attending the National Ploughing Championships for the first time this year, and bringing with us some innovative and leading agricultural companies. New Zealand has long been a market leader in development and advancements for the agritech sector and we at NZTE are excited to bring a sample of this innovation in productivity and efficiencies to Irish farmers.”

Brent Pope added: “I am excited to be working with NZTE and the fan-

tastic New Zealand companies that they represent. Ireland and New Zealand have a strong track record of shared learnings and inspiration in the agricultural sector, and as a proud Kiwi, with a strong agricultural background, I welcome the future fostering of this relationship.

The National Ploughing

Former New Zealand Rugby player and well-known TV-pundit Brent Pope, pictured with his ‘farm hand’ Kyle Moloney, age 10 from Dublin as they both line up alongside New Zealand’s international business development agency, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) for this year’s Ploughing Championships.

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TOPIC • 15 September, 2016

IFA HAS THE EAR OF GOVERNMENT ON ISSUES TO DO WITH FARMING FAMILIES, SAYS PRESIDENT JOE HEALY Elected earlier this year as President of the IFA after a controversial period in the organization's history, Joe Healy was very relaxed as he ambled around their stand at the Tullamore Show recently, meeting many of the farming community that he knew and no doubt recognizing it as a great PR opportunity for the organisation.

Asked how he had found the role of IFA President so far, he told Topic: "I’ve found my time as President of the IFA great, very enjoyable, very challenging and busy, but I’ve found a great amount of goodwill and support not only from officers, but from staff and members on the ground, and also from wider society as they appreciate the need for a strong rural voice from organisations such as the IFA to keep rural Ireland vibrant and sustainable."

Given the big challenges that farmers are facing as regards livelihoods, I ask if the IFA is being heard enough in Government circles: "We are, because, in the last few months since the Government was formed we’ve met with either nine or ten Cabinet ministers - probably any minister that has anything to do with the farming households, whether that is to do with health, social welfare, agriculture, the flooding issue, right across the board and there has been no problem to get meetings with them and it came across very clearly at the meeting that they were listening to us.”

"We have sent in a pre-Budget submission because I think it’s the ideal opportunity for the Government, through the schemes, to get money into rural

New funding annouced for agricultural and manufacturing start-ups AUTUMN FARMING

Ireland. Also, on the other side of it, to put in place taxation measures to cater for the volatility that’s there in agriculture from one year to the next."

Since the show, Mr. Healy has been a lot in the news since Larry Goodman’s ABP stopped collecting the levy for them at its plants because, it said, farmers didn’t want the money going to the IFA. Mr. Healy responded that it was perhaps more connected to the way that the IFA had put a competition report together for European authori-

ties (that might affect ABP’s joint takeover effort of Slaney Meats and the ICM sheep plants in Camolin and Navan) - “we feel it was in response to an independent report that we had carried out in relation to competition, not in relation to that Goodman Slaney takeover... we have lodged that with DG Competition in Brussels. The report showed that the merger is likely to weaken competition even further....in any case it’s a voluntary payment by the farmer of the levy.

I’ve been contacted by angry

farmers who feel that the company has a lot of control in the beef processing sector, and they don’t want him to have any control in their organisation or how they’re represented.”

He argued that the stance they were taking with the Goodman Group proved they weren’t compromised due to beef processors effectively collecting this levy for the IFA “and I as President will not allow the Goodman Group to dictate how the organisation is run on behalf of the farmers.”

Joe Healy, President of the IFA, is pictured outside the IFA marquee at the Tullamore Show, speaking with members of the general public.

15

A new €500,000 Enterprise Ireland Competitive Start Fund to support start-up activity in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors has been announced.

The Enterprise Ireland Fund, which provides €50,000 in equity funding for each successful applicant will open for submissions on Wednesday, 21 Septembe and will close at 3pm Wednesday, 5 October, 2016.

Now in its second year, the purpose of the Competitive Start Fund is to stimulate growth for start-up companies working in areas of agriculture and manufacturing that have the capability to succeed in global markets.

The fund is designed to enable those companies reach key commercial and technical milestones, that will ensure delivery of their product or service to an international audience.

The fund is open to applications from individuals, early stage companies or prospective businesses operating in the agri-business sector including but not limited to machine design and manufacturing, Fabrication, engineering and technical activities, life science products, farm related software and related services, vet-pharma, animal health and chemical products. Start-up food companies with potential to export are also encouraged to apply.

Anne Lanigan, Manager, High Potential Start-Ups, Enterprise Ireland said agri-engineering is worth €250 million in exports to the Irish economy and this fund is seeking to encourage and support the next generation of engineering and manufacturing companies coming through in the agriculture sector.

“The Competitive Start Fund is part of Enterprise Ireland’s strategy for increasing the number and quality of high potential start-up companies that have the potential to employ more than 10 and achieve €1 million in export sales within three years.

“We were encouraged to drive forward with this year’s competition, following the level of interest and the quality of applications we received last year.

Applications to this year’s fund will be considered on a competitive basis and we encourage ambitious individuals and start-ups to apply,” she added.

Calls for Genomics scheme to be reopened to suckler farmers

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, has been called on to reopen the Beef Data Genomics Programme to ‘hardpressed’ suckler farmers, by Fianna Fail’s Agriculture Spokesperson, Charlie McConalogue.

The number of farmers registered on the scheme has just reached 25,000, well below the Government’s own target of 35,000, he said.

“The beef industry is the cornerstone of Irish agriculture and employs more people than any other sector.”

“Suckler farmers continue to depend exclusively on direct payments for their livelihoods and the Beef Genomics Data Programme provides essential funding to support these farmers.”

“The figures released by the Department are extremely worrying – the number of farmers registered on the scheme has just reached 25,000 – well below the Government’s own target of 35,000. It also contrasts starkly with the participation rates of the Suckler Cow Scheme, which were in excess of 40,000.”

McConalogue said that it is extremely important that any underspend does not result in suckler farmers losing out on vital funds.

“Farming families in rural Ireland are being burdened by increased costs and price volatility, and cannot afford to lose out on essential funding programmes.”

“I am calling on the Minister to reopen the scheme to hard-pressed suckler farmers as an urgent priority.”

The Genomics Programme was launched in 2015 and 29,862 applications were received and since then some 4,851 herds have since withdrawn from the programme.

A further 1,172 herds have not submitted any genomic samples in respect of the 2015 scheme year and the Department has said these applicants have been contacted reminding them of the requirement to submit genotyping samples.

Payments amounting to almost €40m have issued to 22,068 participants who had submitted sufficient genotyping samples and data to be eligible to receive a payment.

Tips to survive the ploughing Mary Street 16

TOPIC •15 September, 2016

AUTUMN FARMING

ARE you Ploughing fit? Below are ten tips to ensure you have a great experience at the biggest outdoor event in Europe. The National Ploughing Championship, to be held on 600 acres in Screggan, near Tullamore, Co Offaly, will take place from 20 to 22 September. It is the biggest outdoor event in Europe. Over 280,000 people will attend. You need to be prepared if you are to tackle it properly.

arrive early and the field is half full – will look nothing like the car park you encounter on your return. Take note of the colour of the car park, is it the purple or the green park? Take a picture of where you put your car.

Try and pick out something that will ‘mark’ where you park, are there any recognisable and memorable landmarks nearby?

1. PLAN YOUR ROUTE

Treat the Ploughing like you would a long ‘adventure’ in the country or a day out, hill walking. Bring the key essentials with you in a rucksack, like sun cream and baby wipes. Don’t forget water.

All roads lead to the Ploughing, and it’s important to plan your route. Keep in mind that the Ploughing site, like Dublin city, has its own ‘rush hours’. You should either arrive early and leave early or arrive late and leave late. Visit the Ploughing Championship site for more details.

2. PARK IT RIGHT Finding your car when you want to leave after a long day can be tricky. The car park you arrive in – especially if you

3. PACK THE RIGHT THINGS

4. WELLY GOOD It’s best to wear a sturdy pair of waterproof boots or wellingtons. There will be mud, and the ground will get soft underfoot in places. Dress shoes or high heels are a definite no-no.

5. DRESS TO IMPRESS THE WEATHER

The day may start off warm, but it could change very quickly.

This is September. Be prepared for four seasons in the one day.

Make sure you have a light waterproof jacket with a hood but leave the brolly at home, the crowds are too vast to use an umbrella with comfort.

plies. A ‘lock of ham sambos’ in your rucksack is advisable, along with a few bananas, a bottle of water and some chocolate.

There are also many food stalls at the event, so don’t panic if you get hunger pangs.

6. BARTER

Apart from the hundreds of stalls selling everything under the sun and all the cool farm machinery on display, the real Ploughing Championships take place in the fields around the commercial, tented area. Go out and see the ploughmen and women in action. It’s absorbing.

People selling their wares at the Ploughing love a bit of banter and the exchange. Make sure you get the best deal. Bartering is expected by most sellers.

7. MIND THE KIDS The Ploughing is a very childfriendly environment but there’s always the danger of a little one getting lost. Make sure they have an identity on them. Perhaps even write their name and your mobile number on the back of their hand just in case.

8. EAT WELL It’s a long day. Get the right kind of food into you. Have a substantial breakfast. Bring sup-

9. GO TO SEE THE ACTUAL PLOUGHING

10. KNOW WHERE TO GET CASH Make sure you visit the best tents and marquees. There are lots of bargains to be had. Do your research. Study the map. If you need cash, the Bank of Ireland tent (located on Block 2, row 11) has an ATM and there are ATMs in key locations around the site.

(Thinkbusiness.ie)

2016 NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS - SITE MAP

pharmacy- for all your veterinary prescriptions

Mary Street Pharmacy is an independent, progressive, family-owned pharmacy, conveniently located on Mary Street (the street leading to the Cathedral), Mullingar. There is 20 minutes FREE car parking available in the Cathedral car park at the top of Mary Street. They are open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm and on Sundays 10.30am to 1pm. Call in and meet their staff, Mary Clarke and Edel Mulvanney, who are always very keen to look after your needs.

Chris Monaghan MPSI, is the owner of and the Pharmacist at Mary Street Pharmacy. He completed his MPharm at the Robert Gordon University of Aberdeen, Scotland in 2009.

He worked in a community pharmacy in his native Belfast before moving to and settling in Mullingar in 2010 following his marriage to Anna O'Neill from Hillview, Mullingar. Anna is a local primary school teacher.

Mary Street Pharmacy has a range of veterinary products for your dog, cat, horse and cattle. They provide a range of prescription and non-prescription products that you would normally buy from your vet.

Buying veterinary prescription items from Mary Street Pharmacy couldn't be easier, after you have visited the veterinary surgeon and obtained your prescription, you can then purchase the products you need from Mary Street Pharmacy.

Fianna Fáil - committed to protecting agriculture ROBERT TROY TD

Fianna Fáil is committed to protecting and developing agriculture for the 140,000 farming families in Ireland as the main driver of the rural economy and custodian of the Irish countryside.

The agri-food sector is not only Ireland’s most important indigenous industry; it also lies at the heart of social and economic life throughout much of the country.

There are clear imbalances which are undermining its long-term sustainability.

Especially important is the manner in which family farmers are increasingly finding it difficult to receive fair prices for their produce. We believe action is now required to ensure that producers can earn a decent living as part of a dynamic and innovative sector.

Our policy is built around the following core issues: • Family farming should remain the mainstay of Irish farming.

• Fair prices and increased farm profitability for the primary producer.

• Increase tools to help farmers mitigate price volatility and access to affordable credit.

• Supporting a fair and simpler CAP • Fair farm inspections and proportionate penalties.

Fianna Fáil’s proposals will safeguard a fairer future for farmers, ensuring the primary producer receives a fair price for their produce.

We will fight to support our rural communities which are being left behind.

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