ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara has said farmers should not accept any less than €7.00/kg for hoggets over the coming weeks. “Factories are doing everything in their power to chip away at prices so we must do everything in our power to resist them,” he said....

ICSA president Dermot Kelleher has welcomed the decision of European Parliament to reject proposals that would place severe restrictions on animal transportation. “ICSA has lobbied hard on this issue; we have engaged with all Irish MEPs as well as our partners in Farm...

ICSA Animal Health & Welfare chair Hugh Farrell has congratulated Clare man James Lynch on his appointment as the new chairman of Animal Health Ireland. “The first objective will be to end BVD testing by the end of 2022. The BVD campaign has been a major success...

ICSA is opposing the imposition of pre or post movement testing in relation to TB restricted farmers buying in cattle for further feeding until we have certainty that the Department will pay for these tests.

These rules are being dreamed up by those who do not understand livestock farming, and the fact is that these rules will create a lot more animal welfare issues. Farmers need to be able to sell animals at a time which is appropriate to their farming system. If you interfere with this, there are unintended consequences.

ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara has said the Department of Agriculture must show greater flexibility around sheep inspections during the busy lambing months. “There are welfare issues when it comes to moving heavy in-lamb or recently lambed ewes; they do not need to be...

“The reality is that the EU is taking a very ideological position on red meat that is not supported by incontrovertible evidence. A balanced diet with a focus on reducing or eliminating ultra-processed foods is still likely to be a better strategy. It is worrisome that the EU appears to be supporting highly processed plant burgers over real meat. Apart from the fact that it is not based on robust evidence, it is distorting fair competition and actually undermining highly nutritious food produced by EU livestock farmers.” 

ICSA beef chair Edmund Graham has said the conditionality attached to BEAM monies was so flawed that the Department of Agriculture must revisit every aspect of the scheme. “BEAM stands for Beef Exceptional Aid Measure; as the full title indicates it was exceptional...

ICSA Rural Development chair Tim Farrell has said that the draft Nitrates Action Programme, published today (Tuesday 14 December) adds extra cost, red tape and restrictions and it is particularly unfair for less intensive farmers who do not benefit from higher...

ICSA rural development chair Tim Farrell has called on the Department of Agriculture to extend today’s deadline for GLAS 1, 2 and 3 participants to roll over their contracts into next year. “Participants were called upon to respond via text message indicating if they...