ICSA Press Releases

Working on behalf of Drystock Farmers

Our Latest Press Release

FACTORIES USING DROUGHT TO PUSH LAMB PRICES BACKWARDS

by Neassa | 12th August 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Sheep chair Willie Shaw has said drought conditions are putting sheep farmers under increasing pressure and giving factories an opportunity to push lamb prices backwards. "Farmers are running short of grass and that is forcing farmers to move some lambs earlier...

GENERATIONAL RENEWAL MUST START WITH FARM VIABILITY

by Neassa | 30th July 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA president Sean McNamara has said that the discussions at this week's Securing the Future of Farming: Generational Renewal, Women in Agriculture and Food Security interparliamentary conference highlighted issues that are central to the future of agriculture, but...

ICSA PRESIDENT CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS

by Neassa | 17th July 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA president Sean McNamara has called for an independent investigation into the Department of Agriculture's recent enforcement operations in which a large number of cattle were destroyed. "The footage that has since emerged has left many farmers shocked and looking...

€15/HD SET TO BE WIPED OFF EVERY LAMB AS FACTORIES CUT PRICES

by Neassa | 17th July 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Sheep chair Willie Shaw has said factory cuts of around 50c/kg this week, with indications that a further 20c/kg will come off next week, will wipe almost €15 off the value of every lamb in under a fortnight. "No business can survive when that level of value...

FARMERS SHOULD USE FREE ANIMAL HEALTH AND BIOSECURITY ADVICE

by Neassa | 17th July 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair John Barron has welcomed the launch of the 2026 Biosecurity Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health (TASAH) and is encouraging cattle and sheep farmers to make use of the free veterinary advice available under the scheme. “This...

COMMON-SENSE APPROACH ON STOCKING FIGURES SHOULD APPLY TO NITRATES RULES TOO

by Neassa | 3rd June 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has said that if previous year's stocking figures are good enough for one Department calculation, they should be good enough for slurry import limits too. “We have seen the Department accept the use of prior-year stocking...

SHEEP FARMERS CANNOT SURVIVE ON ONE GOOD MONTH

by Neassa | 29th May 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Sheep chair Willie Shaw has said that current spring lamb prices must be maintained through to the end of the season if sheep farming is to remain viable. “Spring lamb producers need to see prices maintained at or around the €10/kg mark right through to...

ICSA SLAMS DIVISIVE CAP PROPOSAL ON STOCKING RATES

by Neassa | 14th May 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has said proposals to introduce a 1LU/ha minimum stocking rate for CAP eligibility would unfairly penalise thousands of genuine drystock farmers on marginal land. “The current CAP threshold is 0.1LU/ha, so increasing it to...

ICSA WELCOMES OPENING OF BADGER BIOSECURITY SCHEME

by Neassa | 13th May 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair John Barron has welcomed the opening of the new On-Farm Badger Biosecurity Scheme, saying it is recognition at last that effective biosecurity measures come at a real cost to farmers. “ICSA has consistently said that good...

PROPOSED CAP ELIGIBILITY CHANGES RISK EXCLUDING GENUINE FOOD PRODUCERS

by Neassa | 1st May 2026 | Latest News, Press Releases | 0 Comments

ICSA Rural Development chair Edmond Phelan has said reports that up to 60,000 Irish farmers could be affected by proposed changes to CAP payment eligibility underline the significant risk to Irish farm families. “Emerging proposals at EU level could restrict future...