increase font size
The latest outlook report by Teagasc warns of continued financial concerns for Irish farmers due to high cost pressures on fuel, feed and fertiliser.
Irish farmers are facing some hard times this season.
The latest outlook report by Teagasc, the semi-state authority in Ireland responsible for research and development, warns of continued financial concerns for Irish farmers as high costs exert pressure on 'the three Fs': fuel, feed and fertiliser.
Teagasc says along with other sectors of the economy, Irish farmers are also faced with considerable uncertainty about input price inflation, which impacted production decisipns. This they say is driven mainly by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, which had on-the-spot consequences for the fuel, feed and fertiliser markets.
Teagasc says Irish farmers are feeling the biggest financial squeeze from soaring fertiliser costs, which have more than doubled, fuel prices up by 50% and feed prices rising by 33%. It says high input costs have negated any benefit from expected higher incomes.
"Overall, significantly higher production costs across all sectors in 2022 are expected in 2023 - widening the gap between the cost of production for farmers and what they are being paid," says Teagasc.
It says while the average farm income is up considerably, the increase is entirely driven by the strong performance of the dairy sector, which is likely to be up by 50%. But it concludes that the dairy sector outlook for 2023, however, is less than positive.
The Irish Minister of State for Rural Communities says his country and New Zealand face very similar challenges on a range of issues related to agriculture, including climate change, biodiversity and rural depopulation.
In the rural landscapes of New Zealand and Ireland, a shared agricultural heritage thrives, built on a strong mixture of tradition and innovation, with mirror image climates earning both countries global acclaim for their food quality and sustainable agriculture.
A New Zealand/Ireland joint research programme, launched last month, aims to better understand methane emissions from pasture-based farm systems.
MPI director general Ray Smith reckons NZ has a lot to learn from the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority – called Teagasc (pronounced ‘Chog us’).
OPINION: In Ireland, climate change is also causing issues for farmers.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.
Salmonellosis is a serious disease in cattle.
Drench resistance is already hitting farm profits; it's not just a future problem.
Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand's (HortNZ) 2026 scholarship programme, with 20 funding opportunities available.
