Latest news with #FoodandtheMarine
Agriland
a day ago
- General
- Agriland
Teagasc celebrates International Potato Day at Bloom
The world is celebrating International Potato Day today, Friday, May 30, to recognise the crop's critical role in global food security. In December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed May 30 as International Potato Day. The initial momentum for the declaration was sparked during the World Potato Congress, in Dublin in May 2022. The conference highlighted the importance of the potato on an international stage. As the third most important food crop worldwide, the potato is gaining even more relevance, especially in developing countries, where it plays a key role in sustainable agriculture and nutrition. To mark the very first International Potato Day, Teagasc potato breeder, Dr. Denis Griffin will give a special talk at the joint Teagasc and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) stand at Bloom on Friday, May 30. Dr. Griffin will talk about the potato crop's global significance and Ireland's long history with the crop. He will also cover the cutting-edge research being conducted in Ireland to aid sustainability, and how Irish science supports the sector both domestically and globally. He will discuss the Teagasc potato group breeding programme at the Teagasc crops research department in Oak Park, Co. Carlow and the traits being pursued to improve future crops. Two new potato varieties, Buster and Fidelity, recently released by the breeding programme will also be discussed. International Potato Day In other news, last week, May 22, Kate Curran from Kilmagemogue, Portlaw, Co. Waterford was named the winner of the Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year 2024 award. The awards were presented to the top graduates of the Teagasc level 6 agriculture, horticulture, equine, and forestry training programmes in 2024 by Teagasc chairperson, Liam Herlihy in Dublin. Curran completed the Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farming (Distance Education) at the Teagasc Kildalton College in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. In addition to winning the overall award, Curran was also successful in the Part-Time and Distance Education category award.
Agriland
a day ago
- Business
- Agriland
Healy-Rae launches report on horticulture education
Minister of State with responsibility for horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae, has launched a report into the available of courses for studying horticulture. The Horticulture Education Review Report was launched at the Bord Bia Bloom Festival by the minister today (Friday, May 30). The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that the report delivers on a strategic action in the National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027, which includes a commitment to review horticulture course availability and suitability for a modern dynamic industry. The report includes a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a new committee called the Horticulture Education Leadership Group (HLEG). This committee would be tasked with assisting with reviews of horticultural educational content at all levels. That committee would also be tasked with preparing material that can be used by education providers and industry stakeholders to promote and market horticulture as an attractive and rewarding career. The HLEG committee should also work on an all-Ireland basis to share information on horticulture promotion. Commenting on the new report, Minister Healy-Rae said: 'I would like to thank the authors of the report, Dr. Owen Doyle and Brian Arnold for their work in completing this important review. 'The recommendations in the report set out clear actions for the horticulture sector to take forward to enhance its attractiveness as a future career choice. 'Launching the report at Bloom 2025 is particularly relevant as we celebrate and showcase all that is great about our horticulture sector, from gardens, plants and food produce; including its skilled professionals – landscape gardeners, florists, commercial growers, farmers, academics, advisors and scientists – the key foundation on which the horticulture industry is built,' the minister added. He thanked the horticulture industry, retailers and education providers for their engagement on the report. 'The recommendation to establish a new Higher Education Leadership Group that will input into the curriculum content and coordinate advocacy campaigns will be key to inspiring the next generation of horticulturists into this important and dynamic sector,' Minister Healy-Rae said. He added: 'I particularly welcome the focus on a 'global horizon' ensuring that our future graduates at all levels will have the required knowledge and skills to further advance sustainable practices and drive continued innovation in the sector.'
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Heydon: ‘Hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year
There are 'hopeful signs' on forestry planting this year which is up 'nearly 150% on the same period last year' according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. In response to a question tabled by the Sinn Féin spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Kenny, the minister added: 'There is more to come, with another 1,600 hectares already committed to or commenced planting, and a further 4,490 hectares licenced but not yet planted'. According to Minister Heydon the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 'represents the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting' and was put in place to incentivise farmers to see tree-planting as an additional income stream or diversification option. Deputy Kenny had tabled a question in the Dáil requesting the minister to outline the number of 'recipients currently receiving afforestation premiums under afforestation schemes from 2005 to date'. Forestry Minister Heydon said that around 9,788 individual forest owners are due premia payments in 2025, for 87,893ha planted under afforestation schemes since 2005. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) also provided details to Deputy Kenny in relation to the number of hectares of forestry planted and the breakdown of the number of hectares of forestry, per forest types 1 to 12, under the current afforestation scheme. Forest types/hectares of forestry planted Source: DAFM Forestry licences Separately the Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Matt Carthy, also asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to specify the number number of forestry licences issued in each quarter one from 2019 to 2025. Number of forestry licences issued in Q1 over the last 7 years Source: DAFM According to Minister Heydon forestry licences should be processed within six months for screened-out applications (those not subject to appropriate assessment) and within nine months for screened-in applications (those subject to appropriate assessment). He also told Deputy Carthy: 'My department will publish a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 in the coming weeks, taking account of developments on foot of the fallout from storms Darragh and Éowyn. 'Now that the satellite assessment of the extent of the damage is complete, my department can assess the information and plan in more detail accordingly. 'The plan will cover afforestation, roads, private and Coillte felling licences'.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Heydon committed to 2-pillar CAP but has no ‘crystal ball'
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has reaffirmed his commitment to the traditional two-pillar structure of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), but has said he has no 'crystal ball'. The minister was speaking at his first appearance as a senior minister in front of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. A range of topics came up, with CAP, and its future post-2027, being one of the main issued raised by TDs and senators on the committee. The European Commission is understood to be planning a radical overhaul of the EU's long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in which the funding to member states would be consolidated into a single funding pot, with member states then developing a plan to outline how they would use that funding. This has sparked concern that the two-pillar structure of CAP, and even a dedicated budget for the entire CAP, could be scrapped in favour of a single member state fund. The minister was quizzed on this by Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice, who asked: 'The overall budget in CAP, is it going to be bigger, yes or no? Is Ireland's budget going to be bigger to accommodate it if we're going to be tweaking around on it? Are we going to have Pillar I and Pillar II, is it going to be the same system?' In answer to Fitzmaurice, the minister said: 'Apologies deputy, I left my crystal ball at home, so I don't have that, and we'd all love to know those answers. 'What I can tell you is we'll know in the middle of July. Around July 16 is when these [plans] are going to be announced, and all I can tell you is we are doing everything in our power. 'I can't be clearer – we want to maintain the [CAP] fund, we want to maintain Pillar I and II, we want a fully funded CAP,' he added. 'Will we get that?… We know all the other demands there are on other sides.' Fitzmaurice then asked if, in a situation where the CAP in its traditional form was not forthcoming, the government would be prepared to step in and 'prop it up'. Minister Heydon said: 'We could end up with so many different scenarios here… If what was leaked out in terms of a single fund was to come about…I would make the point that it would be a very bad thing. That would mean renationalisation of our system. It would actually undermine the whole [EU] single market. 'I'm not going to get into predicting what might come of what outcome, because there's so many different outcomes there can be here. 'What I can tell you right now is we are making every effort across government to put our best foot forward to maintain a fully funded cap with the traditional structure that has served our sector so well,' he added. The minister also noted that, in the second half of 2026, when the CAP budget is likely to be finalised, Ireland will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, one of the legislative bodies of the EU, meaning Minister Heydon, if he is still in office, will be the chairperson of the council of agriculture ministers during that period. He said: 'The first element of this is actually the MFF. What happens with the overall budget will totally determine what happens with CAP. 'In terms of the role we play in the agriculture council… What we do have is, in the second half of 2026, I'll be the chair of the council of ministers and, as we're working through that, we'll be working on the basis of consensus. 'I'm meeting with every other minister bilaterally to understand their priorities and so they understand our priorities… Hopefully before the end of 2026 under the Irish presidency, I;ll be in a position to get that CAP over the line by means of consensus.
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
DAFM: Nearly 700 IDR inspections completed this year
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has carried out almost 700 identification and registration (IDR) inspections so far this year. Since 2023, DAFM has been managing cases of non-compliance on livestock traceability through fixed payment notices instead of cross compliance penalties. In the event of serious non-compliance with livestock identification and movement rules being found, the department has the power to issue a fixed payment notice at a flat rate of €250. Failure to pay that penalty within 28 days could result in a court appearance and an increased risk of further inspection. This system replaced the previous approach where a penalty was deducted from a farmer's direct payments. DAFM As of May 15, the department confirmed to Agriland that it had completed 671 IDR inspections across the country. No compliance notices advising of a herd restriction in relation to serious identification, registration, and movement non-compliances have been issued. In 2024, the department completed 4,535 IDR inspections, with 459 herds issued with compliance notices and restricted due to serious non-compliances. A DAFM spokesperson said: '357 withdrawal notices were issued to farmers who have engaged with the department to resolve the non-compliances identified at the inspection. 'No fixed penalty notices have issued in relation to non-compliances identified as part IDR inspections, nor has any farmer faced a court appearance. 'The department is currently reviewing the herds that remain restricted and considering the next steps required,' the spokesperson added. Trends identified at IDR inspections to date show that farmers who were issued notices had multiple tagging and record-keeping non-compliance instances. The department issued the following advice to farmers on best practices to avoid an IDR compliance notice: Tag all livestock by tagging deadlines; Register all calves within seven days of tagging; Notify movements of all livestock promptly; Replace lost tags promptly; Keep the herd/flock register up-to-date at all times.
