Latest news with #IFA
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Low food price inflation cutting into profits for Wicklow farmers and producers
Ms McKenzie, an organic sheep farmer from Redcross, has weighed in on the current debate about recent food price increases, which IFA president Francie Gorman has said should be viewed in the context of those prices increasing by just 12pc over the last 15 years, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has gone up over 30pc, and the cost of electricity by 124pc, over the same period. Echoing IFA assertions that food prices have been suppressed for the last two decades, Ms McKenzie said that the topic comes up at all IFA meetings she attends, adding that the combination of comparatively low food price increases and rising costs to produce food has resulted in a 'worrying time within the industry'. 'Unlike other products in the Consumer Price Index, food prices haven't increased over the years, and, as farmers, we're very worried about that,' she said. 'Food hasn't gone up at the same rate as other products, 12pc over the last 15 years. But in comparison, the Consumer Price Index of other things is up 30pc, and electricity has gone up by 124pc, which is crazy. 'That makes it an uneven playing field if the price of what we produce doesn't go up at the same rate of inflation. 'We're also consumers. We go shopping and see the price of food going up. Then we look at the price we get for what we produce, and it doesn't necessarily go up, while all our costs do. The price of doing business and producing our lamb and our tillage is more and more expensive. 'It's all cutting into any kind of profit that could be made. The corn might already be in the ground, and needs to be combined, but are you combining a crop that's not worth anything by the time you get it for sale?' Highlighting how average farm incomes were just under €36,000 in 2024, while the average weekly earnings, annualised, come to over €53,000 across other sectors, Ms McKenzie, who has agri-tourism shepherd's huts on her farm, explained how Wicklow farmers and food producers do their utmost to increase their margins through diversification. 'We're a mighty little county, and we have good tillage ground, good mountain lambs coming off the hill,' she continued. 'We're very diverse in our agricultural output, so food prices affect a broad section of the county. 'In saying all of that, I think you have to caveat that with the fact that in Wicklow, we're very good at diversifying. All of us are trying to do something else, whether that be agritourism or whatever. 'The Tinahely show is the perfect example of that great crossover of what Wicklow can produce and the extra bit that we do to push up the margins.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
iPhone 17 series launch date: Here's when Apple may launch 2025 iPhone lineup
Apple iPhone 17 series is expected to make its debut later this year in September. While the company is yet to announce the exact launch date, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested a likely date for Apple's fall event. According to him, the Cupertino-based company may host an iPhone launch event on September 8. In his weekly PowerOn newsletter, Guram writes: 'The company usually unveils its new iPhones the week after Labor Day. If that holds — and there's no reason to believe it won't — you can pencil in the keynote for the week of Sept. 8'. Apple iPhone 17 launch date (expected) 'In the past, Apple has typically favored Tuesdays, but there have been some exceptions in recent years. So it could be that Monday (the 8th), though I suspect the 9th or 10th is probably more likely,' Mark Gurman continues. Adding further, he says that Apple never holds events on Fridays and 'has avoided launching new products on Sept. 11'. Hence, both these dates can be ruled out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo September 8 for iPhone 17 launch seems likely because the week before is when the IFA electronics trade show is held in Berlin. With several major announcements expected at IFA, Apple is unlikely to schedule its event during the same period to avoid sharing attention with other tech brands. Apple iPhone 17 series what to expect Apple iPhone 17 series is rumoured to offer four smartphones — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and an all new slim model iPhone 17 Air . The 2025 iPhone lineup is likely to come powered by Apple's own A19 series chipset and will run on the latest iOS 26 operating system. According to reports, Apple may bring some key design and display changes across all models. The standard iPhone 17 is also said to come with a 6.3-inch display size, the same as last year's iPhone 16 Pro. All models are said to come with ultra-thin bezels. Currently, Apple only includes 120Hz ProMotion displays on its Pro iPhones. That may change with the iPhone 17 series. All four models are expected to feature LTPO OLED panels, which allow for smoother scrolling and better battery efficiency. These displays could also support always-on functionality, although it's unclear if Apple will bring that to non-Pro models. JBL Tour Pro 3 First Look: Screen On Earbuds AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
See pictures from Wexford's Strawberry Weekend – ‘People want us to succeed'
An annual strawberry-centred event, that has taken the reigns following the the end of the Strawberry Festival, was highly attended by locals who were eager for ice cream, music, and meet and greets with some of their favourite cartoon characters thanks to the Rathnure Pantomime Society. The Village of Wheelock's signature pink ice creams made an appearance and were enjoyed by Cllr Aidan Browne, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh and members of the Wexford IFA. The ice cream was successfully launched at the event last year following a 12 month development period where Cyril Wheelock travelled up to Tinnahinch in Co Carlow to John Whelan's Devil Menu to understand how they incorporate strawberries. They then came home with the sauce and learned how to directly blend their signature strawberries with the ice cream until they are the colour pink. It saw immediate success and he observed that this new strawberry blended ice cream made up two thirds of the ice cream they sold, proving to be a big winner with customers. There was also a wide variety of stalls selling handmade jewellery, products and produce, as well as amusement rides, face painting and dancing areas to keep everyone entertained. Cyril explained that they are always overwhelmed and overjoyed at the outpouring of support they receive from the area when they host this event. "When we do events like the Strawberry Weekend and planting the sunflowers and things like that, I are humbled by the support that we get here. People just wanting us and willing us to succeed and to be successful,' he said. 'Thanks to anyone who helped out in any way during the festival. From our point it was a major success anyway. We have learned a lot in the last two years and we feel that this year we changed a few things and it made such a difference,' he added. As a member of the Wexford Food Producers Network, Cyril decided to erect a large display to put a spotlight on his fellow producers around the county. 'We're part of the Wexford Food Producers Network, so I wanted to display all the Wexford food producers and thanks so much to every one of them who brought stuff and delivered in stuff here for this display. There is also people here on this display who are producing in Wexford and not part of the Wexford Producers Group and that's okay – it's all about Wexford here. He gave a special mention of thanks to Wexford IFA who have supported him and the business for years and 'always turn up in spades' when he needs assistance.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Agricultural output price index up 20.7% in the 12 months to May
In the 12 months to May of this year, the agricultural output price index rose by 20.7%. In the CSO's (Central Statistics Office) latest report, despite the rise over the past 12 months to May, compared to every month, the output price index dropped by 0.8% in the month since April. The most significant output price increases in the 12 months to May 2025 were in wool, milk and cattle. Wool has experienced an annual increase of 31.9%. However, this figure solely rides on the increase experienced from April to May of this year within the index. The wool output price index remained static at 106.3 for the last 11 months, only to jump to 140.2 in May 2025, contributing to an almost 32% increase. The IFA (Irish Farmers' Association) has said the sudden uptick occurring in May is the result of improved wool demand, with auction prices also up compared to previous months. These higher prices secured by farmers are only returning to them in recent months, in line with normal selling time and payment arrangements in place for some sellers. IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said: 'The increase in wool prices is a welcome move in the right direction, but there is still a journey for wool prices to travel to cover the shearing costs and leave a margin for the farmer.' Sheep have also received a 7% drop in the output price index in the 12 months leading up to May of this year. Cattle saw an annual increase of 48% in the output price. Cattle excluding calves increased by 47.5% and calves secured an increase of 123.9% with the output price index sitting at 116.7 in May 2024 and 261.2 in May of this year. Milk has also seen an annual increase of 14.2% in the output price index despite experiencing a 0.8% drop when comparing April and May of this year. Potatoes have received the most significant drop in the output price index, with potatoes (including seeds) dropping by 15.1%. Amongst other crops, cereals (with seeds) experienced an annual drop of 0.2%, vegetables a drop of 1% and 'industrial and forage' an increase of 3.4%. The agricultural input price index rose slightly by 0.1% in the 12 months to May but dropped by 0.2% when compared monthly to April. Commenting on the release, Senior Statistician in the Agriculture Division, Sam Scriven, said: 'Within the Input Price Index, Fertilisers rose by 10.2% while Motor Fuels (-8.0%), and Feeding Stuffs (-2.3%) were lower than in May 2024." Breaking down the fertiliser index further, straight fertilisers experienced the largest annual increase in the input price index, with a jump of 14%. On an annual basis, NPK fertilisers rose by 9.8%, compound fertilisers rose by 9.4%, NP and PK fertilisers rose by 3.8% and 'other' fertilisers experienced an increase of 1%. Veterinary expenses also rose by 4.7% in the 12 months to May. Although the input price for veterinary expenses has risen in the last 12 months, the price index has remained stationary at 120.3 since January. Terms of Trade fell by 0.6% in May 2025 when compared with the previous month and were 20.6% higher when compared with May 2024.
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Apple iPhone 17 Release Date: New Leak Reveals Latest Key Data
Updated July 14 with further details of the exact release date for the iPhone 17 series. Last month, I assessed exactly when the next iPhone series, would go on sale. Now, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg has had his say. Happily, it's along the same lines, so perhaps we can begin to be confident when the iPhone will land. Read on for the exact schedule in every detail. Apple iPhone 16: when will the iPhone 17 go on sale, exactly? In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman seeks to answer the question: 'When will Apple hold its iPhone 17 launch event?' Apple iPhone 17: Date, Time And Place Of The Keynote Although he went into much less detail than my report (and I admit it, brevity is the soul of wit), he lighted on similar dates. 'The company usually unveils its new iPhones the week after Labor Day. If that holds — and there's no reason to believe it won't — you can pencil in the keynote for the week of Sept. 8,' he began. This continues to make sense to me: the week before would be when the large-scale electronics trade show IFA takes place in Berlin and it's already thought that there will be some big announcements there. Apple won't want to share the spotlight with the myriad other brands popping up in Berlin. 'In the past, Apple has typically favored Tuesdays, but there have been some exceptions in recent years,' Gurman goes on. He's referring to the fact that last year's event, against most people's expectations, including his, was held on a Monday. I'm quietly delighted that I did report the right date in advance. Forgive me a moment of conceited humility, please. 'So it could be that Monday (the 8th), though I suspect the 9th or 10th is probably more likely. Apple never holds events on Fridays, so you can rule out the 12th, and it has avoided launching new products on Sept. 11,' Gurman concludes. This is the new information here. I had only briefly considered the Monday, but Gurman is giving it more credence. However, we both think that Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 are more likely. As I said before, my money is on the keynote happening on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the absolutely regular time that it always does, that is, 10 a.m. Pacific. And the location will, I'm sure, be in the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. Apple iPhone 17 Pre-Orders Assuming that date is right, then other parts of the puzzle fall into place. First of all, pre-orders are almost certain to open on the following Friday, which is Sept. 12. Usually, this means you can log on to buy at 1 p.m. local time, wherever you are, on that day. In the past, customers can jump the line the night before pre-orders open — Thursday, Sept. 11 in this case — so they can save the color, storage level and model of iPhone in their online shopping bag and complete the purchase when pre-orders open the following day. Apple iPhone 17 Release Date Gurman only talks about the keynote, but when will the onsale date be? I still think the iPhone 17 series will go on sale on Friday, Sept.19.
