Latest from Agriland
Agriland
3 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
‘Farmers are going to suffer losses' under proposed CAP changes
Farmers are 'going to suffer losses' under the European Commission's plans for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the next long term EU budget, according to the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA). The commission unveiled its plans for CAP as its proposals for the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034 were detailed to the European Parliament's budget committee today (Wednesday, July 16). According to Denis Drennan, president of the ICMSA, the Commission's CAP plans represent a speeded-up timetable for the EU's withdrawal of direct supports to farming and primary food production. Drennan also believes that the European Commission's CAP plans have the potential to drive food prices up across the EU and drive down the 'high standard and sustainable food production within the EU. 'It's not even difficult to predict the disaster that will follow this announcement, it's just simple logic. 'As the direct supports for farmers fall, they will have to raise prices as they sell along the chain with a resulting impact at the point of sale to the consumer,' he added. CAP The president of the ICMSA also believes that questions have to be asked about the EU's ability 'to feed itself' if its CAP plans go ahead. 'Some people might think this is alarmist, but those very same people should take a close look at developments in EU agriculture, their view will certainly change when they do so,' Drennan added. He said although CAP had failed to pace with inflation, the impact of potential reductions to individual payments as a result of the commission's proposals would mean 'cuts will be piled on cuts'. 'We've had many promises from the Commission on CAP on support and simplification. 'None have been kept. Today's announcement simply underlines the slide into irrelevance. The EU can no longer even pretend to be an asset to farmers, it's an obstacle, a negative, that causes more problems than it provides solutions,' Drennan said. He is now calling on the Taoiseach to 'immediately signal Ireland's rejection' of the Commission's proposals and has urged Irish MEPS to do the same.
Agriland
16 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
CSO: Increase in house prices across country in year to May 2025
The lowest median price for housing in Ireland in the 12 months to May 2025 was in Co. Leitrim, according to the latest data on house prices from the Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Overall, the RPPI increased by 7.9% in the 12 months to May 2025, up from 7.6% in the year to April 2025. Property prices in Dublin rose by 6.9% and prices outside Dublin were up by 8.7% compared with May 2024. The median price of a dwelling purchased in the 12 months to May 2025 was €370,000. The highest median price for a dwelling in the 12 months to May 2025 was €670,000 in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest median price was €186,000 in Co. Leitrim. In May 2025, 3,824 dwelling purchases by households were filed with the Revenue Commissioners at a total value of €1.6 billion. These purchases were made up of 2,913 existing dwellings and 911 new dwellings. Revenue data shows there were 1,388 first-time buyer purchases in May 2025. Commenting on the release, statistician with CSO Ireland, Niall Corkery said: 'Residential property prices rose by 7.9% in the 12 months to May 2025, up from 7.6% in the year to April 2025. 'In Dublin, residential property prices saw an increase of 6.9%, while property prices outside Dublin were 8.7% higher in May 2025 when compared with a year earlier.' 'In the 12 months to May 2025, house prices in Dublin rose by 6.8% while apartment prices increased by 7.2%,' Corkey added. According to the CSO, the highest house price growth in Dublin was in Fingal at 9.3% while Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown saw a rise of 5.1%. Outside Dublin, house prices were up by 8.9% and apartment prices rose by 6.7%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest growth in house prices was the border (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo) at 11.1%, while at the other end of the scale, the south-east (Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, and Wexford) saw a 7.7% rise. Median house prices Households paid a median or mid-point price of €370,000 for a residential property in the 12 months to May 2025. The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to May 2025 was A94 'Blackrock' with a median price of €770,000, while F45 'Castlerea', Co. Roscommon had the least expensive price of €150,000.
Agriland
a day ago
- Business
- Agriland
Agriland to launch multimedia campaign on farm safety with DAFM
Enjoy listening to podcasts? Love watching videos of farmers? Interested in staying up to date with news articles? Well, Agriland Media is at the forefront of a new farm safety campaign which incorporates all of the above. We have partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and AXA Insurance for a major state-backed information and awareness campaign on farm safety. The 'Farm Safe, Farm Well' series aims to reduce the number of farm-related deaths and injuries across this country, with statistics from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) showing that working in agriculture is consistently the most dangerous job in Ireland. Over the course of the next six months, Agriland will travel the length and breadth of the country speaking to survivors of farm accidents, their families and the organisations that support them. We will broadcast and publish a series of videos, podcasts and articles with testimonials, interviews and 'straight-talking' information that might make you think twice about undertaking a job around the farm. Multimedia campaign At Agriland Media, we understand how busy and demanding working in agriculture can be and it's the driver behind our goal to always bring you news and information in the most accessible way. The topics which will be covered throughout the 'Farm Safe, Farm Well' series in 2025 include: Protecting children around the farm; Livestock safety; Working with machinery; Mental health and farming; Farm accident support services; Quad safety; Safety during autumn calving season; Staying safe around slurry. Minister of State with responsibility for farm safety, Michael Healy-Rae will be among those who contribute to the series as we speak to him on-farm in Co. Kerry. Managing director of Agriland Media, Cormac Farrelly said: 'This campaign has never been more relevant and important and Agriland is proud to contribute to a campaign which, we hope, will result in less deaths and injuries in agriculture. 'I have small children myself and they love being out on the farm with me as I'm sure many small children across the country do too, so we're particularly eager to highlight the risks to ensure every child stays safe. 'It's a great endorsement of how important this effort is having the support of AXA Insurance and DAFM behind us and we look forward to sharing the stories of farm safety over the coming months.'
Agriland
2 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Weakening agri policy would be ‘deal-breaker' for next EU budget
Any attempt to weaken agricultural policy within the EU would be a 'deal-breaker' in terms of the negotiation of the long term budget, known as the multi-annual financial framework (MFF). The comments came from Spanish MEP Carmen Crespo Díaz, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on the future of agriculture, regarding the plenary debate on the post-27 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). 'We firmly reject any attempt to nationalise this policy or merge its funding with other EU instruments,' Diaz, who is a member of the European People's Party (EPP) grouping in the EU, told Agriland. 'The CAP must remain a truly common policy, with dedicated funds and independent pillars, ensuring fair and equal support for all European farmers. 'Weakening agricultural policy would be a deal-breaker for the next EU long-term budget (MFF). 'We need to put farmers back at the centre of decision-making. Innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability must drive the transformation of Europe's food system without adding to the bureaucratic burden farmers already face,' she added. MEP Carmen Crespo Diaz. Image source: EPP Group EU Budget Crespo Diaz said that a stronger budget is essential to shield farmers from rising costs, climate risks, and market instability. 'In addition to strengthening agricultural aid, the EPP Group is committed to simplification and smart incentives to increase the profitability and resilience of farming across Europe,' she added. 'We support smart incentives over obligations, fair prices for producers, and better support for vulnerable rural regions.' In her draft report as rapporteur on the future of agriculture and the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy, Crespo Diaz stated: 'It is necessary to consolidate a model based on incentives rather than obligations, promoting the adoption of sustainable practices without affecting farmers' profitability. 'Existing regulations need to be reviewed so that they do not impose disproportionate burdens, and administrative simplification needs to be encouraged, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring that support reaches those who need it in a timely manner. 'To this end, the following should be noted: CAP cross-compliance requirements should be reassessed to reduce excessive implementation requirements, administrative burdens and unnecessary costs. 'Direct payments under Pillar I of the CAP should be made available to all professional farmers, irrespective of their size and type of production,' she also stated. She also suggested the possibility of supporting sectors in difficulty or subject to specific constraints, such as arid, mountainous or outermost areas and sectors such as fruit and vegetables, wine, beekeeping. A further point made is that the Mediterranean forests and livestock, should be maintained.
Agriland
3 days ago
- Climate
- Agriland
Weather: Cooler week ahead with mixed conditions
As Ireland's heatwave comes to an end, Met Éireann has forecasted mixed and changeable weather conditions for the coming week. It will be cooler and fresher than recently, but turning a little milder around midweek. Today, Monday, bands of showery rain will continue to clear northwards this morning with sunny spells and scattered showers following from the south-west. Cloud will increase in the south-west and west as the day goes on, with more prolonged showers developing in these parts. Some heavy and thundery downpours are possible, the national forescaster said. It will feel cooler and fresher than of late with highest temperatures of 15° to 21°, with moderate to fresh and gusty south to south-west winds developing, strong at times on southern and south-western coasts. Showers or longer spells of rain are expected tonight, turning heavy and possibly thundery at times. There will be lowest temperatures of 9° to 13° with light to moderate variable winds over much of the country, but fresh to strong south to south-west winds in the south. Weather for the week Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be mostly cloudy with spells of rain, possibly heavy and thundery at first. It will brighten up from the west through the morning with a mix of sunny spells and showers, with mainly dry conditions developing in the west for the afternoon and extending eastwards in the evening. Highest temperatures of 16° to 20° with moderate to fresh north-west winds developing are expected, strong at first near southern coasts. Tuesday night will be mainly dry with clear spells but thickening cloud in the south-west will bring outbreaks of rain near the south-west coast by morning. Areas of mist and fog will form also, as winds fall light and variable. Any mist and fog will clear during Wednesday morning and it will be bright for a time in the north and east with some hazy sunshine. However, cloud with outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the south-west will gradually extend northeastwards over the country through the day. There will be highest temperatures of 17° to 21° with light to moderate south to south-east winds. It will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain on Wednesday night, turning heavy at times. It will be mild with temperatures not falling below 13° to 17°, in light to moderate southerly winds. Thursday will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain breaking up into showers and sunny spells during the afternoon and evening. Some of the showers will be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. There will be highest temperatures of 18° to 23° with light to moderate south to south-west winds. On Friday, current indications suggest variable cloud amounts with some sunshine and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 17° to 21° in light south-west or variable breezes are expected. Latest farming commentary issued by Met Éireann on Saturday said that over the past week, rainfall amounts were below average for most of Ireland and just above average in the north-west. Rainfall amounts will be above average widely into this week, with amounts of between 20mm and 65mm forecast generally. It looks set to be driest in the east and wettest in the west. Over the coming week, mean air temperatures are expected to be between 1° and 2° above normal, ranging from 16° to 18°. Mean soil temperatures will continue above normal. While drying conditions were good or very good up to Sunday, they will deteriorate somewhat this week. Spraying opportunities will be limited this week due to outbreaks of showers and rain in the forecast. The next best opportunity will be later Tuesday evening. Moderately and well-drained soils in the north, west and far south-west are close to saturation, with poorly drained soils there waterlogged. Elsewhere, soils are drier, with soil moisture deficits currently ranging between 10mm and 60mm for all soil types, highest in the south, with some restriction to growth. Soil moisture deficits are likely to decrease in parts of the west and south-west with the forecasted showers and rain in the coming days.
