Latest News
Organic Farmers Praised by MEP
While the production of organic foods in Ireland represented a €250 million business it also added substantial value to the output of more intensive conventionally produced foods which benefited from the environmentally friendly green image attached to the existence of a strong Irish organic and high natural value farming sector.
This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin following her attendance at a public seminar in Dublin organised by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Group and the Irish Organic Farmers & Growers Association.
She said: “Organic farming contributes substantially to Ireland’s reputation for the production of food of high quality produced in an environmentally friendly way. As such organic growers in Ireland and throughout the EU deserve to have funding ring fenced for their sector and specific schemes created to ensure that they receive fair treatment in the rural development programme currently being debated in the context of the review of the Common Agriculture Policy.
“The European Parliament’s view, which I support, is that organic farming has an important role in EU food production and the whole image of EU food products will be enhanced by the ring fencing of 25% of funding for agri-environment schemes involving all farmers.
Social Farming Conference ‘Living An Ordinary Life’ 12th of June Carrick-on-Shannon
The Social Farming Across Borders Project (SoFAB) is delighted to announce details of the upcoming conference ‘Living and Ordinary Life’ on Social Farming in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon on the 12th of June 2013 (see details attached). This conference is to focus attention on the practical realities of Social Farming and share experiences from the SoFAB project and bring together farmers from Flanders, the UK and Ireland to discuss their experience of Social Farming. A highlight of the conference will be the keynote address from Dr Tony Bates of Headstrong. For more information, please see the SoFAB website:www.socialfarmingacrossborders.org
There is no charge for attending the conference however booking is essential as numbers are strictly limited. Booking at – http://socialfarmingconference.eventbrite.ie/#
Please see below links….
March Against Monsanto Meeting in Sligo on Saturday 25th May @ 1pm at The Source, Sligo – 1/2 John St
As Monsanto the giant biotech U.S. company is becoming more and more determined to impose it’s GM foods on the populations of the world, people are equally becoming more and more determined to resist this pressure. Despite the growing and strong evidence about the serious harmful effects of GM foods for our health, Monsanto chooses to ignore this evidence. Roundup,Monsanto’s herbicide which is used by farmers,by the general public in their gardens,on golf course etc has also been shown to have very serious damaging effects on health and the environment. Monsanto ignores this too.
People in cities and towns all over the world will be demonstrating their opposition to this form of dictatorship,which has such serious consequences for all of us.
In Ireland there will be marches in Dublin,Cork,Galway,Limerick,(and maybe other places.)
A public meeting to raise awareness about Monsanto,and the many issues surrounding GM foods.
John Brennan,a long time anti-GM campaigner,and a member of NO 2 GM,an anti GM organisation, www.no2gm.com,will be the speaker at this event.
Working with organic farm clients to protect animal health
Please find below link
http://www.veterinaryirelandjournal.com/Links/PDFs/CE-Large/CELA_September_2008.pdf
Could a traditional breed of Irish cattle become another weapon in the farmer’s arsenal?
Click on below link for more details.
Investigating Rushes as a Biofuel
Click on below link for further details.
biofuel
Press Release by O’Dowd: Minister O’Dowd refuses to rule out awarding exploration licences
Click on below link:
Changes in Rules for Non Organic Stock at an Organic Sale
For the foreseeable future non-organic stock namely in calf cows or dry cows that have no organic status and referred to as ASBP (Animals Suitable for Breeding Purposes) may not be presented for sale at an organic mart. This will, apply to all sales held in 2013 until further notice. If you have an ASBP cow with a calf at foot or a stock bull these are not included in the restriction. The new rules do not apply to farm to farm sales and coop members have the use of our website if they wish to sell these animals. I would suggest that anyone with an ASBP cow in calf either wait until the cow calves before being presented for sale or else we advertise them in the coop magazine and website. It is not clear whether this new ruling is on animal health or tractability grounds but it is now operational and the organic inspector will refuse entry of these animals on a sale day.
B.V.D
All calves born after 1/1/2013, must be tested for B.V.D before been allowed to be moved from the farm. This can be tested by using flesh sample from tag hole and sent to any authorised lab, as recommended by Animal Health Ireland.
Drumshanbo Organic Sale 2013
Saturday 21st Sept 2013
Saturday 19th Oct 2013
Saturday 23rd Nov 2013
2013 Budget Hits All
Property Tax, DIRT, Capital Taxes and Land Transfers are all on the increase.
Income Tax, Pensions and Stock Relief are to stay the same with changes to Consolidation and Excise Duties.
Property Tax
Farm families will be charged the same rate of property tax as other home-owners, 0.18% of its value, 0.25% over 1 million euros.
DIRT up 3%
Capital Tax and Land Transfers up 3%, capital acquisition tax threshold reduced by 10%
No increase in petrol or diesel, but carbon tax being extended to solid fuel i.e. coal peat on a phase basis.
The younger generation of Irish farmers were dealt a hard blow when it comes to the succession of the family farm, with the stamp duty relief on land transfers not been renewed in the budget. Over the last few years there has been large number of young people leaving rural Ireland for more urban areas of the country or abroad, Minister Coveney`s decision to abolish the stamp duty relief will only add to this.
7000 hectares will be planted in programme worth 116 million euros, suckler herd of 30 reduced by 800 euro, sheep grassland reduced by 4 million euro.
Stock relief will be extended for another 3 years, which will be a welcome for farmers in expansion mode.
Membership for 2013
€50 per year
This gives you access to a range of services;
- receive organic producer newsletter – advertise small ads in the newsletter or website – livestock sales
