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July 20, 2010
EU Ombudsman's report critical of Commission on Brazilian beef following ICMSA complaint
The unprecedented criticism of the European Commission by the European Ombudsman on the Commission's management of Brazilian Beef imports comes at a very crucial time as the Commission tries to push through a Mercosur trade deal.
July 19, 2010
ICMSA welcome 2020 Report but say proposed volume of milk increase is 'very optimistic' and say all depends on viable farmer income
Commenting on the launch of the 2020 Report, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that while it was welcome and could serve as a blueprint for the sector, the danger was that the aspirations and recommendations contained within the Report would remain just that – aspirations and recommendations – unless they were backed up by real action and investment.
July 12, 2010
ICMSA meet Minister Smith in Brussels as critical decisions required in dairying, single farm payment and threat to beef sector
Speaking after meeting Minister Brendan Smith in Brussels this afternoon, the ICMSA Deputy President, John Comer, said that rarely has there been so many critical issues up for decision at the same time and with so much riding on Ireland's ability to defend her interests.
July 09, 2010
Voluntary Code of Practice as useful as Anglo-Irish shares
Mr. Jackie Cahill, ICMSA President, who had a meeting today with the Government appointed expert on the regulation of the food sector, has said that the idea that a voluntary code of practice would deliver both for the farmers and the consumer was grossly naïve.
June 29, 2010
Grocery prices – Milk suppliers say regulatory system is chaotic
Commenting on the survey that shows that our groceries are the second most expensive in the EU, the President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Jackie Cahill, said that nobody familiar with the chaos that is our regulatory and monitoring system could be surprised by the findings.
June 18, 2010
ICMSA seek appeals system for farmers dissatisfied with cattle grades
The Chairman of ICMSA's Beef & Cattle Committee, Kevin Connolly, has called on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to immediately review the operation and inspections procedures for the grading system in meat plants and provide an effective appeals system for those farmers not happy with the grades given their cattle.
June 16, 2010
High Level Group Provides No Solution to Dairy Sector Problems - ICMSA
The proposals from the EU High Level Group on dairy contain no real solutions to the problems in the EU dairy market. However, some of the proposals and recommendations in the Report if implemented would be detrimental to the interests of Irish dairy farmers and the whole dairy sector, according to Mr. Jackie Cahill, President of ICMSA.
June 9, 2010
Cahill says Teagasc farm income survey shows who really paid for systematic
mishandling of farm sector - “dairy income collapse a clear result of
idiotic policy”
Commenting on the Teagasc farm incomes survey, the President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said that comment on such a disaster was superfluous and the figures showed who had really paid the price for the systematic mishandling of the farm sector over the last decade.
June 9, 2010
Cahill describes High Level Group draft report as “another lost opportunity” and warns against futures market
ICMSA have stated that the High Level Group on dairying looks likely to represent yet another lost opportunity to move the European dairy sector onto a basis of sustainability and stability.
June 9, 2010
ICMSA say Kerry's 30c/litre is the new benchmark
Dairy markets were again stronger in May and these improvements have been acknowledged by the Kerry decision to set a milk price of 30 cents per litre for last month's milk, according to Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee.
June 9, 2010
ICMSA issue Bluetongue warning
It is absolutely essential that all farmers heed the advice of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regarding the importation of animals and the possible dangers of bluetongue according to Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairperson of ICMSA's Beef and Cattle Committee.
May 19, 2010
ICMSA issue warning on release of dairy intervention stocks
The ICMSA have again expressed their concern that recent recovery in the marketplace for dairy products could be undermined by a premature and ill-considered decision to release stocks from intervention.
May 14, 2010
ICMSA say Cohabitation and Civil Partnership issues should be dealt with separately
In advance of the Dail resuming its consideration of the Civil Partnership Bill and the question of co-habitation within that Bill, ICMSA has now proposed that these two matters be dealt with separately.
May 14, 2010
Food Chain Information document - "Another piece of pointless paperwork"
The Food Chain Information document required for all cattle being slaughtered from Monday, 17 May 2010 has been described as another pointless piece of paperwork by Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairperson of ICMSA's Beef and Cattle Committee.
May 13, 2010
ICMSA predict that April milk price could reach 30 cents per litre
Following the IDB announcement of product prices for April, ICMSA has stated that they calculate and expect that the price for April milk should increase by 3.2 cent per litre.
May 10, 2010
The ICMSA statement on today's Glanbia vote
Speaking on the outcome of today's vote. The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, said:
"The shareholders have spoken and it's now up to the boards of the Co-op and the Plc to work out the arrangements that best further the interests of the farmer-suppliers and the Glanbia group going forward".
May 07, 2010
ICMSA SETS A PRICE OF 30 CENTS PER LITRE FOR APRIL MILK
Following the IDB announcement of product prices for April, ICMSA has stated that they calculate and expect that the price for April milk should increase by 3.2 cent per litre. Pat McCormack, Chairman of the ICMSA Dairy Committee, said that a minimum price for April milk based on market returns for butter and skim milk powder was 29 cents per litre, but he pointed out that Co-ops with a diversified product mix should be well capable of paying 30 cents per litre or higher.
May 04, 2010
ICMSA say farmers should insist on option to sell cattle 'off' beef grid
In light of the fact that Meat Industry Ireland admitted on 10 March 2010 to the Dail Committee for Agriculture and Food that between 20-30 percent of cattle were being sold off the grid before that date, all farmers should now insist that they too have the option to sell their cattle off the grid according to Mr. Kevin Connolly, Chairpersons of ICMSA's Beef and Cattle Committee.
April 30, 2010
ICMSA recommend acceptance of Glanbia deal
The President of ICMSA has issued a 'Yes' recommendation to his members involved in the sale of Glanbia Plc's milk processing and agribusiness operations to Glanbia Co-op on the grounds that on balance the offer is potentially better than the present arrangements within Glanbia.
April 22, 2010
ICMSA looking for substantial increase on Irish Dairy Board returns for April milk
Dairy markets over the past few weeks have moved rapidly in a positive direction and these improvements must be acknowledged in full when the Irish Dairy Board sets its April returns to Co-ops, according to Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee.
April 21, 2010
ICMSA survey shows that Republic's farmers pay €1,000 per annum more for vet medicine than northern counterparts
The Deputy President of ICMSA has claimed that farmers in the Republic milking 70 cows are paying up to €1,000 per annum more for veterinary medicines than their counterparts in Northern Ireland .
April 09, 2010
Irish Milk Prices Must Rise to Reflect Improved Markets
With SMP and WMP prices reaching 12 month highs on the world market and Dutch quotations increasing week on week, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee said that the March payout from milk processors to farmers should increase to at least 27 cents per litre to reflect the improved returns from the marketplace and given the huge financial pressures on farmers at this time.
April 09, 2010
Turf Cutting Ban Lacks Commonsense
The Chairman of the ICMSA's Rural Development Committee, Mr. John O' Donnell, has called on Minister Gormley to adopt a commonsense approach to the ban on turf-cutting.
April 07, 2010
Carbon Tax is a Direct Tax on Farmers and Rural Dwellers
The Deputy President and chairperson of the ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee, Mr. John Comer, has stated that the proposed carbon tax due to come into effect on 01 May is a direct tax on farmers and rural dwellers.
April 07, 2010
Cahill says Minister Gormley should 'cop-on' and drop Wildlife Bill
The President of the country's second largest farmers' organisation has given his association's full support to the RISE (Rural Ireland Says Enough) campaign against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2010. Jackie Cahill, President of ICMSA, said that farmers and the general rural population were astonished to see Minister Gormley devoting valuable legislative time and public resources to a matter that could only be described as utterly insignificant when set against the size and scale of the problems facing the country generally and farmers particularly.
April 07, 2010
Grassland Sheep Scheme Welcome Boost to Sheep Sector – ICMSA
The Chairman of the ICMSA's Sheep Committee, Mr. Denis Carroll, has welcomed the announcement today by Minister Smith that €54 million in unused CAP funds will be allocated to the sheep sector over the next three years through the Grassland Sheep Scheme.
March 31, 2010
ICMSA welcome Kerry milk price rise but caution against reckless release of intervention stocks
The Chairman of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, Pat McCormack, warmly welcomed the Kerry decision and said that dairy markets were now beginning to regain the strength lost over the last two years. Mr McCormack said that it was no exaggeration to say that dairy farmers had never needed a milk price rise more and the Kerry decision must be considered as a vital move towards restored viability.
March 30, 2010
ICMSA welcome funding for new Agri-environment scheme as 'first phase
continuation of REPS'
The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has welcomed the announcement of funding for the new Agri-Environmental Scheme and described it as being an essential scheme to bridge the gap being particularly experienced by those farmers whose REPS 3 contracts are coming to an end.
March 16, 2010
ICMSA tells Department that a real successor to REPS is still possible
Speaking following a meeting with senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, John Comer, Deputy President and Chairperson of ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee said that the new REPS scheme being proposed by the Department will simply be impractical for most farmers and it will be next to impossible for mainstream, active, farmers to generate the much touted €5,000 from the scheme.
March 11, 2010
CALL TO ACT ON CREDIT CRISIS IN FARMING
ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill has called on the new Financial Regulator to urgently address the credit crisis in farming and SMEs. We cannot afford any more delay while we wait the full establishment of the Financial Regulators team. Mr. Cahill, who is meeting the Tánaiste this afternoon in Dublin said that for over a year now the ICMSA has made proposals to the Financial Regulator and the Minister for Finance on the need for action to address the credit problem in farming.
March 09, 2010
All Co-ops Must Raise February Milk Price - ICMSA
Commenting on the decision of Glanbia to raise its February milk price to 26 cents per litre, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee said that all other Co-ops should immediately follow suit and increase their February milk price in order to alleviate some of the financial pressures on farmers and to reflect the improved market situation.
March 02, 2010
ICMSA lash Department's 'ridiculous' bias in quota allocation
Commenting on the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of yet further support for new entrants to dairying, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, said that he was very disappointed that the Minister had decided to continue with a policy of discrimination against existing small scale milk producers who are already struggling badly due to the deregulation of the dairy market so enthusiastically supported by the same Minister.
February 23rd, 2010
ICMSA comment on the meeting between Minister Smith and Commissioner Ciolos
Commenting on the meeting between Minister Smith and Commissioner Ciolos, the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that Minister Smith was perfectly right to emphasise the need for the careful release of stocks built up through the operation of intervention measures during last year's price collapse.
February 22nd, 2010
ICMSA say €580 per dairy farmer is "practically useless"
Commenting on the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 's announcement that a payment of €580 per dairy farmer will be made from the €11.5m Dairy Compensation Fund, Mr. Pat McCormack, Chairperson of ICMSA's Dairy Committee , described the payment as 'practically useless' and he pointed out that if farmers were to be truly compensated for the disaster that was 2009 – which was largely a result of incompetent national and EU policy – then a payment of €580 per dairy cow would be needed.
February 19th, 2010
ICMSA call for immediate introduction of new Farm Investment Schemes
Speaking after a meeting with Department of Agriculture officials in Portlaoise, the Deputy President and Chairman of the ICMSA's Farm Services and Environment Committee, Mr. John Comer, has called on Minister Smith to immediately implement all schemes identified on the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme programme.
February 11th, 2010
ICMSA say new beef price grid is "an abject failure"
The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has said that the new QPS beef grid has failed abjectly and been roundly rejected by farmers right across the country to an extent that means it must be withdrawn.
January 19th, 2010
€11m dairy fund must be paid immediately and on a flat-rate per farmer say ICMSA
The new Chairman of ICMSA's Dairy Committee, Pat McCormack, has called on Minister Smith to recognise the extremely precarious current position of dairy farmers and immediately begin the payment of €11m fund agreed in late 2009.
January 15th, 2010
ICMSA meet the Livestock Producers and Suppliers Association and agree on the new price grid
ICMSA representatives met officials of the Livestock Producer and Suppliers Association last Friday in Portlaoise and both sides agreed that the new price grid would inevitably lead to lower prices being paid to farmers
January 14th, 2010
Cahill calls on Teagasc to follow the logic of their own 'Outlook 2010' report
Commenting on the figures and analysis contained in the Teagasc 'Outlook 2010', the ICMSA President, Jackie Cahill, said that the catastrophic collapse of dairy farmer margins and the level of their personal debt was now set out for all to see.
January 12th, 2010
ICMSA say ‘buck stops with councils’ on reaction to weather
The Chairman of ICMSA’s Rural Development Committee, John O’Donnell, lambasted the inaction that he said had yet again marked the official response to problems that were easily capable of solution if a concerted effort was made.
January 6th, 2010
ICMSA say ‘growing level of disquiet’ on new beef price grid
The President of ICMSA, Jackie Cahill, has highlighted the growing level of disquiet being expressed by farmers at the operation and prices being paid through the new beef price grid.
