Teagasc says conditions on many farms have improved

Conditions on many farms have improved as a result of the good weather in August, according to the agriculture and food advisory…

Conditions on many farms have improved as a result of the good weather in August, according to the agriculture and food advisory body, Teagasc.

However, it warned that the heavy rainfall in June and July would mean that the quality of feed crops for animals would be poor, especially on the western side of the country.

While conditions had improved for vegetable growers, the good weather had arrived too late for fruit and nursery stock producers.

The news comes as the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) is holding a major briefing session with TD's this afternoon on the crisis in falling farm incomes.

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The IFA estimates that farm incomes will fall by 15 per cent this year. When inflation is taken into account the drop will be 20 per cent.

Falling incomes are due to a number of factors including lower prices, rising costs and damaged crops due to bad weather.

Farmers are lobbying TD's for a package of measures that will alleviate the shortfall in incomes - the cost of which, they say, could be drawn down from the EU.

The IFA is also discussing commodity prices, mid-term review of CAP and will be looking to place farming issues a the centre of the political agenda.