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 Teagasc the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland. Teagasc, under the guidance of Area Manager Donal Mullane, are hosting an important seminar for all farm families in Thurles on Tuesday 2nd of November at 8.00pm in the Anner Hotel.
Farmers and farm families are continually weighing up their options and planning for the future. Opportunities and threats are continually being assessed as farmers navigate the decision making process for themselves and their families.
In farming there is a great interdependence between the farm and the family life. All farm families have a common aim and that is to maintain a decent household income, have a good quality of life and plan for the future of the farm. The past decade has witnessed huge change in family farm structures and the recent Harvest 2020 report, highlights the significant role that agriculture will play in the economy over the next decade.
The Teagasc Options Programme is designed to help Farm Families address the difficulties which they are experiencing, of reduced incomes and unemployment. Good management is the skill of making things happen rather that letting things happen so planning for a future in farming is the core aim of the Options Programme. A newly designed farm household income ready – reckoner will give a pin picture of the farm family income which will act as a foundation to examine your present income and family situation, to assess the potential of the farm and the family and discuss the many options with potential to generate more income and create a viable and attractive future for a successor on the farm.
To ensure all farmers are familiar with the benefits of the programme Teagasc are hosting a seminar at the Anner Hotel, Thurles on Tuesday night 2nd November to inform farm families of the benefits to planning for the future through the Options Programme. Teagasc Advisors and Specialists will be present at the seminar providing advice on finance, succession, forestry, food rural tourism and organic production. Other Agencies such as LEADER, County Enterprise Boards, Fas, VEC and Citizens Information Board will be available to discuss options and opportunities for farm families.
Programme For This Seminar
8.00 – 8. 15pm. Introduction – Sustaining Farm Income – Donal Mullane Area Manager Teagasc
8.20 – 8.40pm Agricultural Incomes Today – Dr. Cathal O’Donoghue, Teagasc
8.40 – 8.55pm Options for Farm Families – David Meredith, Teagasc
8.55 – 9.10pm Local Issues for Farm Families – Bill Condon Teagasc Advisor
9.10 – 9.30pm Budgeting – The Easy Way – Maria Heneghan, Teagasc
9.30 – 9.50pm Options in Action – A Local Options Story – John Kenny Fairymount Farm
9.50 – 10.00pm Leader Funding – Michael Murray CEO Leader
10.00 – Finish Questions and Discussion
All farm families are welcome.
 National Pig Conference 2010 The Teagasc National Pig Conferences 2010 will be held on Tuesday next, 19th October, in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
This years conference takes place against a worrying background of rising feed costs by producers and Michael Martin, Head of Teagasc Pig Development Units states:
“Pig feed prices have increased by about €37 per tonne since June of this year. This equates to a 14 cent increase in feed cost per kg carcase weight. Unfortunately, pig prices have decreased by 7 cent per kg carcase weight since August 2010. Consequently, the margin over feed costs has shrunk to what is, for many producers, an unsustainable 43 cent per kg carcase weight.”
Speakers at Tuesday’s Thurles Conference will set out to address how producers might seek to reduce overall costs, while endeavouring to command the best possible price for pigs slaughtered. The quality of the feed ingredients is critical in minimising feed costs. Where will pig feed ingredients in the future be sourced? Are there any measures that producers can take to minimise feed costs in the short-term? All these questions will be addressed at the conferences.
Guest speaker at the event is Mr Derek Armstrong who is Veterinary Programme Manager with the British Pig Executive (BPEX). Derek will present a paper on the challenges now facing producers in relation to pig health and welfare and food safety.
The upcoming conferences will be opened by Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle, at 2.15pm.
 Deputy Noel Coonan On Monday, Fine Gael Party Leader Enda Kenny announced new Deputy Spokespersons in the Dáil and Tipperary North TD Noel Coonan was among one of those allocated specialist responsibility.
Deputy Noel Coonan, speaking to www.thurles.info,welcomed his new appointment as Deputy Spokesperson on Agriculture with special responsibility for CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Reform.
Deputy Coonan will now leave his present portfolio as Deputy Spokesperson on Communications with responsibility for Telecommunications and will be convening with Front Bench Agriculture Spokesperson Andrew Doyle TD to assess how he can best contribute to the development and communication of the Party’s Agricultural policies in preparation for the next general election.
“I am very pleased with my new role and being a farmer myself, it is a position I feel knowledgeable in and comfortable with. I will continue to engage with farmers throughout the North Tipperary constituency to discuss CAP reform with the target of having new policy in place by 2013. I’m also kindly urging farmers who have views on this topic to contact me. It’s important that the budget for post 2013 CAP is sufficient to fund the essential role CAP plays in increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community and assuring the availability of supplies. What is also vital is that the reformed policy actively encourages more young farmers into the fold with only 7% of the EU’s farmers under 35 years of age,” said Deputy Coonan.
Commenting on his new appointments, Party Leader Enda Kenny TD stated on Monday:
“Following on from the Front Bench announcement in July, these appointments of Deputy Spokespersons and the allocations of special responsibilities today, are another important step in the strengthening of Fine Gael’s team in Dáil Eireann. The calibre of today’s appointments underlines the depth and strength of talent in the overall Fine Gael team and I am confident that we will win the support of the Irish people, when they get the opportunity to vote for a new government.”
The Treaty of Rome provided for the establishment of CAP and same financing comes from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund which is an integral part of the EU Budget.
 Teagasc Agri Environment Conference 2010 in Tipperary On September 7th next at Ballykisteen Hotel, Tipperary, the Teagasc Agri-environment Conference 2010 will provide a forum for those working in the agri environmental arena to receive an update on the most topical environmental issues affecting agriculture in Ireland today.
This is a departure from previous conferences (formerly known as the National REPS Conference) in the sense that discussions will not be limited to agri-environmental schemes.
The Conference will focus on practical outcomes from current agri-environment research, advisory experience as well as examining policy drivers and their potential impacts.
This year’s event will comprise an indoor conference in the morning followed by a farm walk on the Solohead Research Farm in the afternoon. The morning conference will hear from experts on environmental research and policy while the afternoon farm walk will consist of a number of stations located on the Solohead Research Farm which will provide delegates with a practical insight into the work carried out by Teagasc Environmental Programme.
Amongst the subject matter for discussion is included:-
Fertilizer Use in Ireland – “Getting the Balance Right” – Speaker Mr Stan Lalor, Research Officer, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle.
Phenology – ” How Natural Cycles of Wildlife are Changing” – Speaker Dr. Alison Donnelly, Botany Department, Trinity College Dublin.
The keynote address will be delivered by broadcaster Duncan Stewart on the topic “Sustainability in Agriculture – Rising to the challenge.”
This year the afternoon session will be in the form of a farm walk at the Solohead Research Farm which is located five minutes from the Ballykisteen Hotel. Due to parking restrictions, delegates will be transported by coach to and from the farm. Delegates are therefore advised to bring suitable footwear and clothing for the farm walk.
Conference Fee is just €80 per person which includes refreshments and lunch. Click here for on line booking form.
 The winner of the coveted title of “International Miss Macra 2010” organised by Clonoulty/ Rossmore Macra Club, Co.Tipperary, was announced to a packed attendance at the annual Macra Gala Banquet in Dundrum House Hotel, Co.Tipperary, last night.
The event which attracts large numbers of the farming community, both young and old each year, saw no drop in support, despite recessionary times.
The title “International Miss Macra” went to Annabelle Keohe representing Co.Wicklow, with 2nd and 3rd places going to Alicia O’Keeffe representing North Tipperary and Elma Walshe representing Co Laois respectively.
Picture shows Miss Elma Walshe (Representing Laois), Michael Gowing (National President of Macra), Annabelle Keohe (Newly Crowned International Miss Macra 2010, Representing Co.Wicklow) with runner-up Alicia O’Keeffe (Representing North Tipperary).
Mr Michael Gowing, Macra National President, stated that the high standard of educational qualifications, public speaking ability, musical talent and fresh ideas displayed and expressed by this years contestants, left him in no fear regarding the future of farming and Ireland as a whole.
The talented winner of the event received a cheque for €1000, a Tipperary Crystal vase and a silver perpetual trophy kindly sponsored by Dundrum House Hotel.
Runners up received generous prizes from sponsors, Nu-du Lounge Beauty Salon, Clonoulty and Tipperary Co-Operative respectively. All of the contestants taking part were each presented with a beautiful pieces of specially commissioned jewellery as a memento of the occasion, kindly sponsored by Michael’s Jewellers, Thurles, Co.Tipperary.
This annual event has now been running for the past 39 years and its popularity continues to increase with each passing year, encompassing not just the farming community. This years winners fought off strong competition from 20 other talented competitors who had been selected by their farming organisations to compete in the competition.
Attending the festival this year were visitors returning from contries such as Scotland, England, USA and Germany, to name but a few.
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