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Macra na Feirme today announced a new plan to diversify by offering the sale of new Cola Milk™. “It’s great to announce something that will provide us with so much profit while none of it will go to farmers or producers,” said the new head of the newly established Macra - Foundation for Agricultural Kreative Environment - Milk division, Bill McWonka. This new milk is sourced from the freshest cola cubes harvested from the sweet cola orchards of County Carlow before being finely ground down using traditional Irish millstones and combined with the crispest natural sparkling water sourced only from...

Macra na Feirme today welcomed the focus on remote working as the future of employment in rural Ireland published in the Government’s blueprint to transform rural Ireland ‘Our Rural Future’. Young people living in Rural Ireland had to abruptly adjust to the ‘new normal’ of working from home without the essential amenities that are often taken for granted.   “As plans are put in place to return to offices, the excuse of poor broadband speed and other distractions is less likely to be tolerated and so the acceleration of the National Broadband Plan is a must,” said Macra na Feirme National President Thomas Duffy.  Covid-19 has brought to light both the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in rural Ireland and this new blueprint has set out...

Macra na Feirme today has supported calls for a ban on gambling advertising online. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in a notable increase in both online gambling and online advertisements for these services. The extension of the government lockdown has meant that temptation to gamble is greater now than ever as people are restricted to their homes. Those who would have traditionally placed bets in the bookies, may now be turning to online which is open 24/7.   “These ads can take advantage of those that are vulnerable, and this is compounded by the lack of the normal social networks which have been removed during Covid lockdowns. The Government must legislate to ban online gambling ads to protect those being targeted,” said Macra na Feirme National President Thomas Duffy.  Gambling addiction is something that affects over 30,000 people in Ireland and problem gambling...

 Macra na Feirme’s National President has called on Minister McConalogue to support 4% of direct payments in the next CAP at meeting of EU Agricultural Ministers.   Macra na Feirme have written formally to Minister Charlie McConalogue urging him to act on supporting young farmers in the upcoming meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries Council.  The letter forms part of the campaign coordinated by the federation of young farmers CEJA, with multiple EU Young Farmer Organisations. The campaign involves urging the respective national ministers to support the call for 4% of direct payments to be used for generational renewal. The next meeting of the Agri-Fish Council takes place on the 22 March where CAP reform will be discussed.  Macra na Feirme’s National President Thomas Duffy has raised concerns that the Commission’s focus on aligning the CAP with the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy has...

Macra na Feirme’s National President has said young farmers must be put at the front of any action on climate change with clear supports.   In response to the publication today of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, President Thomas Duffy has said that the challenges facing agriculture can only be overcome by supporting young farmers to adopt new practices.  “The comments by Minister Ryan that farming cannot reduce in the same way as energy or transport is welcome, the complexities of our food system are far greater than any other sector” stated President Thomas Duffy.  Macra na Feirme stated divisive rhetoric around mandatory herd culls or a return to herd limits were entirely unproductive, saying the...