I see there is a dispute between AI company Munster Bovine and five of its farm relationship managers.
The impasse developed over two issues, one being that Munster Bovine wants to introduce a minimum of three farm visits a day for the managers. It believes farm visits are a core function of the job, but the managers say the three-visit minimum does not recognise the other duties they have to carry out.
The other issue is related to a bonus scheme, what it’s worth and how it will work in the future.
The dispute has been brought to the Labour Court, which has referred it to a type of mediation service in the Workplace Relations Commission. Oh, to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.
Greens fingers take root in the Seanad
I see farmer representation in the Seanad has increased this week with the appointment of Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Pippa Hackett.
Hackett is a sitting councillor in Laois-Offaly and has an organic suckler and sheep farm near Geashill in Co Offaly.
She will now join Eamon Ryan’s pack at a national level, replacing Grace O’Sullivan after her departure to the European Parliament.
I hear Hackett wants to provide a rural and farming voice “blended with the green” to the Seanad.
She has long been an advocate for a different style of farming and said Ireland must focus on premium markets for its products.
Biodiversity-friendly beef and carbon-friendly milk for all.
Housing crisis in Leitrim
I hear there are over 500 cattle entered for the annual Winter Fair at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on 24 and 25 November.
The judge will be under pressure for some of the classes, with no fewer than 73 heifers in the Limousin breeding heifer class.
Accommodation will be at a premium for both cattle and farmers in the town that weekend. Is there an Airbnb for cattle accommodation, I wonder?
Meat and dairy facts blunder
I was recently directed to the website of the new industry initiative Meat and Dairy Facts by its PR company.
However, I mistakenly typed in meatanddairyfacts.com instead of meatanddairyfacts.ie.
To my surprise, hasn’t that website name been bought by the Vegan Society.
It seems someone forgot to register and protect the .com domain name and the vegan campaigners advanced and registered it a full month before the Meat and Dairy Facts launch last week. It makes me wonder where the people behind these posters have ears.
Gaybo gave rural Ireland a voice
Gay Byrne’s death has brought the entire country together to remember him and honour his life. While he never really understood farming, he was a Dub who connected deeply with rural Ireland.
Gay famously championed the young Mairéad McGuinness, who went from researcher to panellist on the show. He regularly featured rural writers such as John B Keane, comedians such as D’Unbelievables and Tommy Tiernan. Most importantly, both on his radio show and the Late Late Show, he allowed the people of Ireland to speak their minds, which regularly saw a light being shone into the darkest corners of society, particularly for women. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
The late Gay Byrne.
Rumours about new quotas, out-of-season milk bonuses and a 2c/l charge on additional litres spilled into the Lakeland catchment region this week. Farmers there speculated that 2019 could be a reference year for new milk.
The co-op’s spokesperson was quick to pour cold water on the topic when confronted by the Dealer, saying: “Since 2015, Lakeland Dairies has taken on some 300 new entrants. The policy of Lakeland Dairies has been to work with all new entrants and that continues to be the case.’
Who’s taking the horse to France?
Who’s taking the horse to France?
To those of us of a certain age, that innocent sounding question is a cliff-hanger worthy of any TV drama.
I’m told that iconic advert, along with “Put a bit of butter on the spuds André” from the 1990s, is going to return to our screens on Friday night during the Late Late Show.
This year Kerrygold, which was created by Anthony O’Reilly in 1962, became Ireland’s first €1bn food brand, selling 7.5m packets of the gold foil each week.
I see there is a dispute between AI company Munster Bovine and five of its farm relationship managers.
The impasse developed over two issues, one being that Munster Bovine wants to introduce a minimum of three farm visits a day for the managers. It believes farm visits are a core function of the job, but the managers say the three-visit minimum does not recognise the other duties they have to carry out.
The other issue is related to a bonus scheme, what it’s worth and how it will work in the future.
The dispute has been brought to the Labour Court, which has referred it to a type of mediation service in the Workplace Relations Commission. Oh, to be a fly on the wall at that meeting.
Greens fingers take root in the Seanad
I see farmer representation in the Seanad has increased this week with the appointment of Green Party spokesperson for Agriculture Pippa Hackett.
Hackett is a sitting councillor in Laois-Offaly and has an organic suckler and sheep farm near Geashill in Co Offaly.
She will now join Eamon Ryan’s pack at a national level, replacing Grace O’Sullivan after her departure to the European Parliament.
I hear Hackett wants to provide a rural and farming voice “blended with the green” to the Seanad.
She has long been an advocate for a different style of farming and said Ireland must focus on premium markets for its products.
Biodiversity-friendly beef and carbon-friendly milk for all.
Housing crisis in Leitrim
I hear there are over 500 cattle entered for the annual Winter Fair at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on 24 and 25 November.
The judge will be under pressure for some of the classes, with no fewer than 73 heifers in the Limousin breeding heifer class.
Accommodation will be at a premium for both cattle and farmers in the town that weekend. Is there an Airbnb for cattle accommodation, I wonder?
Meat and dairy facts blunder
I was recently directed to the website of the new industry initiative Meat and Dairy Facts by its PR company.
However, I mistakenly typed in meatanddairyfacts.com instead of meatanddairyfacts.ie.
To my surprise, hasn’t that website name been bought by the Vegan Society.
It seems someone forgot to register and protect the .com domain name and the vegan campaigners advanced and registered it a full month before the Meat and Dairy Facts launch last week. It makes me wonder where the people behind these posters have ears.
Gaybo gave rural Ireland a voice
Gay Byrne’s death has brought the entire country together to remember him and honour his life. While he never really understood farming, he was a Dub who connected deeply with rural Ireland.
Gay famously championed the young Mairéad McGuinness, who went from researcher to panellist on the show. He regularly featured rural writers such as John B Keane, comedians such as D’Unbelievables and Tommy Tiernan. Most importantly, both on his radio show and the Late Late Show, he allowed the people of Ireland to speak their minds, which regularly saw a light being shone into the darkest corners of society, particularly for women. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
The late Gay Byrne.
Rumours about new quotas, out-of-season milk bonuses and a 2c/l charge on additional litres spilled into the Lakeland catchment region this week. Farmers there speculated that 2019 could be a reference year for new milk.
The co-op’s spokesperson was quick to pour cold water on the topic when confronted by the Dealer, saying: “Since 2015, Lakeland Dairies has taken on some 300 new entrants. The policy of Lakeland Dairies has been to work with all new entrants and that continues to be the case.’
Who’s taking the horse to France?
Who’s taking the horse to France?
To those of us of a certain age, that innocent sounding question is a cliff-hanger worthy of any TV drama.
I’m told that iconic advert, along with “Put a bit of butter on the spuds André” from the 1990s, is going to return to our screens on Friday night during the Late Late Show.
This year Kerrygold, which was created by Anthony O’Reilly in 1962, became Ireland’s first €1bn food brand, selling 7.5m packets of the gold foil each week.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: