Agri

October 2020

Video

Watch: Firefighters battle large blaze at Northern Ireland egg factory after 'accidental ignition'

Firefighters battled a large blaze at an egg factory in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh on Wednesday.

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Premium

exclusive Poor harvest costs Northern Ireland's bakeries £20k a week, says bread boss

A rise in the price of wheat after an unusually small harvest will add around £20,000 a week to the costs of major bakeries and could affect the price of bread in shops, it has been claimed.

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September 2020

Gallery

Dairy delight: Clandeboye estate invests £2m in new factory to produce more luxury yoghurt

Luxury yoghurt business Clandeboye Estate hopes to make 80 tonnes of the dairy product a week as it invests over £2m in a new factory in Co Down.

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Bad Brexit trade deal ‘could devastate Northern Ireland’s farming industry’

Failure to strike a good post-Brexit trade deal could lead to the devastation of Northern Ireland’s farming industry, MLAs have been warned.

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August 2020

Gallery

Lakeland breaks €1bn sales mark a year after forming

Cross-border dairy co-op Lakeland has reported sales of €1.03bn (£880m) but warned of challenges ahead from Brexit and the impact of Covid-19.

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Co Antrim meat processing plant Cranswick Country Foods closes after workers test positive for virus

A pork processor has said it’s closing temporarily for mass testing of its 500 staff after a “significant” outbreak in which 35 workers tested positive for Covid-19.

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Gallery

Grape expectations: NI only part of UK that can make wine with EU produce post-Brexit

NORTHERN Ireland will be the only part of the UK where you can make wine with EU-grown grapes after Brexit.

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Dale Farm reports fall in sales and profits as coronavirus hits farmers

Northern Ireland dairy co-op Dale Farm has said the coronavirus pandemic has hit farmers here as it reported a fall in sales and profits.

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July 2020

Herd not seen: 15,000 cattle vanish from Northern Ireland farms

Almost 15.000 cattle have disappeared from farms across Northern Ireland in the last four years, it has been revealed.

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June 2020

Gallery

The big interview with Simon Best: 'Farming and rugby teach you how to be very resilient'

For his working life at least, it's been business as usual during lockdown for arable farmer and former Ulster Rugby player Simon Best.

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Time to promote our 'Best' farming produce

Farmers must now start to promote their produce as the industry faces uncertainty following Brexit, Co Armagh producer and former rugby star Simon Best has said.

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Animal feed executive Richard Kennedy ranks among world's top high-flyers

A Northern Ireland animal feed chief executive has been recognised among the world's best entrepreneurial talent at a global awards ceremony.

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Brexit: Villiers urges firm stance on standards for imports of US chicken

Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has urged the government to stand firm when negotiating with the US on a future trade deal.

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Gallery

Premium

Pubs, restaurants and shops in Northern Ireland can open on July 20 as coronavirus lockdown rules to be eased to save economy

NORTHERN Ireland's moves out of lockdown are to be accelerated with pubs and restaurants expected to be trading by July 20 - at the latest.

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May 2020

Coronavirus: Ulster Farmers' Union set to select its new president at 'truly novel' drive-in meeting

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) is proposing to hold a drive-in annual general meeting to select its next president.

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Premium

Lockdown on the farm: three NI families explain how their lives have been changed by coronavirus

As key workers, farmers play a vital role in making sure food supplies get to us during the Covid-19 pandemic. Linda Stewart asks three families how their lives have changed.

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Gallery

Funding 'lifeline' for NI beef and dairy sectors hailed by Poots

Extra funding for farm businesses struggling with the coronavirus pandemic in Northern Ireland is a "lifeline", Stormont minister Edwin Poots has said.

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Checks needed on agri-goods entering Northern Ireland after Brexit transition ends

Checks will be needed on some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK as part of Brexit but bureaucracy will be kept to a “minimum”, the British Government said.

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Fisheries staff given insufficient time to prepare for safe return of angling: MLA

The decision to lift lockdown restrictions on angling has raised health and safety concerns.

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Coronavirus impact sees price of Ulster fry tumbles for second year in a row

The price of an Ulster fry - a key economic indicator in Northern Ireland's agri-food sector - has fallen for the second year in a row.

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Measures on way to protect Northern Ireland's food security and supply chain from coronavirus pressures

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has announced a series of measures to protect the security of food supply lines during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Potato crop in danger after months of extreme weather in Northern Ireland

Rain is urgently needed to save this season's local potato crop, an industry figure has warned.

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Stopping farm workers crossing Irish border pointless, says contractor

A call for seasonal farm labourers in Northern Ireland not to travel to the Republic makes little sense at a time of the year when all the work is non-contact, according to a Fermanagh contractor who operates on both sides of the border.

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Concern meat plants could emerge as next coronavirus blackspots as one closes and others understood to have clusters

Concerns are being raised that meat plants could emerge as a blackspot for Covid-19 infections, with one factory closed and a number understood to have clusters of Covid-19 cases.

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April 2020

Coronavirus threat to 10,000 jobs in Northern Ireland's agri-food industry, warns Poots

Northern Ireland's agri-food sector could be facing the loss of 10,000 jobs due to coronavirus, the Agriculture Minister has warned.

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Video

Death of father has brought pain of Covid-19 into 'sharp focus', says Environment Minister Edwin Poots

The Environment minister Edwin Poots has said the recent death of his father has brought into "sharp focus" the pain caused to families by Covid-19 restrictions.

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Farm union hails phased reopening of Northern Ireland marts

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has welcomed the gradual reopening of livestock markets after sales started yesterday with restrictions in place.

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Cancellation of Balmoral Show 'blow to economy and morale of agri-food sector'

The local economy is facing a further £6m hit following the cancellation of the Balmoral Show as the coronavirus crisis continues, an expert has warned.

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Gallery

Balmoral: Exhibitors saddened but believe it's the right decision to cancel

Around 120,000 people visit the Balmoral Show at the Maze each year but this year's cancellation is just one of a few times the famous event has not run in its history.

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Coronavirus: Postponed 2020 Balmoral Show cancelled

The Balmoral Show - the largest agricultural event in Northern Ireland - has been cancelled as the coronavirus crisis in Northern Ireland continues.