Farming « Thurles Information

Noel Coonan New Spokesperson on Agriculture

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.

Tipperary Host Teagasc Agri Environment Conference 2010

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.

International Miss Macra 2010 – Miss Wicklow Crowned

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.

International Miss Macra Festival 2010 In Tipperary

Clonoulty/Rossmore Macra na Feirme is once again proud to announce details of it’s 2010 International Miss Macra Festival, to be held this year from Thursday 29th July to Monday 2nd August.

Now in it’s 39th year, this popular festival has continued to go from strength to strength. This years festival will see girls coming from all across Ireland to compete for the honour of becoming Miss Macra 2010 and taking over from the 2009 winner Edel Ronan from the Carbery region in Co Cork.

The festival committee have once again chosen the luxurious Dundrum House Hotel, which boasts a top quality golf course and leisure centre, as its venue. This oasis in the Golden Vale provides the perfect escape for those of you seeking relaxation and fun during this forthcoming August bank holiday weekend.

The committee send a huge ‘Thanks You‘ to all their sponsors, host families, local businesses and especially to Dundrum House Hotel, Michael’s Jewellers Thurles, The Nu Du Lounge, Clonoulty, and to Tipp Co-Op in Tipperary Town, to name but a few.

The festival will return to the heart of the community on Thursday 29th July with the annual traditional Ceilli and welcoming session, for the contestants in Clonoulty Community Hall. Here the contestants will meet with their host families, latter who accept them into the bosom of their families for the duration of the weekend festival. Host families are a very central part of this strong community based festival and and are made up solely of families who have long standing connections with the festival, assuring each contestant a warm welcome.

Continue reading International Miss Macra Festival 2010 In Tipperary

Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos Could Visit Tipperary

Commissioner Dacian Cioloş

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers (ICMSA) said it would schedule a meeting of the European Milk Board (EMB) in Dublin to coincide with Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş‘ forthcoming visit.

Although the Commissioner’s travel arrangements have not been confirmed, it is expected he will arrive on the evening of September 30th and depart on October 1st, 2010, following scheduled meetings. However, a spokesperson for the EU Commission in Dublin said the arrangements were “very tentative” at the moment and were subject to change.

The farm body said it had proposed to the EMB that it hold its next conference in Dublin in October but would be prepared to move that date forward so that the Commissioner could be in attendance.

An ICMSA spokesman said the conference will will be attended by dairy farmers from all over the European Union.

It is understood that Commissioner Ciolos has expressed a wish to visit a farm while in Ireland depending on time constraints.

The ICMSA have proposed the farm of Mr Pat McCormack, Lisheen, Co Tipperary, to host the Commissioner’s anticipated farm visit. Mr McCormack’s is considered one of the best young farmers in the Munster region and his expertise has been recognised by his recent election to the ICMSA Dairy Committee to host the Commissioner’s much anticipated farm visit.

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