Episode 15
Country Life with MJ Clery
Friday, 14 April 2023 - 45 minutes
On the show this week MJ covers the story about a large scale solar farm which locals tried to oppose in Co. Offaly. The farm will see over 200 acres of solar panels just outside Portarlington. Stephen Robb from the Irish Farmers Journal also speaks about farmer uptake in the recently launched Solar Capital Investment Scheme for panels on farm buildings. Stephen Arthur from the IFA speaks about how the slowing global demand for butter is having a huge effect on milk prices for farmers. Butter per tonne having dropped from €7,450 to €4,790 recently. Eoin Lowry from Bank of Ireland speaks about their agri finance package Agri Assist offering current variable rates of 4.89% up to €120,000 unsecured for farmers. The SCEP (Suckler Cow Efficiency Programme) is currently open for applications and John Keena from Co. Offaly speaks about the scheme. Laois man Pierce Harte speaks about his organic farming enterprise and how red clover silage is the only way he can make an adequate amount of winter feed on his holding.
