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Monthly Archives: January 2017
TIME FOR A CHANGE – ONWARD AND UPWARD
I have reached the point where I want to see some action. There is only so much writing one can do and I have done my groundwork. I also have a group of social media friends and their feedback is … Continue reading
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UNDER REPRESENTED IN AN OVER-CONFIDENT INDUSTRY
Last night I attended a meeting of the South-East Women in Farming Ireland group. It was an opportunity to gauge the sentiments behind why it has been necessary to inaugurate such a group. At the end of the evening, one … Continue reading
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THE OTHER CLIMATE-CHANGE THREAT TO IRISH FARMING
In what I expect to be a fast-moving food world in the coming decade, thinking creatively is critical. On the other hand, a prevailing ‘group think’ may be highly destructive. I am closely watching the evolving debate over climate change … Continue reading
IS IT TIME FOR A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURAL HUSBANDRY?
I recently wrote a post entitled “Where to now for ‘chemical agriculture’?” and hearing the term ‘Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science’ got me asking myself if we do not need to change the emphasis of what we are teaching … Continue reading
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‘LEGUME-FED’, ‘HERBAGE-FED’ OR JUST ‘GRASS-FED’?
Much is spoken and written about ‘grass-fed’ in Ireland? But how is/will the label be used? Will ‘grass-fed’ be a characteristic of well-defined, linked-to-farming, designated-origin products or will it be a generic term used to promote all Irish meat and … Continue reading
RISK MANAGEMENT IN A VOLATILE IRISH CLIMATE
A subject that was particularly disliked by many of our agricultural business management students was statistics. So why did we teach it? The rational was simply that farm management planning is about risk management and it is imperative that decision-makers … Continue reading
PRICE CYCLES IN AGRICULTURE AND MARKET VOLATILITY
An issue in Ireland that concerns me is the understanding of price cycles. They are nothing new. For a brief read on the subject I would recommend ‘An introduction to economics for students of agriculture; first published in 1980 and … Continue reading
Posted in Risk and volatility, Uncategorized
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DIVERSITY AND COMPETITION FOR OUR FOOD SYSTEMS
Dear Mr Hogan, One applauds your intention to create a fairer food supply-chain for the farmer and the consumer. But can this really be achieved through regulation? With a food industry dominated by major corporations, can regulation bring about change … Continue reading
Stuart Meikle writing about farming and food 