AGRICULTURAL Trust, publishers of the Irish Farmers Journal, has reported strong growth in the year to June 1995, with the trust's surplus increasing from £125,000 to £316,000.

Last year, the trust also paid grants to the agricultural sector totalling £172,000 compared to £71,000 in grants the previous year. As a trust set up for the benefit of Irish agriculture, Agriculture Trust distributes a portion of its annual surplus to support research and the long term development of the sector.

Turnover increased from £4.7 million to £5.4 million. Agriculture Trust has a 6 per cent shareholding in the Radio Ireland consortium which this week was granted the new national radio licence by the Independent Radio and Television Commission.