Irish farm incomes are expected to rise this year by 15 or 16 per cent because of a good harvest and international markets for Irish products, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, has predicted.
The grain harvest had been particularly good with very high yields, he noted during a visit yesterday to the ploughing championships in Co Laois.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who also attended the championships, said Ireland's competitive agriculture industry should approach likely changes due to EU enlargement in a developmental way and with confidence, making the necessary structural changes to meet the challenges.
The North's Minister of Agriculture, Ms Brid Rodgers, had a short meeting with the Taoiseach and Mr Walsh. She said the championships acted as a vital component in building up links between all parts of the country. The crowds at the championships yesterday were slightly down but despite morning rain, around 48,000 people attended. Glanbia, with its Kilkenny headquarters and strong association with hurling in the county, made a special presentation to the farmer hurlers on the victorious All-Ireland team - John Power, Charlie Carter and Noel Hickey - of specially commissioned Waterford Crystal camans.