Tractor sales, a major indicator of the farming sector's economic wellbeing, have risen in the first nine months of this year, it emerged at the championships yesterday.
Data from the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association show 3,500 new tractors registered up to the end of September. "These figures indicate that Irish farmers in 2005 are going to exceed their investment levels in farm machinery of 2004 by a significant amount," said a statement.
Michael Moroney, the association's chief executive, also highlighted a new trade started by Polish immigrants.
He said some of the 50,000 Polish people working here were buying old Zetor tractors and shipping them home. The Polish workers were paying up to €2,500 for them.
Minister of State for Agriculture John Browne announced that his department would begin a campaign to promote forestry. As farmers were now allowed to plant half the land on which they were claiming their EU single payment, a drive to promote afforestation was planned.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív yesterday praised the work being done by the Leader rural development groups in Ireland.
Launching Ireland's presidency of ELARD, the European network for Leader groups, he said the scheme had been "stunningly successful" in Ireland. Since 2001 over 5,000 Leader programmes were developed, over 3,000 enterprises assisted, almost 1,000 jobs created and training courses delivered to 30,000 rural people.
More details of the revised waste management scheme for farmers were also announced.
Grant aid rates will be upped to 60 per cent from 40 per cent in less sensitive areas of Ireland, with 70 per cent grant aid available in the four most vulnerable counties.
A statement from Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan said the upper limits for aid would be raised to €120,000 from €75,000.