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The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) is calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, to urgently respond to recent letters requesting a meeting with his department. FCI’s increased urgency comes off the back of new data showing that the monthly average price of Marked Gas Oil (Green Diesel) in 2026 peaked in August. Monthly average price of Marked Gas Oil (Green Diesel) in 2026 FCI National Chairperson Norman Eg

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) have written to Government requesting a temporary extension of the slurry spreading period - beyond October 1st - based on actual ground and weather conditions. Figure 1: Results from survey of FCI membership Unusual growing conditions have disrupted normal silage and slurry-management patterns. Allowing additional spreading days, where appropriate conditions exist, would support further grass growth by allow

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has raised deep concerns with Government regarding the persistent and disproportionate pricing structure of green diesel (marked gas oil) compared to white diesel (road diesel). FCI are now calling on Government to establish an independent Fuel Price Regulator to provide transparency around wholesale fuel costs, margins, taxation, distribution costs and pump prices. Following extensive price-tracking of green

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland have written to the Government this week seeking targeted fuel support as Marked Gas Oil (MGO) prices have peaked for 2026. The average price referenced by FCI has risen from approximately €0.88 per litre in 2025 to around €1.49 per litre today, an increase of approximately €0.61 per litre, or almost 70%. FCI National Chairperson Norman Egar said: “Some of our members admit to being terrified to phone their fuel

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has called for an urgent meeting with the Department of Agriculture as farm contractors face mounting financial pressure arising from the drought conditions and resulting reduced agricultural activity and fodder shortages. Farm contractors are facing a two-fold financial challenge: a substantial reduction in work at present, followed by the risk of a serious cash-flow crisis later in the year. FCI National Ch

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has written to the Government to ensure that the full allocation of the €100 million originally allocated to support the agricultural and forestry contracting sector is ring-fenced for those sectors and used for its intended purpose. With green diesel prices continuing to remain at elevated levels, FCI believes that unspent funding from the Fuel Income Support Scheme should be used to extend the scheme. Such an

The importance and the value of agricultural contractor services to Irish farming continues to increase, according to data from the recently published Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) 2025, which reported a ten-year overhead machinery cost decline of almost 23% as the growth in agricultural contractor services has helped to reduce direct machinery ownership costs on many Irish farms. The NFS 2025 report recorded an average increase in spending on agricultural contractor s

New figures from the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) reveal that the average price of green diesel (marked gas oil) recorded its largest monthly increase since March 2026 during July, prompting renewed concerns about pricing practices within the fuel supply chain. According to the latest FCI Agri-Diesel Price Index, average green diesel prices continued to climb throughout July, even as white diesel prices eased and, in some cases, returned to belo

The annual Embrace FARM ecumenical remembrance service took place in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois yesterday (Sunday, 28th June 2026). Embrace FARM offer support farm families in the aftermath of a serious injury or sudden bereavement, offering a compassionate community to share, heal, and connect. The annual ecumenical service offers an opportunity to remember and honour loved ones who have been lost or injured in farm accidents. The Association of

A recent survey conducted by the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has found that only 1 in 5 farm contractors will use suncream during the current heatwave. With temperatures surpassing 30 degrees this week and UV ratings entering the ‘Very High’ category as of today (Wednesday), FCI are urging farm contractors to educate themselves on the dangers of unprotected exposure to the sun, even when inside the tractor cab. FCI managing director Ann Gle

Agricultural contractors have faced four months of unprecedented challenges, which began with a late spring, and was followed by a period that culminated with the highest prices ever charged for agricultural diesel and to be then followed by a four-day sunshine bliss that panic-shortened the first cut silage season. But long before the outbreak of the Iran war, spare part prices for agricultural machinery had been steadily increasing year-on-year to the current unprecedented

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) welcomes the launch today of the government’s fuel income support scheme. However, the association is keen to stress that this hard-fought relief is only a splash in the pan for farm and forestry contracting, a sector which is becoming less and less viable every year. The implementation of the fuel income support scheme marks the first time in the history of the state that farm and forestry contractors have rec

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors (FCI) appreciates TD Michael Healy-Rae’s contribution while Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for forestry, farm safety and horticulture. His recognition of the key role that Agricultural and Forestry Contractors play in agriculture and his willingness to include our sector in relevant discussions was very much appreciated by FCI. His time in office brought attenti

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, of the funding for the Fuel Income Support Scheme for Agricultural and Forestry Contractors. The details of the new scheme comes after a series of meetings between Agricultural and Forestry Contractor representatives, and the Departments of Finance and Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, where the impact of the si

Gross is not the same as net, and revenue is not the same as profit! Agricultural and forestry contracting businesses are technical service providers in rural areas throughout Ireland. Customers from agriculture and forestry, as well as from the Government and local authorities, and other sectors, expect modern, reliable machinery, skilled and qualified personnel, with extensive expertise when their work is being carried out. Many, especially enthusiastic agricultural machine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) convened the inaugural meeting of the Farm Contractors Working Group on Monday (April 20th), marking a significant step forward for the agricultural and forestry contracting sector. Established under the leadership of Minister Martin Heydon, this new Working Group represents a major recognition of farm contractors as skilled professionals within the agri-food and forestry industries. The initiative is expected to del

The Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) is still awaiting the final details of the Government’s Temporary Energy Support Scheme proposals for agricultural and forestry contractors, issued at the weekend. FCI team at Government buildings recently Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, managing director at FCI said: “We understand that the deal will include up to a 20 cent per litre payment to Agricultural and Forestry Contractors as a lump sum based on their fuel usage