The building that houses Longford town’s busy McDonald’s fast food outlet has been put up for sale.

Increasing fodder shortages, bad weather and poor ground conditions have left many local farmers struggling to feed cattle and unable to make plans for cutting silage and hay for next winter.

Fodder shortages are causing difficulties for farmers across the region and Strokestown area representative, Cllr Eugene Murphy (FF) has warned that all those involved will need as much help as they can get in the weeks ahead.

The national marts chair, Michael Spellman has warned farmers that a “severe impact” will be felt if the current retention period for livestock under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) is not reduced. Mr Spellman called on Minister Coveney to reduce the retention period downwards from the current seven months, due to what he described as “unprecedented conditions” that have hit livestock farmers this year. 
“Immediate initiatives are required of the Minister at this time,” he said.

Connacht Gold has imported hay and haylage from Britain, a move that helped farmers across eight counties to feed their cattle over the past seven days.

Following a recent public consultation on the Nitrates Action Programme, chairman of ICMSA’s Farm Services and Environment Committee, Patrick Rohan, said there were still a number of key issues that needed to be addressed including ‘calendar farming’ and Phosphorus allowances.

A Co Longford woman is at the helm of a new campaign that aims to create more awareness around the area of agriculture and the farming community. Anne Brady who hails from north Longford and attended Moyne Community School is one of two co-founders of the campaign - ‘Farmers Feed Families’ which was launched on May 8 last.

A farm safety course will take place on Saturday May 25 at D&M McHugh for teenagers who drive machinery on farms.
The initiative, which was held last year, was very successful and Longford IFA chief Andrew McHugh advised young farm workers to participate in the course, if possible.

Ireland West Airport Knock has announced that five of the GAA’s best-known stars have become ambassadors for the the airport.

Longord Town Council has registered a judgement of over e60,000 against the brother of former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, newly released figures show.

A major international cycling competition scheduled to take place in Longford this weekend is set to provide a €100,000 boost to the local economy, the Leader understands.

Longford’s hosting of a world renowned cycling event this weekend could net the local economy up to €100,000 in additional revenue.

There was a large turnout in the parochial centre in St Mel’s College for the signing of contract documents signalling the commencement of work on St Mel’s Cathedral. The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Colm O’Reilly said that the efforts to date had now come to fruition: “Much time has been invested since then [the fire] in order to ensure that our planning and preparation process befits this enormous structural project.”

Tuesday, was the deadline for homeowners to file a property tax return.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has announced the provision of €50,000 for roadworks in Ballymahon.

A free training and work experience initiative - Journey to Employment – has been officially launched by Cpl Learning and Development.

According to the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) agricultural price indices, compound feed and straights have risen by on average 21% and 18% respectively. The statistics also show that while the index of prices farmers were paid for pigmeat also increased, the rise was slight at just16%.

Longford’s IFA Co Executive will hold a meeting on Wednesday, May 1 next at 8:30pm in the Longford Arms Hotel.

A 14-acre non residential farm has come onto the market in north Longford.

As farmers across the county waited with baited breath for the arrival to Longford of a consignment of haylagelage from England last Friday, local fodder supplies continued to runout.