The June 2026 edition of CAP Network Ireland’s 8-page Bi-Annual Newsletter is out now! What’s inside? 🟢 An update on our Transition Year programme promoting generational renewal in agriculture 🟢 Highlights from the ‘Unlocking LEADER Programme Opportunities’ workshop 🟢 ‘Thriving Upland Communities are Essential for the Common Good’ case study 🟢 The EU Corner … and more! 🔗 Read the newsletter here: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #SustainableAgriculture #RuralInnovation

Meet Siobhain Hubbard from Co. Waterford, who co-manages an organic pig and lamb farm enterprise. Newbard Farm is committed to high standards and sustainable stewardship, emphasising quality produce for the domestic and local market rather than seeking scale for the international export system. Having found it increasingly difficult to sell local meat products to a domestic market within the existing meat processing system, Siobhain decided that change was needed and has worked tirelessly towards the creation of Slí na Feirme, a cooperative of small-scale farmers looking to build small-scale animal processing infrastructure. Thanks to Siobhan’s leadership, the initiative has attracted 160 farmers from across the country and 60 farmers in the southeast with skills, knowledge and capacity to service a domestic facility. Read more about Siobhain’s story at: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #agricultureireland @ERINNinnovation @MTU_ie @irishrurallink @agriculture_ie @eucapnetwork

The 8th edition of the CAP Network Ireland e-Bulletin for 2026 has arrived. In this edition we focus on the organic sector. Read it here: mailchi.mp/capnetworkireland… #capnetworkireland #organicfarming #EOC2026

Meet Elaine Clarke from Co. Kilkenny. She co-founded Amberly Alpacas almost 20 years ago, managing a breeding programme for alpacas, along with her husband, that focuses on improving genetics, providing education, and promoting high standards of animal welfare. Elaine is also involved in processing the fleece, deciding how it can be used, and identifying whether it can be turned into yarn, bespoke garments or artisan products. Championing diversification in agricultural practice, she recognises the importance of providing women with opportunities to develop enterprises around their own interests and expertise. “Women have always played an essential role in farming, but diversification has helped many become recognised not simply as helping on the farm, but as business partners, innovators and entrepreneurs in their own right”, says Elaine. Read more about Elaine’s story at: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #agricultureireland @ERINNinnovation @MTU_ie @irishrurallink @agriculture_ie @eucapnetwork

As part of Leitrim Climate Action Week, an informative farm walk will take place at John & Amanda O’Connell’s Farm in Ballinamore on Saturday, 3 October, at 11am. Explore practical tips on carbon farming and see how the Signpost Programme can make your farm more resilient. Full details: climateactionweek.ie/events/… To stay up to date with other agricultural and rural events of interest to you, make sure to visit the CAP Network Ireland Events Calendar: capnetworkireland.eu/events-…

Meet Rebecca O'Halleran, a young part-time farmer on a dairy and egg-producing family farm in Co. Longford. Rebecca works as a Farm Schemes Development Executive at Bord Bia. As a business management graduate who has completed her Green Certificate, she intends to enter into a formal farm partnership with her parents. Rebecca believes that advances in technology are making farm work more accessible for women and enabling them to take on every aspect of farm management. For her, farming is a career built on continuous learning: “I’ll be learning every day for the rest of my life. You’ll never have it all learned”. Bringing motivation, commitment and fresh ideas to the business, Rebecca is helping to secure the future of the O’Halleran Farm. Read more about Rebecca’s story at: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #AgricultureIreland @irishrurallink | @MTU_ie | @ERINNinnovation | @eucapnetwork

International Year of the Women Farmer (IYWF) Ambassador, Carina Roseingrave, speaking at the Ploughing Championships’ Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine stand. Reflecting on her role as IYWF Ambassador and the factors behind her decision to run for the position, she stressed the importance of building on the momentum that’s been created in recent years around promoting women working in the agricultural sector, and the need for continued work towards having equal female representation in every meeting room. 👏 Well done Carina! A dairy and suckler farmer from Co. Clare, Carina’s story is featured in CAP Network Ireland's 'Women in Agriculture: Driving Change under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan' Read more at: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #IYWF2026 @irishrurallink | @ERINNinnovation | @MTU_ie | @NPAIE |

Meet Aoife Ladd, a dairy farmer from Co. Cork. Having worked on the family farm from a young age, Aoife has now entered a formal farm partnership with her father. Using CAP supports, such as TAMS 3, they invested in modernising the farm infrastructure and improving the farm’s environmental sustainability. Aoife is an active member of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) with a seat on the business subcommittee of the national council and Chairperson of the Mallow branch. As a vocal advocate for her industry through the ICMSA, Aoife represents a new generation of farmers, bringing the same confidence and expertise to the boardroom as she does to the milking parlour. Read more about Aoife’s story at:  👉 capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #agricultureireland @irishrurallink | @eucapnetwork | @ERINNinnovation | @MTU_ie

A call for evidence has been launched by @agriculture_ie regarding on-farm investment options available in the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) under the CAP Strategic Plan 2023 to 2027. Read: capnetworkireland.eu/call-fo… #capnetworkireland #sustainablefarming

Meet Lisa Begley. Lisa works on the family livestock farm in Co. Mayo, in addition to her role as a Project Officer at ACRES West Connacht. She studied agricultural science at University College Dublin and obtained a Master's in Agricultural Extension and Innovation. As ACRES Project Officer, Lisa helps to support farmers across the Ox Mountain region by providing guidance on environmental management and sustainable landscape actions to address local environmental challenges. Lisa believes in the importance of income supports to keep farming families on the land and to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation in the agricultural sector. Read more about Lisa’s story at: 👉capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #AgricultureIreland @followers @irishrurallink | @ERINNinnovation | @MTU_ie | @agriculture_ie| @eucapnetwork

Meet Kay O'Sullivan, an organic beef and sheep farmer from Mourneabbey, Co. Cork. She is shortlisted for the Best Female Organic Farmer award at the 2026 EU Organic Awards. Read more here: capnetworkireland.eu/kay-osu… #EUorganics #capnetworkireland

Meet Sinead Grimes. With a passion for working in community development, Sinead has managed two locally led EIP-Agri projects in farm safety and upland agriculture. She now works as Project Manager of the Dúlra Project, a community-led nature restoration project delivered by FORUM Connemara in partnership with Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP and Leenane Development Association. Sinead hopes to see more opportunities for women to network, access training, and develop leadership, business, and entrepreneurial skills alongside their agricultural knowledge. In addition, she would like to see greater rewards for farmers for protecting biodiversity, water, soils and peatlands. Read more about Sinead’s story at: 👉 capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #agricultureireland

Meet Gillian Smith, a beef and dairy farmer on a 222-hectare farm in Co. Donegal. While working on the family farm with her husband and children, Gillian obtained her own herd number, allowing her to lease land, avail of grants, schemes and entitlements, and to “become a farmer in my own right”. Active on multiple local and national groups and committees, Gillian hopes to inspire the next generation of girls in farm leadership, and to see women exist on an equal footing in the agricultural world in the near future. Read more about Gillian’s story at: capnetworkireland.eu/wp-cont… Gillian is pictured with her daughter. #capnetworkireland #womeninagriculture #agricultureireland @ERINNinnovation @MTU_ie @irishrurallink @agriculture_ie @eucapnetwork

New updates for ACRES participants regarding: •Landscape Action Payments •Annual Declaration for the Conservation of Rare Breeds action •Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) for 2026 Annual Works Plans (AWP) Read more here: capnetworkireland.eu/updates… #capnetworkireland

Expressions of interest are currently being sought to join a new @eucapnetwork Thematic Group on Risk Management, Preparedness Strategies and Tools. Learn more: capnetworkireland.eu/new-the… #capnetworkireland #SustainableAgriculture #RiskManagement

The Beef Welfare Scheme is back for 2026 with the same range of measures as 2025, but with the new inclusion of an additional option to vaccinate animals against the current strain of the bluetongue virus. Learn more here: capnetworkireland.eu/e28-mil… #capnetworkireland

A High-Level Rural Policy Forum will take place in Naas on 3-4 November 2026. ✍️ Expressions of interest are open until 17 August 2026. More information: capnetworkireland.eu/express… #capnetworkireland #LeaderCLLD #RuralInnovation

🎉 Interested in LEADER Programme Procurement? Earlier this month, CAP Network Ireland hosted a webinar in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), providing practical information, tools, and resources to support the application of the National Procurement Guidelines for LEADER. 📺 If you missed the session or would like to revisit the content, you can access the webinar here: piped.video/watch?v=FroIBTHr… #LeaderCLLD #RuralInnovation #capnetworkireland

The application window for ACORNS 12 is open. This successful peer learning programme has supported over 600 rural female entrepreneurs in the last 12 years. Find out how more: capnetworkireland.eu/applica… #acorns #RuralEntrepreneurship #capnetworkireland

The 6th edition of the CAP Network Ireland e-Bulletin for 2026 has arrived! This edition focuses on European related stories to coincide with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Read it here: mailchi.mp/capnetworkireland… #EUPresidency #capnetworkireland

New Thematic Group on Protein Crops. This is an opportunity to explore how to scale up protein crop production in the EU, identify enabling conditions, and assess coherent policy mechanisms to support use on farms and the supply chain. Find out more: capnetworkireland.eu/themati…