1 summary of the year for first 6 months 1998 uk held presidency european union during this period government focused its efforts on working with agriculture council and other institutions in getting best deal community at end our had secured progress a wide range issues including taking forward reform common agricultural policy cap lifting beef ban northern ireland animal welfare measures 2 major farming issue was fall farm incomes state industry decline reflected difficult times that some sectors were undergoing due mainly to prices most commodities as result oversupply commodity markets although strength sterling also factor 3 order assist livestock sector february payments 72 5 million made suckler cow producers along 12 sheep 16
