In this limited podcast series technical beef journalist Breifne O’Brien has been travelling around the country talking to beef farmers about the challenges they face and how they run their farm.

In this episode Breifne O’Brien sits down Co. Westmeath-based beef farmer and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary ahead of his annual Gigginstown House on-farm sale on Saturday, April 18.

This year's sale marks 30 years since Gigginstown House Stud imported its first 25 pedigree Angus cattle from Canada.

The Ryanair CEO chats to Breifne about beef prices and why Irish farmers should not be worried about trade deals like Mercosur.

According to O'Leary Ireland "will do well out of free trade".

"We should be welcoming the Mercosur trade deal, we should be welcoming the Australian trade deal - anything that encourages free trade is good for the Irish economy and what is good for the Irish economy will ultilmately translate into being good for Irish farmers as well," the Ryanair CEO said.

He also revealed that he did not "think much" of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) protest at the Bord Bia headquarters earlier this year.

"I thought the IFA were very badly advised and I would be generally a supporter of the IFA, I think it will be shown to have been historically wrong on their opposition to the Mercosur trade deal.

"Anything that enhances the wealth of the Irish economy - and this will enhance the wealth of the Irish economy - is good for Irish farming," Michael O'Leary said.

But the Ryanair boss also told the Beef Brief that he is not a big fan of Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) payments and shared his thoughts on why he feels time may be up for small and part time farmers in Ireland.

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