date:Jun 23, 2014
2bn beef industry.
Mr Vilsack has been meeting EU agriculture ministers all week in an effort to keep trade talk negotiations progressing between the two regions.
Meanwhile, Hill farmers have protested about restrictions under new EU environmental programmes.
Several hundred farmers gathered outside the Department of Agriculture to highlight concerns about restrictions in special areas of conservation (SACs) and on common grazing.
Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) president Eddie Downey said