This week's cover star

Brian Mulholland rolling a field recently sown with Gangway spring barley for Graham Sweeney in Edmundstown, Co Louth. This week has been a week of changeable weather conditions, with many farmers getting work done between wintry showers. Growth has been slow due to unseasonably cold temperatures. \ Philip Doyle

Brian Mulholland rolling a field recently sown with Gangway spring barley for Graham Sweeney in Edmundstown, Co Louth. \ Philip Doyle

Rolling a grazing field in Co Westmeath

A heifer watches on while beef farmer Timmy Rafter from Kilbegan, Co Westmeath, rolls a grazing field. He has also rolled other fields, which he intends to gather silage from. \ Philip Doyle

Heifers watch on while beef farmer Timmy Rafter from Kilbegan, Co Westmeath, rolls a grazing field. \ Philip Doyle

My Farming Week: Neil Quinlan, Ardglare, Mitchelstown, Co Cork

Tony and Neil Quinlan pictured with their cows that form the Ardglare Herd on the home farm at Ardglare, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary

Neil Quinlan. \ Donal O' Leary

The Ardglare herd. \ Donal O' Leary

Calves. \ Donal O' Leary

Marian, Neil and Tony Quinlan. \ Donal O' Leary

Baling silage and wrapping bales in Co Monaghan

Martin Marron from Corduff, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, bales silage, while his nephew Shane McMahon wraps bales for dairy farmer Seamus Murray. With growth slow due to the latest cold spell, some farmers with excess grass around the country have begun baling silage.  \ Philip Doyle

Shane McMahon. \ Philip Doyle

Martin Marron and Shane McMahon. \ Philip Doyle

Shane McMahon. \ Philip Doyle

Martin Marron from Corduff, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, bales silage while his nephew Shane McMahon wraps bales for dairy farmer Seamus Murray. With growth slow due to the latest cold spell, some farmers with excess grass around the country have begun baling silage.  \ Philip Doyle

Working into the night in Co Offaly

Paul Berminghan applies his last spread of nitrogen on a crop of winter barley in Durrow, Co Offaly. \ Philip Doyle

Paul Berminghan works into the night as he applies his last spread of nitrogen on a crop of winter barley in Durrow, Co Offaly. \ Philip Doyle

A round-up of some of the rest of the pictures from around the country

A wine grower lights heaters early in the morning, to protect vineyards from frost damage outside Chablis, France, on 7 April. \ REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

Adam McGarr bottle feeds a baby lamb at the Greaney farm in Crooksling, Co Dublin. \ Damien Eagers

Macra na Feirme president-elect John Keane on his home farm in Co Laois following his recent successful campaign. John will take over from Thomas Duffy on 15 May.

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