This week in photos: machinery shows, fertiliser spreading and Dexter cattle

Timoleague farmer John Michael Foley spreads slurry on his farm under cloudy skies, with Courtmacsherry as a backdrop. \ Andy Gibson

Johnny and James Hallinan dosing and vaccinating their ewes prior to lambing at Scart, Kilbrien, Co Waterford. / Donal O' Leary

Joe Milne spreading 18:6:12 fertiliser at one bag to the acre on grazing ground at Clonkelly, Birr, Co Offaly. Joe feels that some farmers cannot afford it at its current price and says they may have no other option but to cut back on stock. Fertiliser has gone from €310/t last year to €750/t now. However, Joe says it is important to get it out to ensure a good supply of grass at the back end of the year. \ Odhran Ducie

At the Teagasc spring beef grass walk at Michael Carroll's farm, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, are farm owner Michael Carroll, with Teagasc's Marianne Mulhall and Eoin Wolfe. / Patrick Browne

Edward Hanbige and family on their farm in Co Wicklow. They are busy with Dexter cattle, a flock of sheep, forestry and growing a hemp crop. \ Claire Nash

Dairy farmer John O' Meara, Glenny, Riverstick, Co Cork, talking figures with Trevor Ryall of Ryall's Farm Machinery, Watergrasshill, at the Spring Farm Machinery Show in Millstreet. John is in the market to replace some of his machinery, but recent global events and the huge increase in input costs has tempered his appetite to spend money and Trevor is noticing that his customers are still enquiring and showing interest in buying, but are slower in making deals due to the increase in prices. Trailed machines have increased between 10% and 15%, with more high-tech machinery increasing by up to 25%. / Donal O' Leary

A general view of the machinery on display at the Spring Farm Machinery Show in Millstreet. / Donal O' Leary

Willie Geary, Curraglass, and Mike Leahy, Ballynoe, Co Cork, check out the Sany SY 155U excavator on the Sleator Plant stand at the Spring Farm Machinery Show in Millstreet. / Donal O' Leary