TOP STORIES
News
Mass exodus of small farmers
Noel Bardon
Teagasc's small farmer survey shows that a significant area of small farmers' land is expected to go for lease over the coming years.
Mass exodus of small farmers
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
New Teagasc demonstration farm rearing 300 dairy-beef calves launched
Anne O'Donoghue
New Teagasc demonstration farm rearing 300 dairy-beef calves launched
The farm in Co Tipperary is leased for 15 years from April 2022 and is rearing over 300 dairy-beef calves to finish each year.
€600,000 announced for community-led peatland projects
Niamh Murphy
€600,000 announced for community-led peatland projects
Funding announced by Minister Malcolm Noonan under the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2024 offers grants of up to €40,000 for Natura 2000-designated sites.
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Anne O'Donoghue
Farming for Water potential to have ‘huge reach’
Declan O’Brien
'Small number' of farmers awaiting payment from Asba Meats
Take steps to minimise aftereffects of wet winter on silage, farmers urged SPONSORED
Take steps to minimise aftereffects of wet winter on silage, farmers urged
Heightened risks of soil and slurry contamination in first-cut grass silage after the wet winter will require extra vigilance with silage making this season, an expert is urging.
CLIMATE TARGETS
Ireland can learn from New Zealand on carbon tax changes
Contributor
Ireland can learn from New Zealand on carbon tax changes
With methane, there is no substitute for ruminant livestock, other than unacceptable destocking, writes Prof Gerry Boyle.
Smallest farms only produce 4% of sector's emissions
Noel Bardon
Smallest farms only produce 4% of sector's emissions
The Small Farm Survey flagged small farms as being important for agriculture's sustainability.
50,000 football fans fly in for Aviva fixture
Colm McCarthy
50,000 football fans fly in for Aviva fixture
Summer arrives on cue for airports and Dublin does not have spare parking stands for a once-off influx.
PODCASTS
VIDEO HUB
MART REPORTS
Sheep mart prices: live export activity boosts lamb prices
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: live export activity boosts lamb prices
The interest from live exporters has occurred amid tight supplies and is fuelling increased competition among buyers.
Camera at the Mart: numbers falling but trade remains strong in Corrin
Shanon Kinahan
Camera at the Mart: numbers falling but trade remains strong in Corrin
Shanon Kinahan was in Cork Marts Corrin on Tuesday for its weekly cattle sale.
In pictures: lambs sell to €5/kg in Dowra Mart
Darren Carty
In pictures: lambs sell to €5/kg in Dowra Mart
There was a lightning trade for lambs and hoggets, with competition boosted by live export buying and demand outstripping supplies.
Camera at the Mart: prices and numbers up in Bandon
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: prices and numbers up in Bandon
Tommy Moyles reports from the calf sale in Bandon, where numbers were up and prices followed at the west Cork mart's weekly calf sale on Monday.
BEEF
'Small number' of farmers awaiting payment from Asba Meats
Declan O’Brien
'Small number' of farmers awaiting payment from Asba Meats
1 euro subscription
Darren Carty
SCEP training – tips on how to access and complete the training
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: beef trade remains on solid footing; marts set pace on lambs
Martin Merrick
Grass+ beef: growth goes up a gear with heavy pre-grazing covers
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Time to get on top of grass quality
Declan Collins
Time to get on top of grass quality
Declan Collins looks at different options for farmers to get on top of grass quality this week.
105 dairy farmers defy Bord Bia calf slaughter rules
Declan O’Brien
105 dairy farmers defy Bord Bia calf slaughter rules
There has been a 40% reduction in the number of calves slaughtered this year compared to 2023, with close to 19,000 culled so far this year.
Aidan Brennan
Dairy Trends: GDT and spot prices bounce
e-Learning
Noel Bardon
GDT rises to highest level in 19 months
There’s a future for palm oil in the dairy supply chain SPONSORED
There’s a future for palm oil in the dairy supply chain
If not palm, then what? Understanding the complex story of sustainable palm and the vital role it plays in supporting global conservation efforts, local economies and the dairy supply chain.
SHEEP
Sheep Trends: throughput eases to 40,730 head
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: throughput eases to 40,730 head
Sheep mart prices: live export activity boosts lamb prices
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: live export activity boosts lamb prices
Live exporters paying up to €5/kg for lambs
Darren Carty
Live exporters paying up to €5/kg for lambs
NI Trends: beef trade remains on solid footing; marts set pace on lambs
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: beef trade remains on solid footing; marts set pace on lambs
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
€750,000 for antimicrobial resistance research
Noel Bardon
€750,000 for antimicrobial resistance research
Three projects have been awarded €250,000 each to develop tools aimed at combating the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
Muir left powerless on animal disease
David Wright
Muir left powerless on animal disease
The power to direct and control policy around major animal diseases in NI now lies with the UK government
PEDIGREE
Best in the business in Balmoral
Shanon Kinahan
Best in the business in Balmoral
Shanon Kinahan takes a look back at all the cattle champions from the 155th Balmoral Show
In pictures: Brownhill Tara crowned champion Charolais in Balmoral
Adam Woods
In pictures: Brownhill Tara crowned champion Charolais in Balmoral
Adam Woods reports form the Charolais ring at Balmoral Show.
Take steps to minimise aftereffects of wet winter on silage, farmers urgedSPONSORED
Take steps to minimise aftereffects of wet winter on silage, farmers urged
Heightened risks of soil and slurry contamination in first-cut grass silage after the wet winter will require extra vigilance with silage making this season, an expert is urging.
Irish beef sales in Britain still growingSPONSORED
Irish beef sales in Britain still growing
Bord Bia meat and organics market specialist Seán Deane reports that Irish beef sales in Britain continued to grow in the first two months of 2024, building on last year's strong performance.
Outpacing the field with the only non-stop baler, the Kverneland FastBaleSPONSORED
Outpacing the field with the only non-stop baler, the Kverneland FastBale
In Clogheen, Co Tipperary, Thomas Moloney, alongside his father Jim, has been steering the family business through the evolving landscape of Irish agriculture for over six decades.
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farmSPONSORED
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farm
DURA² fencing provided John Paul Bennett and his wife Laura with a durable and environmentally friendly fencing solution for their home and farm.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Grain Trends: markets jump with weather news
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: markets jump with weather news
Grain prices jumped this week, as concerns over weather and crop yields hit markets. Siobhán Walsh reports from the US this week.
Profits soar at Greencore
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Profits soar at Greencore
Maker of convenience food sees the benefit of cost-cutting measures.
Profits jumped more than €200,000 at ICBF in 2023
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Profits jumped more than €200,000 at ICBF in 2023
Income boosted by Brexit reserve money granted as part of the national genotyping programme.
Fonterra announces intention to sell consumer business
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Fonterra announces intention to sell consumer business
Co-op said the decision is part of a step-change in its strategic direction
TILLAGE
US scheme pays farmers €25/ac to plant cover crops
Siobhán Walsh
US scheme pays farmers €25/ac to plant cover crops
1 euro subscription
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: markets jump with weather news
Siobhán Walsh
Kerry farms on show on ITLUS trip
Conor Kehoe
Crops thrive in the sun and showers
US scheme pays farmers €25/ac to plant cover crops SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
SIP and John Deere grass demo day set for Clare
Peter Thomas Keaveney
SIP and John Deere grass demo day set for Clare
John Deere dealership Geary’s Garage is set to host a working demonstration day with SIP and John Deere grassland equipment on Thursday 23 May.
In pictures: 1964 Doe Triple-D tops UK auction selling for almost €82,000
Gary Abbott
In pictures: 1964 Doe Triple-D tops UK auction selling for almost €82,000
An original 1964 Doe Triple-D tandem tractor with 6,650 hours was sold for €81,876 (£70,000) plus fees at a recent Cheffins vintage machinery auction.
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Kverneland introduces high-capacity trailed tedder
Gary Abbott
New Holland T7.210 sells for €40,000 at Hennessy Auctions' monthly sale
Peter Thomas Keaveney
FTMTA appoint new vice-president
New quad bike regulations - are you ready? SPONSORED
New quad bike regulations - are you ready?
Quad bikes are designed to cope with a wide variety of terrain types and so are a fantastic aid for farm work - by Ciaran Roche, FBD risk manager.
PROPERTY
Good grazing land with bungalow in Limerick
Paul Mooney
Good grazing land with bungalow in Limerick
The 84ac holding in Gortboy has a farm road which runs through it, giving access to all fields, writes Paul Mooney.
Balcony with a view for €1.4m in Tipperary
Paul Mooney
Balcony with a view for €1.4m in Tipperary
Turtulla Lodge is an attractive old farmhouse on a 67.5ac holding just outside of Thurles – it has plenty of interesting features that make it a lovely family home, writes Paul Mooney.
Stunning 263ac island for sale for €1m in Kerry
Paul Mooney
Stunning 263ac island for sale for €1m in Kerry
There is access from the beach beside this Dingle Peninsula property, which has many potential uses, writes Paul Mooney.
BUILDINGS
Lack of cash hits on-farm construction
Declan O’Brien
Lack of cash hits on-farm construction
A combination of atrocious weather, reduced cashflow and uncertainty around the nitrates derogation has stalled a major share of farm construction work.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Farming for Water potential to have ‘huge reach’
Anne O'Donoghue
Farming for Water potential to have ‘huge reach’
Lead on Farming for Water Mairead Whitty, said the EIP needs to draw on relationships with the project’s many partners.
Rainfall up 15% in 2023 due to climate change
Anne O'Donoghue
Rainfall up 15% in 2023 due to climate change
If warming reaches 2°C, it is predicted rainfall that can saturate soils will happen one in every 13 years, a study from a group of leading climate scientists has said.
RENEWABLES
15-year renewables income available for farmers under new scheme
Stephen Robb
15-year renewables income available for farmers under new scheme
Details of the long-awaited Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme were revealed and will allow farmers to build commercial wind and solar projects and receive support for 15 years.
Renewed focus on renewables at Balmoral
Stephen Robb
Renewed focus on renewables at Balmoral
There was a significant presence of renewable energy providers at this year’s Balmoral Show and, despite little grant aid available for farmers, interest was high writes Stephen Robb.
FORESTRY
Supports needed for forestry replanting, Gleeson concedes
Declan O’Brien
Supports needed for forestry replanting, Gleeson concedes
Department supremo insists that the legal requirement to replant forestry ground after harvesting will not be removed.
Putting land into forestry a ‘big leap’ for landowners - Department boss
Amy Forde
Putting land into forestry a ‘big leap’ for landowners - Department boss
Brendan Gleeson said that it is “extremely unlikely” that the 8,000ha forestry target will be met, unless there is “an explosion in demand”.
NORTHERN IRELAND
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Weekly round-up of news from the farming industry in Northern Ireland.
Dairy commodities on an upward trend
Kieran Mailey
Dairy commodities on an upward trend
Dairy commodities saw butter and powder prices increasing at the GDT and Dutch auctions.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Life
Meet the Maker: Mairidh Nic Cormaic
In this week’s Meet the Maker, Grace Hanna chats to Mairidh Nic Cormaic, founder of Sew it Seams, about her handmade fleeces and accessories.
Meet the Maker: Mairidh Nic Cormaic
Comment
Editorial: voting for who to represent us at European level matters
Life
Win two tickets to Bord Bia Bloom
Irish Horse
Irish Horse: donkey work over at last
Entertainment
Super Sunday of hurling drama
Author John Connell: ‘the sheep make me feel a new-found sense of prosperity’
Contributor
Author John Connell: ‘the sheep make me feel a new-found sense of prosperity’
In an extract from his number one best-seller, Twelve Sheep, farmer and writer John Connell reflects on returning to his rural roots.
Irish Horse: why now could be the perfect time to buy a racehorse
Mark Costello
Irish Horse: why now could be the perfect time to buy a racehorse
There are signs that the market is slowing down with value to be had, writes Mark Costello.
Gardening with Gerry: branching out with ‘Red Robin’
Gerry Daly
Gardening with Gerry: branching out with ‘Red Robin’
If you’re looking to add some vibrant colour and year-round interest to your garden, the ‘Red Robin’ can tranform your outdoor space, writes Gerry Daly.
Secondary school students host art exhibition in Athenry Mart
Sarah McIntosh
Secondary school students host art exhibition in Athenry Mart
Hundreds of people attended ‘Athenry Agri’ art exhibition, as secondary students from Clarin College Athenry created artwork inspired by agriculture, writes Sarah McIntosh.
PHOTOGRAPHY
In Pictures: The 155th Balmoral Show
Photo Desk
In Pictures: The 155th Balmoral Show
Watch: this week's pictures of the week - silage and stock in fields
Photo Desk
Watch: this week's pictures of the week - silage and stock in fields
Watch: this week in photos - farmers get on with fieldwork
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - farmers get on with fieldwork
Watch: this week's pictures of the week shows fieldwork continuing
Photo Desk
Watch: this week's pictures of the week shows fieldwork continuing
VIEWPOINTS
Home Farm: examining the crops
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Dempsey at Large: Tony O'Reilly - an immense talent
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Ireland can learn from New Zealand on carbon tax changes
Contributor
Contributor
How can farmers be expected to invest in slurry storage?
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
MOST READ
Mass exodus of small farmers
 
Mass exodus of small farmers
15-year renewables income available for farmers under new scheme
 
15-year renewables income available for farmers under new scheme
CVS sells Irish vet practices for just €2
 
CVS sells Irish vet practices for just €2
In pictures: lambs sell to €5/kg in Dowra Mart
 
In pictures: lambs sell to €5/kg in Dowra Mart
Farmer settles for royalties due on their farm saved seed
 
Farmer settles for royalties due on their farm saved seed
Camera at the Mart: prices and numbers up in Bandon
 
Camera at the Mart: prices and numbers up in Bandon
New Teagasc demonstration farm rearing 300 dairy-beef calves launched
 
New Teagasc demonstration farm rearing 300 dairy-beef calves launched
Over one third of Irish farms’ output below €8,000 in 2022
 
Over one third of Irish farms’ output below €8,000 in 2022
Hedge-cutting dates up for review
 
Hedge-cutting dates up for review
Ministers announce €25m project for breeding waders
 
Ministers announce €25m project for breeding waders