james strain

Farmer Writes: looking forward to spring

While winter is still upon us, James Strain is very much looking forward to getting some jobs ticked-off the list this spring.

FARMER WRITES 29 January 2026

Farmer Writes: looking forward to spring

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Farmer Writes: looking back on 2025, a year to remember

Farmer Writes: looking back on 2025, a year to remember

FARMER WRITES 13 January 2026

Farmer Writes: preparing for the new wormer prescription system

Farmer Writes: preparing for the new wormer prescription system

FARMER WRITES 2 December 2025

Farmer Writes: strong interest from farmers at suckler mart event in Donegal

Farmer Writes: strong interest from farmers at suckler mart event in Donegal

Farmer Writes: strong interest from farmers at suckler mart event in Donegal

FARMER WRITES 4 November 2025

Farmer Writes: understanding livestock through their eyes

Farmer Writes: understanding livestock through their eyes

Farmer Writes: understanding livestock through their eyes

FARMER WRITES 20 October 2025

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Farmer Writes: every time I hear a storm mentioned, my heart is in my mouth

Farmer Writes: every time I hear a storm mentioned, my heart is in my mouth

Storm Amy wasn't too chaotic on James Strain's farm in Donegal where very minimal damage was done.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: first-time Ploughing excitement

Farmer Writes: first-time Ploughing excitement

This week, James Strain writes about the excitement in his house ahead of the family's trip down to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: housing time again

Farmer Writes: housing time again

James Strain discusses his reason for housing cattle when he has plenty of grass and good ground conditions.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: reseeds doing well as I keep an eye on docks

Farmer Writes: reseeds doing well as I keep an eye on docks

When docks get established and plenty of reserves stored up in that huge tap root, as my mother would say “the divil in Hell wouldn’t kill it”, writes James Strain.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: thank God for my new handling pen

Farmer Writes: thank God for my new handling pen

This week, farmer writer James Strain gives his take on managing time, managing bloat and managing cattle in intense sun.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: grass supplies on a bit of a knife edge

Farmer Writes: grass supplies on a bit of a knife edge

One of the fields earmarked for reseeding is already burned off and ploughed and will hopefully be sowed this week, weather permitting, writes James Strain.

FARMER WRITES 14 July 2025

Farmer Writes: attentions turn to reseeding

Farmer Writes: attentions turn to reseeding

I now need to decide how many acres I’m going to put back in for third cut, writes James Strain.

NEWS 14 July 2025

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Offaly farmer Anne Marie Butterfield shares her approach to rearing lambs

Offaly sheep farmer Anne Marie Butterfield has been rearing lambs for years and says a reliable milk replacer is key to keeping pet lambs healthy and thriving.

Offaly farmer Anne Marie Butterfield shares her approach to rearing lambs

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