TOP STORIES
Renewables
Solar industry firmly in growth mode
Stephen Robb
Stephen Robb looks at the progress made in solar farm develop so far and asks what changes are coming down the line at county-level that could see more projects developed
Solar industry firmly in growth mode
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
More funding needed to accommodate farmers looking to join ACRES - INHFA
Rachel Donovan
More funding needed to accommodate farmers looking to join ACRES - INHFA
The limited number of places available will lead to major disappointment for many farmers, the INHFA has said.
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
Tommy Moyles
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
Dairy farmers gathered in Carrigaline and Cork city on Friday to protest outside the offices of a trio of senior cabinet ministers.
Rachel Donovan
Ice and fog warning for many areas this weekend
Noel Bardon
Weekend weather: very cold with frost, ice and sleet
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
ACA organic online meetings open to all farmers 29 November & 6 December SPONSORED
ACA organic online meetings open to all farmers 29 November & 6 December
Open online meetings will be held for farmers and their families to engage in meaningful discussions about the various procedures and best practices associated with organic farming enterprises.
CLIMATE TARGETS
Minister crunched numbers on dairy cull scheme but no decision this year
Noel Bardon
Minister crunched numbers on dairy cull scheme but no decision this year
The Minister for Agriculture stated that the numbers have been crunched on a voluntary dairy reduction scheme, but he will not be in a position to rule the scheme in or out until next year.
Tirlán and Dairygold join forces on solar venture
Rachel Donovan
Tirlán and Dairygold join forces on solar venture
FarmGen systems can deliver energy savings of between 20% and 50% per year on dairy farms.
Colm McCarthy - impact of 'green' lending targets
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy - impact of 'green' lending targets
The bullseye on the dart board is clear enough: surely the farmers are the culprits and there must be great scope to cut farm emissions.
VIDEO HUB
MART REPORTS
Martbids Database: Christmas bounce in marts
Adam Woods
Martbids Database: Christmas bounce in marts
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s happening in marts around the country this week.
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
An excellent turnout of stock from local exhibitors resulted in Kanturk Mart having its largest ever Christmas fatstock show and sale and prices were there to match.
Camera at the Mart: factories and finishers flock for heavy cattle in Kilkenny
Shanon Kinahan
Camera at the Mart: factories and finishers flock for heavy cattle in Kilkenny
Shanon Kinahan brings you some of the top prices from the weekly cattle sale in Kilkenny Mart.
Watch: breeding types go for big money in Elphin
Adam Woods
Watch: breeding types go for big money in Elphin
Adam Woods reports from Elphin Mart’s special breeding sale of heifers which took place on Wednesday this week.
BEEF
In pictures: Angus dominates top 10 ICBF replacement index list
Adam Woods
In pictures: Angus dominates top 10 ICBF replacement index list
1 euro subscription
Shanon Kinahan
Young Stock Podcast: semen, shows and sucklers and all else in between
Phelim O'Neill
Second beef PGI in gestation just as first crosses the line
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
Tommy Moyles
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
Dairy farmers gathered in Carrigaline and Cork city on Friday to protest outside the offices of a trio of senior cabinet ministers.
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that animal collections from farms will be suspended on Friday 1 December.
Amy Forde
Over 800 cattle and sheep tested in Ireland for bluetongue
e-Learning
Noel Bardon
Minister crunched numbers on dairy cull scheme but no decision this year
NCBC Dairy-Beef Series Episode 1: Eoin McDonald & Declan Butler SPONSORED
NCBC Dairy-Beef Series Episode 1: Eoin McDonald & Declan Butler
Welcome to the NCBC Dairy-Beef Series, brought to you by Progressive Genetics, Munster Bovine and proudly supported by ABP.
SHEEP
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
Over 800 cattle and sheep tested in Ireland for bluetongue
Amy Forde
Over 800 cattle and sheep tested in Ireland for bluetongue
Sheep mart prices: prices ease €1 to €4/head with agents more cautious
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: prices ease €1 to €4/head with agents more cautious
Sheep Trends: lower demand blamed for 10c/kg cut
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: lower demand blamed for 10c/kg cut
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
Big changes in animal identification
Darren Carty
Big changes in animal identification
A new national genotyping programme, changes to suckler breeding indexes, an application for BVD-free status and transitioning to EID bovine tagging are all new topics in animal identification.
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Weekly round-up of news from across the farming industry in Northern Ireland
PEDIGREE
Young Stock Podcast: semen, shows and sucklers and all else in between
Shanon Kinahan
Young Stock Podcast: semen, shows and sucklers and all else in between
On this week's Young Stock Podcast, Shanon Kinahan talks to Jake Finnegan about all things semen, shows and sucklers.
Hips Don't Lie shakes up Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships
Shanon Kinahan
Hips Don't Lie shakes up Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships
Shanon Kinahan has all the results from the Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships.
ACA organic online meetings open to all farmers 29 November & 6 DecemberSPONSORED
ACA organic online meetings open to all farmers 29 November & 6 December
Open online meetings will be held for farmers and their families to engage in meaningful discussions about the various procedures and best practices associated with organic farming enterprises.
GAIN Pre-Calver Gold success on Laois farmSPONSORED
GAIN Pre-Calver Gold success on Laois farm
Dairy farmers Richard and Ian Galbraith discuss the success of supplementing GAIN Pre-Calver Gold to their 110-cow herd in Co Laois.
Harnessing the Soil Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture in the 'Human' EraSPONSORED
Harnessing the Soil Microbiome for Sustainable Agriculture in the 'Human' Era
Science Week is a national celebration of science, with hundreds of in-person and hybrid events taking place nationwide. Running from 12-19 November
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.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Kerry Co-op conducting survey of milk-supplying members' plans
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Kerry Co-op conducting survey of milk-supplying members' plans
Questionnaire is asking members about their milk-production ambitions.
Second beef PGI in gestation just as first crosses the line
Phelim O'Neill
Second beef PGI in gestation just as first crosses the line
We have waited a lifetime for one beef PGI - now a second one could be on its way,
Final clearance for PGI
Phelim O'Neill
Final clearance for PGI
Beef PGI gets final clearance following a four-year application process.
Bord Gáis planning ammonia-fired power plant for Cork
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Bord Gáis planning ammonia-fired power plant for Cork
The generating station would be the first of its kind in Europe.
TILLAGE
Tillage Podcast: pesticide rules, income drop and decline in tillage area
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Podcast: pesticide rules, income drop and decline in tillage area
1 euro subscription
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: wet weather a concern for European crops
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Management: planting, rules and ploughing
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage farmer representatives 'disappointed' with Tirlán CEO's remarks
Tillage Podcast: pesticide rules, income drop and decline in tillage area SPONSORED
If you go down to the woods today, snap some pics and be in to win!
Can you capture that special autumnal image or perhaps a stunning photo of life in the forest?
MACHINERY
MX introduces sleek new U500 loader range
Gary Abbott
MX introduces sleek new U500 loader range
Front loader specialists MX introduced its new U500 series at Agritechnica. The 16-model series, designed for tractors from 40hp to 260hp, will replace the current U50 series.
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
Peter Thomas Keaveney
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
Wilsons Auctions is set to manage an upcoming auction on 2 December, consisting of 186 lots of machinery from Bord na Móna’s Derrygreenagh site in Co Offaly.
Gary Abbott
Green diesel at four-month low as prices steady
Peter Thomas Keaveney
FCI conference to highlight the changes and challenges facing farm contractors
Gary Abbott
Compact but capable M series Deere at home on mixed Cavan farm
Ireland’s Solar Future: Neoen Partners with Farmers for a Greener Future SPONSORED
Ireland’s Solar Future: Neoen Partners with Farmers for a Greener Future
Neoen stands as a prominent global figure in renewable energy, with a commitment to producing large-scale, cost-effective and sustainable power.
PROPERTY
Little and large, pair of Rebel County farms for sale
Tommy Moyles
Little and large, pair of Rebel County farms for sale
Auctioneer Daniel Fleming has a 79ac and a 34-acre farm for sale in Co Cork, writes Tommy Moyles.
Compact grassland holdings on the market
Tommy Moyles
Compact grassland holdings on the market
A pair of grassland parcels of land in Meath and Westmeath are attracting good interest, writes Tommy Moyles.
Pre-Christmas auction for pair of Westmeath non-residential farms
Tommy Moyles
Pre-Christmas auction for pair of Westmeath non-residential farms
A pair of non-residential farms on the books of Mullingar based auctioneer, James L Murtagh are going for auction in mid-December, writes Tommy Moyles.
BUILDINGS
Cement fibre sheeting to battle salty breeze in seaside suckler shed
Martin Merrick
Cement fibre sheeting to battle salty breeze in seaside suckler shed
With the Atlantic Ocean just metres away, cement-fibre sheeting had to be used to prevent corrosion on the Hanrahans’ new suckler shed.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Closing date for Organic Farming Scheme extended
Caitríona Morrissey
Closing date for Organic Farming Scheme extended
The original closing date was 8 December, but this has now been changed.
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Darren Carty
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Applications for ACRES non-productive investments close on 6 December followed in close succession by the Organic Farming Scheme on 8 December and tranche two of ACRES on 13 December.
RENEWABLES
An Bord Pleanála approves wind development on Cork-Waterford border
Stephen Robb
An Bord Pleanála approves wind development on Cork-Waterford border
An Bord Pleanála has approved an 11-turbine wind farm proposal on the Waterford-Cork border.
Low wind generation and high demand sparks electricity warning
Stephen Robb
Low wind generation and high demand sparks electricity warning
Low wind generation, coupled with insufficient generation capacity, prompted Ireland's single electricity market operator to issue a warning about tight generation capacity margins.
FORESTRY
Licensing delays 'costing forestry jobs'
Declan O’Brien
Licensing delays 'costing forestry jobs'
The issuing of just three afforestation licences in a week wouldn't keep a whole lot of people active, private foresters pointed out.
Department awards €1.6m in funds to projects promoting forestry
Noel Bardon
Department awards €1.6m in funds to projects promoting forestry
Groups successful in accessing the funds include the ACA, Coillte, an Taisce and the ibec-affiliated Forest Industries Ireland.
NORTHERN IRELAND
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Kieran Mailey
News round-up from Northern Ireland
News in-brief from across the farming and food industry in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland diary of events
Tom Morrow
Northern Ireland diary of events
Shows, sales and events happening across the NI agri-food industry over the next week
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Food
Achill Island Sea Salt awarded PDO status
Have you heard the big news? Achill Island Sea Salt has just been awarded the prestigious protected designation of origin (PDO) status.
Achill Island Sea Salt awarded PDO status
Food
Welcome to the Irish Country Living Christmas Food Magazine
Life
Meet The Maker: Ceramic artist Cora Cummins
Comment
From 'Mart and Market' and live streaming livestock marts to a gingerbread farm
Life
Agri Careers: supporting women in dairy farming
Sport: club in a league of their own?
Denis Hurley
Sport: club in a league of their own?
‘Contract’ for provincial championships appears to demand huge commitment from players for the year ahead, writes Denis Hurley.
Backchat: family fun around a board game
Contributor
Backchat: family fun around a board game
Make special memories that will last long after the Christmas tree comes down by bringing back the humble board game, writes Margaret Leahy.
Irish Horse: to acquire wisdom, one must observe
Helen Sharp
Irish Horse: to acquire wisdom, one must observe
Helen Sharp heads to Co Tipperary and considers the value of observation.
Irish Horse: Fairyhouse sure to produce more Cheltenham clues
Mark Costello
Irish Horse: Fairyhouse sure to produce more Cheltenham clues
Which horses should you be watching out for at the two-day Winter Festival? asks Mark Costello.
PHOTOGRAPHY
This week in photos: beetroot crop save, flooding and mart action
Photo Desk
This week in photos: beetroot crop save, flooding and mart action
This week in photos: housing stock and catchment science conference
Photo Desk
This week in photos: housing stock and catchment science conference
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
Photo Desk
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
This week in photos: winterage, sheep show and cutting maize
Photo Desk
This week in photos: winterage, sheep show and cutting maize
VIEWPOINTS
Positive income signals highlighted for 2024
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Colm McCarthy - impact of 'green' lending targets
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Home Farm: Decision time on gluten free oats
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Dempsey at Large: Time to treat farmers as individuals
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
MOST READ
In pictures: top 10 bulls on ICBF terminal list
 
In pictures: top 10 bulls on ICBF terminal list
Green diesel at four-month low as prices steady
 
Green diesel at four-month low as prices steady
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
 
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
Judge pleads with ‘gentleman farmers’ to resolve dispute
 
Judge pleads with ‘gentleman farmers’ to resolve dispute
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
 
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Belgian Blues the biggest losers in ICBF changes
 
Belgian Blues the biggest losers in ICBF changes
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
 
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
Compact but capable M series Deere at home on mixed Cavan farm
 
Compact but capable M series Deere at home on mixed Cavan farm
Watch: farmer fury in Carrick over ICBF changes
 
Watch: farmer fury in Carrick over ICBF changes
Huge pressure building amid tight ACRES deadlines
 
Huge pressure building amid tight ACRES deadlines