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CAP funding on the line as budget battle nears
Noel Bardon
Fears are mounting that the Commission is planning to axe the dedicated fund for CAP.
 
 
Exceptional sheep top the first day of Balmoral Show
Exceptional sheep top the first day of Balmoral Show
Rachel Gallagher gives a list of results from the sheep rings on day one of Balmoral Show 2025.
Commission's proposals to simplify CAP are 'unconvincing' - ICMSA
Commission's proposals to simplify CAP are 'unconvincing' - ICMSA
The ICMSA maintains that there’s "no real confidence" in the Commission on this drive for simplification.
Sheep mart prices: factory pressure hitting live sales
Sheep mart prices: factory pressure hitting live sales
Hogget prices are under pressure in marts, with agents standoffish and much coyer in their purchasing activity.
Camera at the Mart: boom year for calves in Tipperary Mart
Camera at the Mart: boom year for calves in Tipperary Mart
Tipperary Mart held its final calf sale of what has been a boom year for calves for the Tipperary town sales venue and trade was extremely strong throughout proceedings.
Martbids Database: light weanlings head for €6/kg
Martbids Database: light weanlings head for €6/kg
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s happening in the country’s marts.
PODCASTS
Replacements ‘nowhere near sufficient’ to sustain dairy herd – IFA
Replacements ‘nowhere near sufficient’ to sustain dairy herd – IFA
It comes after the publication of the latest ICBF dairy stock statistics coinciding with the middle of peak breeding season.
TB summit feedback must be ‘taken seriously’ - ICSA
TB summit feedback must be ‘taken seriously’ - ICSA
The association’s animal health and welfare chair John Barron said that farmers must be recognised as key stakeholders in this process, not as passive recipients of policy.
Using rumen-protected fat to support fertility and milk fat at turnout SPONSORED
Using rumen-protected fat to support fertility and milk fat at turnout
Rumen-protected fats provide energy without acid to help stabilise rumen conditions while also supporting fertility and milk fat production.
TB summit feedback must be ‘taken seriously’ - ICSA
TB summit feedback must be ‘taken seriously’ - ICSA
The association’s animal health and welfare chair John Barron said that farmers must be recognised as key stakeholders in this process, not as passive recipients of policy.
Shortage of large animal vets in rural Ireland - Veterinary Council
Shortage of large animal vets in rural Ireland - Veterinary Council
However, the statutory body regulating veterinary medicine in Ireland found that the veterinary register has grown by 30% since 2004.
Nobber to kick-start show season in the northeast
Nobber to kick-start show season in the northeast
Nobber Agricultural Show is set to take place on Sunday 18 May.
Overdose sons take Carlisle by storm
Overdose sons take Carlisle by storm
Irish Genetics were to the fore at the recent show and sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.
Getting through the first SBLAS audit SPONSORED
Getting through the first SBLAS audit
Damien Murray, Origin Green Producer Liaison & Standard Co-Coordinator gives a step by step guide for new suckler members of SBLAS facing their first audit.
Levelling up calf rearing with Teemore Mono Calf BuildingSPONSORED
Levelling up calf rearing with Teemore Mono Calf Building
Proper calf shed ventilation is crucial for maximising calf performance and profitability.
Elatus™ Era: providing consistent disease control across key crops SPONSORED
Elatus™ Era: providing consistent disease control across key crops
The weather in spring and early summer has been generally favourable to crop growth and development, a complete contrast to 2024.
I’m thinking of buying a mower, what would you recommend?SPONSORED
I’m thinking of buying a mower, what would you recommend?
Conal Moore an Agri contractor & tillage framer from Ballygar Co. Galway. “we do a lot of reseeding, slurry spreading and tillage work but baling would be our main enterprise”.
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Professor Luke O’Neill: future farms will have no animals
Professor Luke O’Neill: future farms will have no animals
Trinity immunology professor made prediction on Show Me the Science podcast
Weight-loss drugs have transformed dieting
Weight-loss drugs have transformed dieting
The once iconic WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy and Glanbia puts Slimfast on the block.
Diesel prices marginally creeping upwards
Diesel prices marginally creeping upwards
Although it's fair to say that diesel prices remain largely stable, the market has crept upwards by 4c/l in recent days. Peter Thomas Keaveney and Gary Abbott report.
US and China take a 90-day break from trade war
US and China take a 90-day break from trade war
Both sides slashed tariffs in the wake of weekend meetings in Geneva.
Massey Ferguson introduces next-generation MF 1M series
Massey Ferguson introduces next-generation MF 1M series
Massey Ferguson has launched two new MF 1M series premium specification compact tractor models.
Entries open for Tullamore Show invention awards
Entries open for Tullamore Show invention awards
Entries have opened for Tullamore Show's national invention and innovation awards 2025, which will be broken down into seven categories, each offering a €300 first prize.
Two parcels of good cattle fattening land in Co Meath
Two parcels of good cattle fattening land in Co Meath
Both have road frontage and one has a small farm shed which is in good condition.
Two gems in the Golden Vale go up for auction
Two gems in the Golden Vale go up for auction
One has a farmhouse and farmyard, the other has lengthy frontage on the public road.
Fine Georgian house has it all for €1.9m in west Cork
Fine Georgian house has it all for €1.9m in west Cork
The house is in excellent condition – and so, too ,are the gate lodge, the courtyard buildings and the land.
Close to 75% of TAMS tranche 5 applications approved so far
Close to 75% of TAMS tranche 5 applications approved so far
Tranche 5, which closed for applications in early December, has seen a huge rise in approval rates over the last number of weeks.
Department defends Healy-Rae on peat planting
Department defends Healy-Rae on peat planting
The Department of Agriculture stated that it was not in favour of planting on 'deep peat sites where there is a net carbon emission'.
'GAEC 2 is a designation with a different name'
'GAEC 2 is a designation with a different name'
Classifying land as GAEC 2 is a designation under a different name, a leading west Clare dairy farmer has said.
Editorial: wind farm challenges
Editorial: wind farm challenges
Are surrounding landowners sufficiently rewarded, if at all, for the land asset value reduction with these type of cluster investments?
Biogas plant approved on former Lisheen mine in Tipperary
Biogas plant approved on former Lisheen mine in Tipperary
The AD plant will process 98,000t of agricultural and waste feedstock annually to produce biomethane gas, which will be injected into the national gas grid as a replacement for natural gas.
Ministers contradicting each other on forestry in peatland – Sinn Féin
Ministers contradicting each other on forestry in peatland – Sinn Féin
It comes after Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry Michael Healy-Rae made comments saying that he wants to more afforestation on peatlands which Sinn Féin said is “very concerning”.
The role of forestry diluted in 2025 climate plan
The role of forestry diluted in 2025 climate plan
The current Climate Action Plan retains the need for 8,000ha annual planting programme, but 18% forest cover target and key role for afforestation were dropped.
Multiple break-ins at Dundonald House
Multiple break-ins at Dundonald House
There have been multiple break-ins at DAERA’s former headquarters in Belfast over recent months.
Strong demand for breeding stock at Swatragh
Strong demand for breeding stock at Swatragh
Natasha Ferguson reports on the prices paid at a breeding cattle sale last Friday.
Comment
Editorial: ‘you may be in darkness but there will be light again'
Darkness into Light is an event of hope, the reality of suicide is horrific. I’ve cried hot tears thinking about the dark place my friend must have been in.
Dear Miriam: ‘My wife won’t live in a mobile while house is being refurbished’
Dear Miriam: ‘My wife won’t live in a mobile while house is being refurbished’
A frustrated Wexford reader asks Miriam how to talk his wife into settling for a six month stay in a mobile home on the site of a farmhouse they're refurbishing into their forever home.
Two gems in the Golden Vale go up for auction
Two gems in the Golden Vale go up for auction
One has a farmhouse and farmyard, the other has lengthy frontage on the public road.
Fine Georgian house has it all for €1.9m in west Cork
Fine Georgian house has it all for €1.9m in west Cork
The house is in excellent condition – and so, too ,are the gate lodge, the courtyard buildings and the land.
Two parcels of good cattle fattening land in Co Meath
Two parcels of good cattle fattening land in Co Meath
Both have road frontage and one has a small farm shed which is in good condition.