TOP STORIES
Beef
Signpost farms already on path of lower GHG emissions
Adam Woods
Adam Woods reports from the annual Teagasc beef conference, which took place last week in Ballinasloe.
Signpost farms already on path of lower GHG emissions
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Zoe Kavanagh to step down as National Dairy Council CEO in 2024
Amy Forde
Zoe Kavanagh to step down as National Dairy Council CEO in 2024
A formal recruitment process for a new chief executive of the NDC will commence immediately.
2023 organic scheme money to hit farmers' bank accounts
Rachel Donovan
2023 organic scheme money to hit farmers' bank accounts
Farmers will receive the first 85% of their Organic Farming Scheme payment this week.
Anne O'Donoghue
Deer management units needed to control deer in 'hot spot' areas
Caitríona Morrissey
Denmark’s derogation talks ‘one to watch’ for Ireland
Noel Bardon
Commission looks to reset relations with farmers
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
The COP28 summit once again shows the resistance to tackling fossil fuels
Lorcan Roche Kelly
The COP28 summit once again shows the resistance to tackling fossil fuels
Oil exporters are using veto to block major environmental progress, writes Lorcan Roche Kelly
Reducing the age at slaughter, while increasing carcase weight
Contributor
Reducing the age at slaughter, while increasing carcase weight
These farmers have managed to significantly reduce the age of their animals at slaughter while also increasing the carcase weight of those animals.
Emission reductions research helping to assess future technologies
Contributor
Emission reductions research helping to assess future technologies
From improving soil health to using feed additives and growing protein crops, there is plenty of research into greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
VIDEO HUB
MART REPORTS
Sheep mart prices: agents reluctant to let sheep home unsold
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: agents reluctant to let sheep home unsold
Factory agents remain coy in their purchasing behaviour and while reluctant to pay higher, are keen to use mart sales to try to increase throughput.
MartBids Database: factories driving mart trade
Adam Woods
MartBids Database: factories driving mart trade
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s currently driving the trade.
Camera at the Mart: NI factory agents drive Raphoe fatstock trade
Adam Woods
Camera at the Mart: NI factory agents drive Raphoe fatstock trade
Adam Woods reports from Raphoe Mart's annual fatstock sale, which took place last Friday.
Camera at the Mart: weanlings wind up for festive season in Portumna
Shanon Kinahan
Camera at the Mart: weanlings wind up for festive season in Portumna
Shanon Kinahan was in Portumna Mart on Monday evening for its final weanling sale of 2023.
BEEF
Pressure mounts on ICBF to row back on index changes
Adam Woods
Pressure mounts on ICBF to row back on index changes
1 euro subscription
Adam Woods
Prime cattle supplies in freefall
Martin Merrick
Camera at the Mart: factory fit and forward types a firm trade in Enniscorthy
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: tight cattle supplies hardens prices; lamb quotes up 5p/kg
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Zoe Kavanagh to step down as National Dairy Council CEO in 2024
Amy Forde
Zoe Kavanagh to step down as National Dairy Council CEO in 2024
A formal recruitment process for a new chief executive of the NDC will commence immediately.
Denmark’s derogation talks ‘one to watch’ for Ireland
Caitríona Morrissey
Denmark’s derogation talks ‘one to watch’ for Ireland
Department of Agriculture senior inspector in the nitrates and biodiversity division Ted Massey has said Ireland can secure a derogation, but only if water quality issues are addressed.
Rachel Donovan
37c/l 'minimum acceptable price' for November milk - ICMSA
e-Learning
Aidan Brennan
Dairy Management: genotyping, nitrates and calves
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
Lamb quotes quickly rebound by 10c/kg
Darren Carty
Lamb quotes quickly rebound by 10c/kg
Sheep Trends: quotes rebound by 10c/kg as supplies tighten
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: quotes rebound by 10c/kg as supplies tighten
Sheep mart prices: agents reluctant to let sheep home unsold
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: agents reluctant to let sheep home unsold
NI Trends: tight cattle supplies hardens prices; lamb quotes up 5p/kg
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: tight cattle supplies hardens prices; lamb quotes up 5p/kg
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
IFA blames Department for fallen animal collection strike
Noel Bardon
IFA blames Department for fallen animal collection strike
A dispute over Department subsidies for knackeries has led to fallen animal collection services taking strike action.
Preparing for drying off cows
Contributor
Preparing for drying off cows
Michelle McGrath from Animal Health Ireland outlines some important advice for farmers as they begin the drying-off process.
PEDIGREE
Aubracs ticking the box for high altitude French suckler farming
Martin Merrick
Aubracs ticking the box for high altitude French suckler farming
Martin Merrick visited the Rochette father-son duo as part of the Sommet De L’Elevage international visitors farm trips, where Montbeliarde dairy cows have been replaced by an Aubrac suckler herd.
Tarzan crowned king of Elphin jungle at €16,200
Adam Woods
Tarzan crowned king of Elphin jungle at €16,200
Adam Woods reports from Saturday’s annual Christmas Cracker Charolais sale in Elphin Mart.
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
Renewable energy giant Ørsted to build 316ac solar farm in Carlow
Stephen Robb
Renewable energy giant Ørsted to build 316ac solar farm in Carlow
Located 15km outside of Carlow town, the 81MW solar development is expected to be operational by 2026.
Better news on inflation and tax revenue suggest improving economic outlook
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Better news on inflation and tax revenue suggest improving economic outlook
Interest rate pressure will start to ease if inflation stays low, which will help growth.
UK visa rules to increase factory costs
Phelim O'Neill
UK visa rules to increase factory costs
While the main short term concern for UK meat factories is veterinary cover, the new visa rules for overseas workers will ultimately increase factory costs.
The COP28 summit once again shows the resistance to tackling fossil fuels
Lorcan Roche Kelly
The COP28 summit once again shows the resistance to tackling fossil fuels
Oil exporters are using veto to block major environmental progress, writes Lorcan Roche Kelly
TILLAGE
Warnings of a Christmas spud shortage rubbished
Declan O’Brien
Warnings of a Christmas spud shortage rubbished
1 euro subscription
Siobhán Walsh
Is your pesticide adviser registered?
Siobhán Walsh
Have you taken the grain trading survey?
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Management: unharvested crop inspections and pesticide advice
Warnings of a Christmas spud shortage rubbished 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
Alliance debuts Agriflex hybrid VF tyre range
Gary Abbott
Alliance debuts Agriflex hybrid VF tyre range
Yokohama off-highway tyres (YOHT) has launched the new Alliance Agriflex+ 373 hybrid VF tyre range, designed for both field applications and road transport.
Kverneland group appoints new president and CEO
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Kverneland group appoints new president and CEO
Yasukazu Kamada will hand over his management of the Kverneland group on 1 January 2024 to Arild Gjerde as new president and CEO of the group.
Gary Abbott
New dealer appointed for Landini in Donegal
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Claas launches new generation of front loaders
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Amazone adds new Centaya-C Special with twin-chamber hopper
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
27ac farm of good land in Westmeath
Paul Mooney
27ac farm of good land in Westmeath
The property has the ruins of a large period house and it has the picturesque setting to match, writes Paul Mooney.
Limerick farm includes portion of open lake
Paul Mooney
Limerick farm includes portion of open lake
This farm comes with a derelict house and outbuildings and lies in one unit, writes Paul Mooney.
Small land holdings selling well
Paul Mooney
Small land holdings selling well
While some larger farms struggled to sell in 2023, there continues to be plenty of customers for smaller parcels, writes Paul Mooney.
BUILDINGS
Changes to VAT rules 'slash' TAMS grant rate to 24%
Martin Merrick
Changes to VAT rules 'slash' TAMS grant rate to 24%
The recent changes to non-VAT registered farmers being able to reclaim VAT on certain items has slashed the percentage grant rate that farmers will receive.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Agreed Irish position sought on Nature Restoration Law
Declan O’Brien
Agreed Irish position sought on Nature Restoration Law
The Irish amendment seeks to make the law optional for farmers and remove the obligation to re-wet drained peatlands or restore former habitats.
Minister seeks one year delay for new CAP peatland rules
Noel Bardon
Minister seeks one year delay for new CAP peatland rules
The Department of Agriculture is seeking the flexibility to push back the start date for new CAP peatland rules, which had been planned to take effect from January 2024.
RENEWABLES
Renewable energy giant Ørsted to build 316ac solar farm in Carlow
Stephen Robb
Renewable energy giant Ørsted to build 316ac solar farm in Carlow
Located 15km outside of Carlow town, the 81MW solar development is expected to be operational by 2026.
Agri-food sector may struggle to compete for biomethane on open market
Stephen Robb
Agri-food sector may struggle to compete for biomethane on open market
Demand from the industry for biomethane is at a pivotal point with many large energy users now seeking biomethane as a means to decarbonise.
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
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Weekly round-up of news from the farming industry in Northern Ireland.
NI fertiliser deliveries hit another new low
Peter McCann
NI fertiliser deliveries hit another new low
The new statistics back up reports from local merchants that fertiliser sales remained quiet throughout July, August, and September this year.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Life
Meet The Maker: ceramic artist Ola Wartak-Tolak
In this week’s Meet The Maker, Maria Moynihan chats to ceramic artist Ola Wartak-Tolak.
Meet The Maker: ceramic artist Ola Wartak-Tolak
Finance
Legal: ‘as a trained farmer, how do I claim for stamp relief’?
Entertainment
‘Connacht must regroup quickly for the next clash’
Comment
Katherine's Country: ‘the birth of every baby is special'
Life
Welcome to a week in the country
Irish Horse: Teahupoo toughs it out again in Hatton’s Grace
Ronan Groome
Irish Horse: Teahupoo toughs it out again in Hatton’s Grace
The Robcour-owned six-year-old further strengthened the lead of both Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy in their respective championships, writes Ronan Groome.
Editorial: cracking Christmas experiences on farms
Ciara Leahy
Editorial: cracking Christmas experiences on farms
From handpicking her Christmas tree to meeting the big man in red, Ciara Leahy kicks off the festive season with two farm experiences.
Margaret Leahy: things change, but the feeling of Christmas remains the same
Contributor
Margaret Leahy: things change, but the feeling of Christmas remains the same
Traditions are passed down, sure, but they also change with each generation - and that's not necessarily a bad thing, writes Margaret Leahy.
It’s all about location, location in Co Wexford
Paul Mooney
It’s all about location, location in Co Wexford
Located near Enniscorthy, this farm sits between the town and motorway, with plenty of road frontage, writes Paul Mooney.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
Photo Desk
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
This week in photos: carrots, beets and Dairy day
Photo Desk
This week in photos: carrots, beets and Dairy day
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
VIEWPOINTS
Common sense needed for golden dairy era to continue
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Counting the cost of planning objections
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Clarity needed from Minister – VAT on equipment
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Sucklers – where now with the changes?
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
MOST READ
Five farmers named on latest tax defaulters' list
 
Five farmers named on latest tax defaulters' list
Prime cattle supplies in freefall
 
Prime cattle supplies in freefall
Farm organisations slam Department delay to ACRES payments
 
Farm organisations slam Department delay to ACRES payments
Common sense needed for golden dairy era to continue
 
Common sense needed for golden dairy era to continue
Farm Tech Talk: beef indices, scheme deadlines and nitrates
 
Farm Tech Talk: beef indices, scheme deadlines and nitrates
Court rules in favour of farmer in cash poor, asset rich insolvency case
 
Court rules in favour of farmer in cash poor, asset rich insolvency case
Young Stock Podcast: small cows delivering big solids in Roscommon
 
Young Stock Podcast: small cows delivering big solids in Roscommon
Over 18,600 farmers hit by delay to ACRES payments
 
Over 18,600 farmers hit by delay to ACRES payments
Camera at the Mart: NI factory agents drive Raphoe fatstock trade
 
Camera at the Mart: NI factory agents drive Raphoe fatstock trade
MartBids Database: factories driving mart trade
 
MartBids Database: factories driving mart trade