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Editorial: will Ploughing positivity stay with us post-election day?
Jack Kennedy
Let’s take the positivity and bank it. Farming will always have challenges and will always change.
Editorial: will Ploughing positivity stay with us post-election day?
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
Our photographers continued to capture the visitors at the third day of National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois.
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Some 78,000 people attended Thursday of Ploughing 2024, bringing the total attendance for the three days to 244,000. Check out our highlights from the final day.
Amy Forde
78,000 attend final day of Ploughing 2024
James Hanly
Plough On: good day for a Marty Party
Amy Forde
Minister ‘very much considering’ farm retirement scheme
Renewable energy and agricultural land use SPONSORED
Renewable energy and agricultural land use
Agricultural land has a central role to play in Ireland’s ambitious Climate Action Plan for 2030.
PLOUGHING 2024
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Some 78,000 people attended Thursday of Ploughing 2024, bringing the total attendance for the three days to 244,000. Check out our highlights from the final day.
78,000 attend final day of Ploughing 2024
Amy Forde
78,000 attend final day of Ploughing 2024
National Ploughing Association managing director Anna May McHugh said that the overall mood for this year’s Ploughing was incredibly buoyant and positive.
Plough On: good day for a Marty Party
James Hanly
Plough On: good day for a Marty Party
James Hanly presents the final episode of this season's Plough On podcast, bringing you the latest news and views from Ploughing 2024.
Minister ‘very much considering’ farm retirement scheme
Amy Forde
Minister ‘very much considering’ farm retirement scheme
The result of any retirement or renewal scheme has to be young people coming into farming, the Minister for Agriculture has said.
MART REPORTS
Camera at the Mart: Mule hoggets average €255/head in Tuam
Contributor
Camera at the Mart: Mule hoggets average €255/head in Tuam
The entry of just shy of 600 hoggets averaged €255/head, while over 1,000 Mule ewe lambs recorded an average price of €152.50/head, writes Shaun Diver.
Watch: beef heifers hit €2,700 in Elphin
Adam Woods
Watch: beef heifers hit €2,700 in Elphin
Adam Woods reports from Elphin Mart, where a special sale of beef heifers was held last Wednesday.
Bright start to Cheviot sheep sales
Darren Carty
Bright start to Cheviot sheep sales
A number of sales held in the last week all reported a similar trend of keen demand for relatively tight supplies of quality ewe hoggets and ewe lambs.
PODCASTS
BREAK THE CYCLE
A ‘notable increase’ in rural youths needing mental health supports
Sarah McIntosh
A ‘notable increase’ in rural youths needing mental health supports
With the decline in mental health seen amongst young people living in rural Ireland, it is important to know where to turn to if you need support, writes Sarah McIntosh.
Editorial: Break the Cycle and get on your bikes for Ploughing 2024
Ciara Leahy
Editorial: Break the Cycle and get on your bikes for Ploughing 2024
According to new research, farmers aren't as physically active as they think but you can get a bit of exercise in at the Irish Farmers Journal stand at the Ploughing, writes Ciara Leahy.
Social prescribing helps ‘combat social exclusion’
Jacqueline Hogge
Social prescribing helps ‘combat social exclusion’
The growth of social prescribing, where people struggling with isolation are connected to their communities, is leading to enhanced mental health, writes Jacqueline Hogge.
Break the Cycle: 'we all need to take time to talk' - Marty Morrissey
Sarah McIntosh
Break the Cycle: 'we all need to take time to talk' - Marty Morrissey
Broadcasting legend Marty Morrissey is joining the Irish Country Living team at this year’s National Ploughing Championship, encouraging everyone to talk more, writes Sarah McIntosh.
VIDEO HUB
BEEF
Forest fires rage in South America
Phelim O'Neill
Forest fires rage in South America
1 euro subscription
Noel Bardon
More cuts of Irish Grass-Fed Beef expected to hit Italian shelves soon
Noel Bardon
Organic sector targets 'ambitious' €750m in output by 2030
Adam Woods
Huge risk in winter finishing
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Arrabawn follows August milk price rise
James Hanly
Arrabawn follows August milk price rise
Milk prices have been up across the board for August, with Dairygold, Kerry Dairy and Lakeland Dairies also lifting their prices by 1.19c/l excluding VAT.
Tirlán lifts August milk price
Amy Forde
Tirlán lifts August milk price
Overall, the global milk supply outlook remains unchanged and is likely to be flat this year, Tirlán chair John Murphy said.
James Hanly
Fodder tight as grass growth bites
e-Learning
Aidan Brennan
Dairy Management: grass growth continues to disappoint
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmers SPONSORED
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmers
The nature of farming like any business, is that farmers are continually investing in their farms, land, infrastructure, buildings, stock and machinery to improve on-farm efficiencies or productivity
SHEEP
Catching up with the sheep societies at this year’s Ploughing
Rachel Gallagher
Catching up with the sheep societies at this year’s Ploughing
Organic sector targets 'ambitious' €750m in output by 2030
Noel Bardon
Organic sector targets 'ambitious' €750m in output by 2030
UFU and IFA call for import pause over bluetongue risk
James Hanly
UFU and IFA call for import pause over bluetongue risk
Sheep prices: ewe hoggets continue to sell strongly
Darren Carty
Sheep prices: ewe hoggets continue to sell strongly
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
TB reactors up 70% in two years
Noel Bardon
TB reactors up 70% in two years
The Department expects that current disease levels will see around 40,000 reactors removed over 2024.
Explainer: the new rules for buying vaccines and doses
Rachel Donovan
Explainer: the new rules for buying vaccines and doses
From June 2025, retailers will require a veterinary prescription in order to supply antiparasitics under a new law on veterinary medicines.
PEDIGREE
Catching up with the sheep societies at this year’s Ploughing
Rachel Gallagher
Catching up with the sheep societies at this year’s Ploughing
Rachel Gallagher catches up with some of the sheep breed societies on show at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.
Milford records smashed at €6,500 for ram lamb
Adam Woods
Milford records smashed at €6,500 for ram lamb
Adam Woods reports from Milford Mart for the annual Milford Sheep Breeders Association Sale.
Renewable energy and agricultural land useSPONSORED
Renewable energy and agricultural land use
Agricultural land has a central role to play in Ireland’s ambitious Climate Action Plan for 2030.
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmersSPONSORED
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmers
The nature of farming like any business, is that farmers are continually investing in their farms, land, infrastructure, buildings, stock and machinery to improve on-farm efficiencies or productivity
Meath dairy farmer lauds reliability and quality of AAA Golden Maverick®SPONSORED
Meath dairy farmer lauds reliability and quality of AAA Golden Maverick®
Father-and-son team Paddy and Stephen Lawlor milk 300 Holstein cows on 100 acres - with a further 400 acres rented - at Brownstown, outside Navan, Co Meath, where Paddy himself also grew up.
Capper Trading’s Complete RationsSPONSORED
Capper Trading’s Complete Rations
Assuming protein and mineral levels are sufficient in the diet, the performance of finishing cattle is driven by the energy content of the overall diet
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Farm business options training programme launched
James Hanly
Farm business options training programme launched
Teagasc, in collaboration with the Local Enterprise Office, announced the 2024 training programme at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois.
Forest fires rage in South America
Phelim O'Neill
Forest fires rage in South America
Worst year on record for forest fires in South America as Brazil sets new beef production and export records.
Some retailers didn’t comply with Regulator's request for data
Phelim O'Neill
Some retailers didn’t comply with Regulator's request for data
Failure by some to give the regulator information required triggers a request to the minister for extended powers.
Malting Company of Ireland to expand
Siobhán Walsh
Malting Company of Ireland to expand
This news will be welcomed by tillage farmers who are looking for premium markets to sell their grain into.
TILLAGE
Tillage Podcast: Ploughing, porridge and malt expansion
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Podcast: Ploughing, porridge and malt expansion
1 euro subscription
Noel Bardon
Organic surge sends signal to tillage farmers on grain demand - Hackett
Anne O'Donoghue
Becoming more difficult to keep on top of disease in crops - Spink
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: prices down after rebound
Tillage Podcast: Ploughing, porridge and malt expansion SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
TractorBumper to offer front bumper with built-in air compressor
Gary Abbott
TractorBumper to offer front bumper with built-in air compressor
Danish manufacturer TractorBumper is currently developing a front tractor bumper with an integrated air compressor and air tanks.
Ploughing 2024: five of biggest agricultural machines on show
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Ploughing 2024: five of biggest agricultural machines on show
We take a look at some of the larger agricultural machines catching the eyes of attendees at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.
Peter Thomas Keaveney
New kid on the block claims machine of the year accolade
Gary Abbott
Irish debut for Merlo's compact TF30.7 model
Gary Abbott
Automatic decks and flatbed models from M-Tec Engineering
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
Mayo residential farm guided at €800,000
Tommy Moyles
Mayo residential farm guided at €800,000
A ready to go residential farm between Kilmaine and Ballinrobe is on the market in the south of Co Mayo, writes Tommy Moyles.
Mighty Meath land on the market
Tommy Moyles
Mighty Meath land on the market
A large tillage farm in Co Meath with good road access heads for auction in early October, writes Tommy Moyles.
Great expectations at 19th century Down castle
Peter McCann
Great expectations at 19th century Down castle
Elmfield Estate is on the market for £3.35m (€3.96m), writes Peter McCann.
BUILDINGS
Where do costs lie in cubicle sheds?
Martin Merrick
Where do costs lie in cubicle sheds?
Within 10 years, costs per cow have risen from €1,500 to over €3,000 for a standard cubicle shed with slurry storage.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Farmers need substantial grants for biodiversity action - Tánaiste
Amy Forde
Farmers need substantial grants for biodiversity action - Tánaiste
To separate food production from the climate change agenda, if that’s what Europe wants, then Europe is going to have to pony up more funding to make it worthwhile, Micheál Martin has said.
Funding for new tranche of Organic Farming Scheme still to be decided
Noel Bardon
Funding for new tranche of Organic Farming Scheme still to be decided
New tranche is due to open this autumn, but Budget 2025 will determine how many farmers will be catered for.
RENEWABLES
Offer letters issued for biomethane grants
Amy Forde
Offer letters issued for biomethane grants
Successful projects will be able to claim up to €5m in funding under the Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme.
73% of energy professionals say market uncertainty a barrier to finance
Stephen Robb
73% of energy professionals say market uncertainty a barrier to finance
73% of energy professionals believe market uncertainty is the biggest barrier to financing new renewable technologies in Ireland, followed by planning challenges, according to new survey results.
FORESTRY
Slieve Bloom first nature project under new Coillte-NPWS collaboration
James Hanly
Slieve Bloom first nature project under new Coillte-NPWS collaboration
The new agreement between the NPWS and Coillte aims to have greater collaboration in the delivery of biodiversity and nature projects.
Establishing forests with diversity for long-term CCF management
Donal Magner
Establishing forests with diversity for long-term CCF management
Sean Hoskins and Olive Leavy examine continuous cover forestry (CCF) principles in the approach to forest management.
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.
Suckler outfits hit £3,200 in Downpatrick
Kieran Mailey
Suckler outfits hit £3,200 in Downpatrick
Suckler cows were in demand during a recent dispersal sale, while rising milk prices are boosting demand for freshly calved dairy stock.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Life
Social prescribing helps ‘combat social exclusion’
The growth of social prescribing, where people struggling with isolation are connected to their communities, is leading to enhanced mental health, writes Jacqueline Hogge.
Social prescribing helps ‘combat social exclusion’
Irish Horse
Irish Horse: battle royale at Lanaken
Life
Farmers on the frontline of climate crisis
Entertainment
Sport: Dundalk's worrying woes
Irish Horse
Racing: why do racegoers prefer Kerry over Kildare?
Fancy being on the telly at the Ploughing?
Deirdre Verney
Fancy being on the telly at the Ploughing?
The makers of some of Ireland’s most popular TV shows are bidding to recruit new stars at the Ploughing, writes Deirdre Verney.
Editorial: VAT rates causing stress for small businesses
Ciara Leahy
Editorial: VAT rates causing stress for small businesses
Reducing the VAT for cafés and restaurants could reduce a lot of stress for business owners in rural Ireland, writes Ciara Leahy.
Frankie goes to... west Cork for rural inspiration
Ciara Leahy
Frankie goes to... west Cork for rural inspiration
Dead set on getting out of west Cork when he was young, Graham Norton now finds that rural Ireland is his happy place and the perfect inspiration for his novels, writes Ciara Leahy.
National Youth Food Summit to take place in Ireland
Sarah McIntosh
National Youth Food Summit to take place in Ireland
The World Food Forum (WFF) is organizing a National Youth Food Summit in Airfield Estate bringing together young food enthusiast and sustainable advocates, writes Sarah McIntosh.
PHOTOGRAPHY
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
Watch: highlights from day three of Ploughing 2024
Immaculate Co Kildare farm up for public auction
Tommy Moyles
Immaculate Co Kildare farm up for public auction
In pictures: day two of Ploughing 2024
Photo Desk
In pictures: day two of Ploughing 2024
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial: will Ploughing positivity stay with us post-election day?
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
What to do with the Apple billions
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Straight talking from Lakeland
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Editorial: malting boost for tillage farmers
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
MOST READ
Ploughing 2025 in Tullamore?
 
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Minister ‘very much considering’ farm retirement scheme
 
Minister ‘very much considering’ farm retirement scheme
Ploughing highlights: 16ft Ifor Williams livestock trailer makes Irish debut
 
Ploughing highlights: 16ft Ifor Williams livestock trailer makes Irish debut
In pictures: day two of Ploughing 2024
 
In pictures: day two of Ploughing 2024
Contractors seek slurry spreading extension
 
Contractors seek slurry spreading extension
78,000 attend final day of Ploughing 2024
 
78,000 attend final day of Ploughing 2024
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
 
In pictures: day three at Ploughing 2024
Martbids Database: heifers the highlight of this week’s mart trade
 
Martbids Database: heifers the highlight of this week’s mart trade
Teagasc settles farmer claims at a cost of €336,000
 
Teagasc settles farmer claims at a cost of €336,000
Over €6/kg required for winter finishers
 
Over €6/kg required for winter finishers