TOP STORIES
News
Eco scheme obligation likely to increase further in 2028 - Department
Stephen Robb
The Department of Agriculture has said that the percentage of direct payments which are dependent on participation in eco schemes is likely to increase further in 2028, after the next CAP has ended.
 
 
News
Farmer Writes: record sale prices and a well earned holiday
Beef
Five tips to winter-proof the farmyard
News
Christmas farm decoration: share your photos
Dairy
The Grass Week: the closing farm cover
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Darren Carty
Department publishes reminder on 31 December nitrates records deadline
Farmers must submit records including the movement of organic fertilisers, temporary movement of animals and short term rental grazing agreement.
Rachel Donovan
Sheepmeat access to US welcomed by Bord Bia
Bord Bia said it is delighted with the prospect of promoting sheepmeat to the US in the coming months.
Barry Murphy
Export of unweaned calves won’t continue forever – McConalogue
Rachel Donovan
Proposed animal transport rules a major threat to calf trade - IFA
Rachel Donovan
IFA pushes for revised TAMS costings
SPONSORED
Beef and sheep trade review and outlook
Seamus McMenamin, sector manager, sheepmeat and livestock, and Mark Zieg, sector manager, beef, review the beef and sheep meat trade for 2021 and outlook for 2022.
VIDEOS
VIRTUAL EVENTS
Declan Marren
Watch: winter cattle series – health webinar
The Irish Farmers Journal, in association with AXA Insurance, presents the second instalment of the winter cattle series, focusing on animal health, from 8pm on Thursday evening.
Darren Carty
Achieving £5,000 extra output in a 200-ewe flock
At last week’s webinar CAFRE sheep and beef specialist Brian Hanthorn outlined how producing 0.2 lambs extra per ewe has the potential to greatly enhance a farm’s bottom line.
Stephen Robb
Webinar: Grain market outlook
Stephen Robb and Andy Doyle are joined by industry specialists to discuss the prospects for grain markets over the coming season.
PODCASTS
MART REPORTS
Declan Marren
41 homebred heifers average over €3,700
There was huge demand for top-quality suckler stock at the timed auction held by Thurles Mart.
Darren Carty
Camera at the Mart: success for first rare and minority breed sale
The top-selling sheep were the black-fleeced badger-face Texel and Spotted Dutch, with prices for these sheep ranging from €1,300 to in excess of €3,000.
Darren Carty
SheepWatch: greater competition as demand lifts and numbers fall
The mart trade had held relatively strong in spite of recent factory price cuts and has regained any ground lost in the last week to 10 days, with prices up €2 to €4 in cases.
Declan Marren
MartBids Database: more bite ringside as numbers get tight
It has been a positive week for prices in marts, with lower numbers forward for sale seeing buyers work a little harder to secure cattle.
BEEF
Kieran Mailey
Five tips to winter-proof the farmyard
John Crowe
The Grass Week: the closing farm cover
Jack Kennedy
Watch: Farm Tech Talk - The Livestock Show
Adam Woods
Tullamore Farm: cull cow slaughter performance
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
John Crowe
The Grass Week: the closing farm cover
John Crowe takes a look at the importance of doing a closing farm cover this week.
Barry Murphy
Agri jobs: farm manager maternity cover sought in Tipperary
An exciting short-term opportunity is available for the right person in Co Tipperary.
Jack Kennedy
Watch: Farm Tech Talk - The Livestock Show
Barry Murphy
No ‘solid scientific evidence’ for animal transport proposals - Copa-Cogeca
SPONSORED
The new Claas Trion - fits your farm
The Claas Trion is a completely new range of combines with a multitude of new features. Make choices, not compromises.
SHEEP
John Crowe
The Grass Week: the closing farm cover
Darren Carty
UK sheep prices motoring upwards
Jack Kennedy
Watch: Farm Tech Talk - The Livestock Show
Darren Carty
Sheep Management: silage quality, ewe condition and Sheep Welfare Scheme
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
Declan Marren
Watch: winter cattle series – health webinar
The Irish Farmers Journal, in association with AXA Insurance, presents the second instalment of the winter cattle series, focusing on animal health, from 8pm on Thursday evening.
Adam Woods
Beef Management: autumn bulls, first-calver nutrition and winter webinar
Adam Woods takes a look at keeping under-16-month bulls on target, monitoring first-calver condition and the upcoming winter webinar on animal health.
Declan Marren
Winter nutrition webinar – your questions answered
The Irish Farmers Journal beef team answers viewers’ queries from Thursday night’s nutrition webinar.
Kieran Mailey
Five tips for treating cattle for fluke and lice
Healthy cattle are thriving cattle and when it comes to treating for fluke and lice over winter, outlined are five tips.
SPONSORED
Efficiency gains from Volac computerised feeder
Limerick dairy farmers John and John Joe Creed are seeing the benefits of switching to a Volac Urban Alma Pro calf feeder, with savings already being made on labour.
SPONSORED
Moocall: top tips for a stress-free calving season
Here are Moocall's essentials that you will need to have ready for when calving season starts and some other tips that can make life a bit less stressful during a busy calving season.
SPONSORED
Dairy farmer: ‘I looked at other spreaders and this one was the best’
With skyrocketing fertiliser prices and a growing emphasis being put on the environment, having an accurate, high tech spreader is becoming a must have for many farms.
SPONSORED
Reduced SCC and mastitis cases: how this Cork farmer gets cubicle hygiene right
Clean, dry cubicle beds are essential in the fight against mastitis and, according to Eoin O’Carroll from Bennettsbridge Limestone, now is the ideal time to keep the enemy at bay.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Phelim O'Neill
PGI will be another tool in the marketing kit
Irish PGI application is progressing on schedule, but will it make a difference to Irish farmers?
Barry Murphy
17,000 horticulture jobs at risk due to peat ‘crisis’
Growing Media Ireland called on Government to publish a clear plan, with definite timelines to address the challenges created by the sudden prohibition of peat production.
Phelim O'Neill
Brazil pushes back on EU deforestation plan
Push back from Brazil's Foreign Minister on EU plans to avoid imports from deforested areas to be expected
Jack Kennedy
Dairy Trends: Ornua index points to higher returns
The Ornua market index continues to rise as commodity dairy markets continue to increase.
TILLAGE
Stephen Robb
Eco scheme obligation likely to increase further in 2028 - Department
Barry Murphy
17,000 horticulture jobs at risk due to peat ‘crisis’
Stephen Robb
Tillage Podcast: eco schemes explained
Pat O'Toole
17 December D-day date for Glanbia
SPONSORED
Your ideas wanted to direct the future of research and innovation
As part of Science Week 2021, which starts this Sunday, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) are encouraging members of the public to engage in the national Creating Our Future campaign.
MACHINERY
Caitríona Morrissey
Diesel prices drop due to Omicron variant
The new COVID-19 variant impacted on stocks and shares across the world, as well as oil.
Barry Murphy
Stolen card used to pay for trailer in Monaghan
The Ifor Williams 16x6 ft trailer is thought to have been transported to the Jonesborough area of Co Armagh.
Gary Abbott
Fendt to relocate forage wagon production
From September 2022, Fendt will transfer production of its Tigo forage wagons within Germany from its Waldstetten factory to Wolfenbüttel.
PEDIGREE
Adam Woods
Donegal Texel Breeders white diamonds in-lamb sale
All roads lead to Raphoe Mart on Friday 10 December for the Donegal Texel Club annual sale of pedigree Texel in-lamb ewes.
PROPERTY
Tommy Moyles
Exceptional price for coastal Wexford farm
Many land sales have been surpassing their guide price, a circa-28ac residential on the books of Quinn Property came close to doubling its guide price.
Tommy Moyles
€1.9m guide for 124ac south Tipperary farm
This 124ac holding between Fethard and Clonmel is attracting strong interest so far.
Tommy Moyles
45.5ac non-residential farm in the heart of the Kingdom
A 45.5ac (18.4ha) farm near Castleisland is attracting a lot of interest. Excellent land quality and accessibility are combining to draw in potential buyers.
BUILDINGS
Darren Carty
Farming designs: solar-powered water pump with remote monitoring
This month’s time- and labour-saving idea addresses providing a freshwater supply for livestock on an outfarm with no electricity.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Siobhán Walsh
Watch: top tips on planting a hedgerow
Hedgerows can be planted throughout the winter. Catherine Keena of Teagasc outlines some of her top tips for planting in this short video.
Siobhán Walsh
Hedgerow Week kicks off – here’s what’s on
Teagasc Hedgerow Week runs from 3 to 10 December, with a series of webinars over the week.
FORESTRY
Rachel Donovan
Operation Hurdle reducing Christmas tree theft in Wicklow
Gardaí in Wicklow are busy keeping theft at bay as a Christmas tree season gets under way in earnest.
Donal Magner
Thin early and often – a motto which pays off
Continuous management and regular thinning have produced dividends in one Co Carlow forest.
NORTHERN IRELAND
David Wright
Dale Farm joins NI push for milk solids
The co-op is now the third NI processor to announce new incentives for milk solids.
Peter McCann
Changes to inheritance tax ruled out
The UK government has ruled out introducing any changes to inheritance tax and agricultural property relief in the short term.
SCOTLAND
John Sleigh
Scottish Prices: finished lambs making over £6/kg in Scottish abattoirs
Scottish beef and lamb prices remain strong as we move into December.
John Sleigh
Scottish Prices: lamb and beef markets on the up in Scotland
Scottish lamb and beef prices rising in marts and abattoirs.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Finance
Gift ideas without spending money this Christmas
Whether you are a broke college student or you want to give a truly unique gift to someone, Ilka Denker has rounded up some non-monetary gifts.
Life
Influencer Lisa McGowan raises money for Pieta House
Life
Irish Country Living named Newsbrands Newspaper Magazine of the Year
Life
Irish Country Living Podcast #46: engineering to eggnog
Life
Santa Claus is coming to town
Amii McKeever
Santa, I can absolutely 100% explain...
With a new COVID-19 variant disappointingly raising its head, a little festive cheer is warranted. It might be a long spin to Mayo but worth it for a great Santa experience.
Denis Hurley
A small step for Davy, one giant leap for camogie
While it won’t be his first encounter with camogie teams, Davy Fitzgerald’s upcoming gig with the Cork camogie team is a positive step for women’s sport, writes Denis Hurley.
Anne O'Donoghue
Review of the EPIC Museum in Dublin
Voted Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction for the third consecutive year, Anne O’Donoghue heads along to Dublin’s EPIC Museum to see what all the fuss is about.
Contributor
Teagasc advisers first in Europe to be awarded soft skills certification
Teagasc staff have been brushing up on their soft skills as part of their continuous professional development with the Certificate for European Consultants in Rural Areas (CECRA). Fiona Alston writes
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - dosing, lime and haylage
Rachel Donovan
In pictures: Raphoe Mart in 1987
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - show calves, housing cattle and multiple marts
Photo Desk
This week in photos: beet, rainbows and turkeys
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial: premium produce sold as a commodity can’t continue
Justin McCarthy
Home Farm: checking our options for eco schemes
Matt Dempsey
Colm McCarthy: should the green diesel tax gap be closed?
Colm McCarthy
Editorial: Should Glanbia proposal be stripped out?
Justin McCarthy
MOST READ
 
Map: 10,500 ‘armchair’ farmers claiming €32m in payments
 
Tullamore Farm: cull cow slaughter performance
 
Methane emissions 30% lower for some beef cattle
 
Europe ramps up pressure on live exports
 
Co-ops consider fertiliser contracts for spring
 
Watch: Farm Tech Talk - The Livestock Show
 
Agri jobs: farm manager maternity cover sought in Tipperary
 
Eco scheme obligation likely to increase further in 2028 - Department
 
New animal transport rules will create more welfare issues than before - ICSA
 
No ‘solid scientific evidence’ for animal transport proposals - Copa-Cogeca