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News
Northern inheritance bombshell
Jack Kennedy
Around half of all farms in Northern Ireland, accounting for 80% of farmed land, could be affected by the inheritance tax changes.
Northern inheritance bombshell
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Have your say on generational renewal
Anne O'Donoghue
Have your say on generational renewal
The public consultation on generational renewal will remain open until 31 January 2025.
Dairygold increases November milk price
Anne O'Donoghue
Dairygold increases November milk price
A base price of 46.56c/l excluding VAT will be paid by Dairygold for milk supplied last month.
Amy Forde
Ploughing 2025 to return to Tullamore
Rachel Donovan
Common sense needed on new calf transport proposals - Mullooly
Amy Forde
Ireland applies for nitrates derogation renewal
Healthy hens, longer lay with MSD SPONSORED
Healthy hens, longer lay with MSD
With around eight million laying hens in the whole of Ireland, egg production is a growing sector
GENERAL ELECTION 2024
Meet the new TDs who hail from farms
Pat O'Toole
Meet the new TDs who hail from farms
There aren't too many farmers in the Dáil any more, but the ranks were swelled by the following newly-elected TDs.
McConalogue survives tense marathon count
Pat O'Toole
McConalogue survives tense marathon count
How the outgoing agriculture ministers and opposition spokespersons fared in the 2024 general election
Independents set to replace Greens in Government
Pat O'Toole
Independents set to replace Greens in Government
With Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael within touching distance of a majority, the next government will surely be a combination of them, alongside some independents.
Human traceability not a patch on AIMS cattle traceability
The Dealer
Human traceability not a patch on AIMS cattle traceability
Send in the AIMS experts to fix the electoral register in days, The Dealer says.
FTMTA
Farmer Writes: shiny new machinery a slippery slope
Gerald Potterton
Farmer Writes: shiny new machinery a slippery slope
The Quartermaster is no poseur wagon like a lot of 4X4s today where going off-road means just parking on the footpath.
Tractors from 141hp to 160hp in top demand
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Tractors from 141hp to 160hp in top demand
For the year to date, the 141 to 160hp category is proving the most popular, accounting for just under 20% of all new tractor registrations.
FTMTA Farm Machinery Show highlights continued
Gary Abbott
FTMTA Farm Machinery Show highlights continued
Last week the hugely successful FTMTA Farm Machinery Show took place at Punchestown Event Centre. Gary Abbott looks at part two of the shows highlights.
Farm Tech Talk: all things machinery at the FTMTA show
Jack Kennedy
Farm Tech Talk: all things machinery at the FTMTA show
On this week's Farm Tech Talk we're all about farm machinery, with our specialists reporting from the FTMTA machinery show.
MART REPORTS
Sheep mart report: agents anxious for lambs and ewes
Darren Carty
Sheep mart report: agents anxious for lambs and ewes
Sale reports vary somewhat, depending on the level of competition between buyers, but a noticeable trend is agents looking to source higher numbers.
Camera at the Mart: Raphoe fatstock sale tops at €6,400
Rachel Gallagher
Camera at the Mart: Raphoe fatstock sale tops at €6,400
Rachel Gallagher reports from Raphoe Livestock Mart for the annual fatstock show and sale.
Martbids Database: feedlot demand keeps mart trade very firm
Adam Woods
Martbids Database: feedlot demand keeps mart trade very firm
Adam Woods reports on this week’s mart trade, including the latest information on live exports.
PODCASTS
VIDEO HUB
BEEF
Discarded batteries among reasons for 18 cattle deaths from lead poisoning
Amy Forde
Discarded batteries among reasons for 18 cattle deaths from lead poisoning
Suckler cows in freefall as 50,000 gone
Adam Woods
Suckler cows in freefall as 50,000 gone
Farmers and factories condemn trade deal
Adam Woods
Farmers and factories condemn trade deal
Political reaction to the Mercosur deal
Adam Woods
Political reaction to the Mercosur deal
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Kerry Dairy Ireland latest co-op to announce November milk price rise
Noel Bardon
Kerry Dairy Ireland latest co-op to announce November milk price rise
Two processors have announced a lift in November's milk price, while Lakeland Dairies is to pay a top-up for 2024's supplies next month.
Dairygold increases November milk price
Anne O'Donoghue
Dairygold increases November milk price
A base price of 46.56c/l excluding VAT will be paid by Dairygold for milk supplied last month.
Amy Forde
Ireland applies for nitrates derogation renewal
e-Learning
Anne O'Donoghue
Bonus for Lakeland suppliers on all 2024 milk
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
All-Star Texel sale tops at €4,200
Rachel Gallagher
All-Star Texel sale tops at €4,200
Sheep Trends: lamb quotes up 20c/kg to 30c/kg
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: lamb quotes up 20c/kg to 30c/kg
NI Trends: beef quotes push on to 500p/kg; lamb quotes up 15p/kg
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: beef quotes push on to 500p/kg; lamb quotes up 15p/kg
Sheep mart report: agents anxious for lambs and ewes
Darren Carty
Sheep mart report: agents anxious for lambs and ewes
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
Discarded batteries among reasons for 18 cattle deaths from lead poisoning
Amy Forde
Discarded batteries among reasons for 18 cattle deaths from lead poisoning
Animals usually present with clinical signs of acute lead poisoning such as sudden death or blindness, staggering, head pressing and convulsions.
McConnell to step down as AHI CEO
Amy Forde
McConnell to step down as AHI CEO
McConnell, a Kildare vet with 30 years’ experience, was appointed to the role in April 2024.
PEDIGREE
All-Star Texel sale tops at €4,200
Rachel Gallagher
All-Star Texel sale tops at €4,200
Rachel Gallagher reports from Blessington Livestock Mart for the 20th anniversary All-Star Texel sale.
Smyth’s Seasonal Surprises timed auction
Rachel Gallagher
Smyth’s Seasonal Surprises timed auction
Rachel Gallagher reports on the upcoming Smyth’s Seasonal Surprises online timed auction.
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.
Healthy hens, longer lay with MSDSPONSORED
Healthy hens, longer lay with MSD
With around eight million laying hens in the whole of Ireland, egg production is a growing sector
All-new Toyota Land Cruiser: a trusted ally for Irish farmersSPONSORED
All-new Toyota Land Cruiser: a trusted ally for Irish farmers
The Toyota Land Cruiser has long been a staple in the Irish farming community, renowned for its rugged reliability and exceptional capability in challenging terrains.
New 'high-skim' Flourish Calf from VolacSPONSORED
New 'high-skim' Flourish Calf from Volac
New Flourish Calf is an innovative 23% all-dairy protein, 19% fat formulation with a high skim content (50%). It is also enhanced with a proven package of calf health ingredients.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
What changed in Mercosur deal between 2019 and 2024
Phelim O'Neill
What changed in Mercosur deal between 2019 and 2024
Negotiations since the Mercosur deal was first announced in 2019 have concentrated on the environment and sustainability.
Listen: understanding the Kerry deal
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Listen: understanding the Kerry deal
In this special podcast, we discuss the leading milk price payment, the future of Kerry milk processing and share redemption schemes with Kerry Co-op chair James Tangney and adviser Jim Woulfe.
Exclusive: Woulfe defends Kerry Dairy Ireland valuation
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Exclusive: Woulfe defends Kerry Dairy Ireland valuation
Kerry Co-op chair James Tangney says it is vital to vote on Monday.
Good news for Kerry deal to come from Frankfurt
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Good news for Kerry deal to come from Frankfurt
Borrowing costs are set to be cut further this week at the European Central Bank.
TILLAGE
Tillage Podcast: BYDV, US farming and Mercosur’s impact on tillage
Stephen Robb
Tillage Podcast: BYDV, US farming and Mercosur’s impact on tillage
Straw Incorporation Measure payments begin to issue
Rachel Donovan
Straw Incorporation Measure payments begin to issue
Grain Trends: USDA cuts global wheat production
Stephen Robb
Grain Trends: USDA cuts global wheat production
€150m paid to 34,673 farmers in ACRES
Rachel Donovan
Straw Incorporation Measure payments begin to issue
Tillage Podcast: BYDV, US farming and Mercosur’s impact on tillage SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
Northern Irish company scoops Merlo dealer of the year award
Gary Abbott
Northern Irish company scoops Merlo dealer of the year award
Merlo UK recently held its annual dealer conference where it announced its dealer of the year awards, Northern Ireland dealer DA Forgie scooped overall dealer of the year 2024.
Bergmann celebrates 70 years of spreaders
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Bergmann celebrates 70 years of spreaders
Manufacturing farm machinery for over 125 years, Bergmann is this year celebrating its 70th year developing and manufacturing spreaders.
Gary Abbott
'There is real logic in relation to supporting contractors' - McConalogue
Peter Thomas Keaveney
JCB launches two new high-spec Loadall telehandlers
Peter Thomas Keaveney
JCB introduces high lift 542-100 loadall
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
West Cork properties already under offer
Tommy Moyles
West Cork properties already under offer
Two parcels of land in west Cork have attracted strong interest since they were put on the market recently, writes Tommy Moyles.
Excellent land suited to any farming activity
Tommy Moyles
Excellent land suited to any farming activity
A super Co Laois farm of 74.4ac has recently come on the market and has attracted strong interest over a very short period of time, writes Tommy Moyles.
Ox Mountain hill farm with BISS entitlements
Tommy Moyles
Ox Mountain hill farm with BISS entitlements
A hill farm in Co Sligo with road frontage onto the main Tubbercurry to Ballina road has just come on the market, writes Tommy Moyles.
BUILDINGS
JFC Evolution a farmer favourite
Martin Merrick
JFC Evolution a farmer favourite
Martin Merrick reports on a series of JFC farm walks, highlighting key benefits of their automatic calf feeders.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
New data shows drop in nitrogen levels in water
Amy Forde
New data shows drop in nitrogen levels in water
New report based on the nitrate concentration data for 20 representative river monitoring sites shows a drop in nitrogen levels in Irish waters.
The long shadow of land designation
Contributor
The long shadow of land designation
Land designation has not delivered for nature and has fostered resentment in the areas affected by it, writes Ray Ó Foghlú.
RENEWABLES
14% of wind energy lost in 2024 due to weak grid
Stephen Robb
14% of wind energy lost in 2024 due to weak grid
Over the first 10 months of the year, 14% of wind energy production was wasted because of record levels of constraints on the electricity grid.
An Bord Pleanála refuses Mayo AD plant
Stephen Robb
An Bord Pleanála refuses Mayo AD plant
The project, located in Swinford, Co Mayo, was designed to be fully supplied with agricultural feedstock from local farmers, with 35% sourced from slurry and 65% from multispecies grass swards.
FORESTRY
New forest technology scheme not fit for purpose – IFA
James Hanly
New forest technology scheme not fit for purpose – IFA
IFA farm forestry chair Padraig Stapleton has raised concerns over how the scheme is designed and the lack of ambition with the budget.
Applications open for sustainable forest harvesting machinery grant
James Hanly
Applications open for sustainable forest harvesting machinery grant
The grant will provide support to forestry contractors and timber hauliers for the purchase of new forest machinery that will optimise environmental performance.
NORTHERN IRELAND
News in-brief from Northern Ireland
David Wright
News in-brief from Northern Ireland
Latest news in-brief from across the farming industry in Northern Ireland
UFU president hopeful for changes to farm tax
Peter McCann
UFU president hopeful for changes to farm tax
With UK government ministers publicly giving advice on how farmers can avoid inheritance tax, it could indicate the government has now realised their reform is heavy handed.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Comment
‘Crafters up and down the country add colour and creativity to our towns'
Now is the time to support your local crafters , writes Deirdre Verney.
‘Crafters up and down the country add colour and creativity to our towns'
Property
Superb holding set for auction
Property
A dairy Merry Christmas could be yours for €1.6m
Property
Ox Mountain hill farm with BISS entitlements
Property
Excellent land suited to any farming activity
West Cork properties already under offer
Tommy Moyles
West Cork properties already under offer
Two parcels of land in west Cork have attracted strong interest since they were put on the market recently, writes Tommy Moyles.
Stars of stage, music, and nature shine bright at Christmas
Jacqueline Hogge
Stars of stage, music, and nature shine bright at Christmas
We take a look at the fledgling talent across rural Ireland, catching up with some young future stars, writes Jacqueline Hogge.
Carlow community give Mary the perfect send off
Jacqueline Hogge
Carlow community give Mary the perfect send off
A lady who passed away in her adopted home town of Carlow, with no living relatives, received a big turnout at her funeral following a social media post by the undertaker, writes Jacqueline Hogge.
Gardening with Gerry: deck the halls with a poinsettia
Gerry Daly
Gardening with Gerry: deck the halls with a poinsettia
Plants are inexpensive gifts that keep on giving with just a little effort and some knowledge, writes Gerry Daly.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch: this week in photos as marts, farm walks and other events take place
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos as marts, farm walks and other events take place
In pictures: sheep fest, heifer housing, maize baling, and organic veg success
Photo Desk
In pictures: sheep fest, heifer housing, maize baling, and organic veg success
In pictures: farm sales, machinery moments and a pre-election debate
Photo Desk
In pictures: farm sales, machinery moments and a pre-election debate
Watch: key events from IFA conference and farming highlights
Photo Desk
Watch: key events from IFA conference and farming highlights
VIEWPOINTS
Fresh assessment of data centre policy needed
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Wind damage, badger warning
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Controversy over the electoral register shows a deep inertia
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
World Agrifood Innovation Forum a big deal in China
Contributor
Contributor
MOST READ
Four farmers named on latest tax defaulters' list
 
Four farmers named on latest tax defaulters' list
Suckler cows in freefall as 50,000 gone
 
Suckler cows in freefall as 50,000 gone
Mercosur deal bursts beef positivity
 
Mercosur deal bursts beef positivity
‘I can’t understand why anybody would vote against this deal’ – Brosnan
 
‘I can’t understand why anybody would vote against this deal’ – Brosnan
Camera at the Mart: high milk solids driver of dairy sale
 
Camera at the Mart: high milk solids driver of dairy sale
New calf boat in the offing
 
New calf boat in the offing
Over 700 ducks and eggs seized by Department on Wicklow farm
 
Over 700 ducks and eggs seized by Department on Wicklow farm
Ploughing 2025 to return to Tullamore
 
Ploughing 2025 to return to Tullamore
Listen: understanding the Kerry deal
 
Listen: understanding the Kerry deal
A dairy Merry Christmas could be yours for €1.6m
 
A dairy Merry Christmas could be yours for €1.6m