TOP STORIES
News
This week in photos: carrots, beets and Dairy day
Photo Desk
Our favourite photos from the past week include beet fodder, harvesting carrots, a visit to a turkey farm and the best from Dairy Day in Cork.
This week in photos: carrots, beets and Dairy day
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Commission proposes €51.7m supports for Greece and Slovenia
Rachel Donovan
Commission proposes €51.7m supports for Greece and Slovenia
Coming from the agricultural reserve 2024, €43.1m will be allocated to Greece and €8.6m to Slovenia following natural disasters.
Agri jobs: dairy farm assistant on new entrant-run dairy farm
Rachel Donovan
Agri jobs: dairy farm assistant on new entrant-run dairy farm
The position is available from 1 February 2024 with a review after six months.
Jack Kennedy
Farm Tech Talk: beef indices, scheme deadlines and nitrates
Adam Woods
In pictures: Angus dominates top 10 ICBF replacement index list
Noel Bardon
SCEP farmers have ‘grave concerns’ on beef index changes - ICSA
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
COP28 full of good intentions
Phelim O'Neill
COP28 full of good intentions
COP28 - like its predecessors - means well, but achieving meaningful reduction in emissions requires lifestyle changes that society is not ready to accept.
Minister crunched numbers on dairy cull scheme but no decision this year
Noel Bardon
Minister crunched numbers on dairy cull scheme but no decision this year
The Minister for Agriculture stated that the numbers have been crunched on a voluntary dairy reduction scheme, but he will not be in a position to rule the scheme in or out until next year.
Tirlán and Dairygold join forces on solar venture
Rachel Donovan
Tirlán and Dairygold join forces on solar venture
FarmGen systems can deliver energy savings of between 20% and 50% per year on dairy farms.
VIDEO HUB
MART REPORTS
Martbids Database: Christmas bounce in marts
Adam Woods
Martbids Database: Christmas bounce in marts
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s happening in marts around the country this week.
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: bumper trade at Kanturk's biggest ever fatstock sale
An excellent turnout of stock from local exhibitors resulted in Kanturk Mart having its largest ever Christmas fatstock show and sale and prices were there to match.
Camera at the Mart: factories and finishers flock for heavy cattle in Kilkenny
Shanon Kinahan
Camera at the Mart: factories and finishers flock for heavy cattle in Kilkenny
Shanon Kinahan brings you some of the top prices from the weekly cattle sale in Kilkenny Mart.
Watch: breeding types go for big money in Elphin
Adam Woods
Watch: breeding types go for big money in Elphin
Adam Woods reports from Elphin Mart’s special breeding sale of heifers which took place on Wednesday this week.
BEEF
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
Amy Forde
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
1 euro subscription
Darren Carty
Australian sheep flock and beef herd enters destocking phase
Kieran Mailey
Five management jobs for December
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: time to complete closing cover
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
Amy Forde
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
Winter has truly arrived on Irish farms over the last number of days. Share your photos with us here.
The Grass Week: time to complete closing cover
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: time to complete closing cover
With it now being the beginning of December, the final grass cover should be completed for the year to assess grass supplies for spring.
Darren Carty
October N and P statements now available online
e-Learning
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
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
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
Amy Forde
Reader photos: frost arrives on Irish farms
Australian sheep flock and beef herd enters destocking phase
Darren Carty
Australian sheep flock and beef herd enters destocking phase
UK sheepmeat production increases by 10% to 25,200t in October
Darren Carty
UK sheepmeat production increases by 10% to 25,200t in October
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
Caitríona Morrissey
Knackery operators set to strike over rendering costs
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
Mandatory BVD tissue tagging rolls over to 2024
Darren Carty
Mandatory BVD tissue tagging rolls over to 2024
The national eradication programme is entering its 12th year with hopes that Ireland can apply for BVD-free status and soon bring a conclusion to tissue tagging.
Big changes in animal identification
Darren Carty
Big changes in animal identification
A new national genotyping programme, changes to suckler breeding indexes, an application for BVD-free status and transitioning to EID bovine tagging are all new topics in animal identification.
PEDIGREE
Young Stock Podcast: semen, shows and sucklers and all else in between
Shanon Kinahan
Young Stock Podcast: semen, shows and sucklers and all else in between
On this week's Young Stock Podcast, Shanon Kinahan talks to Jake Finnegan about all things semen, shows and sucklers.
Hips Don't Lie shakes up Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships
Shanon Kinahan
Hips Don't Lie shakes up Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships
Shanon Kinahan has all the results from the Royal Ulster Beef and Lamb Championships.
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
COP28 full of good intentions
Phelim O'Neill
COP28 full of good intentions
COP28 - like its predecessors - means well, but achieving meaningful reduction in emissions requires lifestyle changes that society is not ready to accept.
Kerry Co-op conducting survey of milk-supplying members' plans
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Kerry Co-op conducting survey of milk-supplying members' plans
Questionnaire is asking members about their milk-production ambitions.
Second beef PGI in gestation just as first crosses the line
Phelim O'Neill
Second beef PGI in gestation just as first crosses the line
We have waited a lifetime for one beef PGI - now a second one could be on its way,
Final clearance for PGI
Phelim O'Neill
Final clearance for PGI
Beef PGI gets final clearance following a four-year application process.
TILLAGE
Have you taken the grain trading survey?
Siobhán Walsh
Have you taken the grain trading survey?
1 euro subscription
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Podcast: pesticide rules, income drop and decline in tillage area
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: wet weather a concern for European crops
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Management: planting, rules and ploughing
Have you taken the grain trading survey? 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
MX introduces sleek new U500 loader range
Gary Abbott
MX introduces sleek new U500 loader range
Front loader specialists MX introduced its new U500 series at Agritechnica. The 16-model series, designed for tractors from 40hp to 260hp, will replace the current U50 series.
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
Peter Thomas Keaveney
186 lots up for grabs at Bord na Móna auction
Wilsons Auctions is set to manage an upcoming auction on 2 December, consisting of 186 lots of machinery from Bord na Móna’s Derrygreenagh site in Co Offaly.
Gary Abbott
Green diesel at four-month low as prices steady
Peter Thomas Keaveney
FCI conference to highlight the changes and challenges facing farm contractors
Gary Abbott
Compact but capable M series Deere at home on mixed Cavan farm
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
Little and large, pair of Rebel County farms for sale
Tommy Moyles
Little and large, pair of Rebel County farms for sale
Auctioneer Daniel Fleming has a 79ac and a 34-acre farm for sale in Co Cork, writes Tommy Moyles.
Compact grassland holdings on the market
Tommy Moyles
Compact grassland holdings on the market
A pair of grassland parcels of land in Meath and Westmeath are attracting good interest, writes Tommy Moyles.
Pre-Christmas auction for pair of Westmeath non-residential farms
Tommy Moyles
Pre-Christmas auction for pair of Westmeath non-residential farms
A pair of non-residential farms on the books of Mullingar based auctioneer, James L Murtagh are going for auction in mid-December, writes Tommy Moyles.
BUILDINGS
IFJ Junior: what is TAMS and how does it work?
Martin Merrick
IFJ Junior: what is TAMS and how does it work?
TAMS is a popular grant scheme for farmers to improve their farm facilities. Martin Merrick outlines the ins and outs of what TAMS is and how you can apply.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Closing date for Organic Farming Scheme extended
Caitríona Morrissey
Closing date for Organic Farming Scheme extended
The original closing date was 8 December, but this has now been changed.
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Darren Carty
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Applications for ACRES non-productive investments close on 6 December followed in close succession by the Organic Farming Scheme on 8 December and tranche two of ACRES on 13 December.
RENEWABLES
An Bord Pleanála approves wind development on Cork-Waterford border
Stephen Robb
An Bord Pleanála approves wind development on Cork-Waterford border
An Bord Pleanála has approved an 11-turbine wind farm proposal on the Waterford-Cork border.
Low wind generation and high demand sparks electricity warning
Stephen Robb
Low wind generation and high demand sparks electricity warning
Low wind generation, coupled with insufficient generation capacity, prompted Ireland's single electricity market operator to issue a warning about tight generation capacity margins.
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
Kieran Mailey
News round-up from Northern Ireland
News in-brief from across the farming and food industry in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland diary of events
Tom Morrow
Northern Ireland diary of events
Shows, sales and events happening across the NI agri-food industry over the next week
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Careers
Postdoctoral research opportunity with Met Éireann
Met Éireann is searching for a three-year research and infrastructure support for the newly established Irish Soil Moisture Observation Network, writes Sarah McIntosh.
Postdoctoral research opportunity with Met Éireann
Food
Achill Island Sea Salt awarded PDO status
Food
Welcome to the Irish Country Living Christmas Food Magazine
Life
Meet The Maker: Ceramic artist Cora Cummins
Comment
From 'Mart and Market' and live streaming livestock marts to a gingerbread farm
Agri Careers: supporting women in dairy farming
Sarah McIntosh
Agri Careers: supporting women in dairy farming
Putting a strategy in place is important for women to achieve their goals, on and off farm, writes Sarah McIntosh.
Sport: club in a league of their own?
Denis Hurley
Sport: club in a league of their own?
‘Contract’ for provincial championships appears to demand huge commitment from players for the year ahead, writes Denis Hurley.
Backchat: family fun around a board game
Contributor
Backchat: family fun around a board game
Make special memories that will last long after the Christmas tree comes down by bringing back the humble board game, writes Margaret Leahy.
Irish Horse: to acquire wisdom, one must observe
Helen Sharp
Irish Horse: to acquire wisdom, one must observe
Helen Sharp heads to Co Tipperary and considers the value of observation.
PHOTOGRAPHY
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
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
Photo Desk
Around Northern Ireland in pictures
VIEWPOINTS
Positive income signals highlighted for 2024
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Colm McCarthy - impact of 'green' lending targets
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Home Farm: Decision time on gluten free oats
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Dempsey at Large: Time to treat farmers as individuals
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
MOST READ
Australian sheep flock and beef herd enters destocking phase
 
Australian sheep flock and beef herd enters destocking phase
Over 750,000 calves to be DNA-registered in 2024
 
Over 750,000 calves to be DNA-registered in 2024
In pictures: Angus dominates top 10 ICBF replacement index list
 
In pictures: Angus dominates top 10 ICBF replacement index list
Farm Tech Talk: beef indices, scheme deadlines and nitrates
 
Farm Tech Talk: beef indices, scheme deadlines and nitrates
Close to €6m guide for Co Meath land
 
Close to €6m guide for Co Meath land
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
 
Dairy farmers protest in Cork over derogation
Belgian Blues the biggest losers in ICBF changes
 
Belgian Blues the biggest losers in ICBF changes
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
 
Bottleneck in ACRES poses risk to farm payments
Commission proposes €51.7m supports for Greece and Slovenia
 
Commission proposes €51.7m supports for Greece and Slovenia
Five management jobs for December
 
Five management jobs for December