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An imported heifer from France has been detected with Bluetongue in Northern Ireland.
Although not deemed an “outbreak” until the disease is found to be circulating, farmers have been warned to remain vigilant.
The UK remains officially Bluetongue-free.
Restricted herd movements
Earlier this year, French cattle farmers were ordered to restrict their herd movements and vaccinate animals against the disease.
Bluetongue does not cause harm to humans, but can reduce milk yield and fertility in animals.
In October, imported cattle and sheep in Britain were found to have the disease.
“The Department is also tracing and testing associated herds and an epidemiological investigation has been initiated to assess the situation," according to a DAERA statement.
"This investigation will help determine if disease is circulating. However, as we are now outside the active midge period, this is highly unlikely.”
The ICSA says lamb prices are currently well below €1/kg under production costs.
The ICSA's sheep committee is mounting a protest against falling lamb prices outside ICM Camolin in Co Wexford this Monday morning .
“It costs a lot of money to rear these lambs and we need to be getting a minimum of €7/kg to make it viable. Right now, prices have gone well below the €6/kg mark, plus we’re getting hammered by weight limits,” said the organisation's sheep chair Sean McNamara.
He accused factories of importing lamb into the Republic to depresse prices, despite strong trade in the UK.
EID was supposed to help, but all that has done is increase costs
"EID was supposed to help, but all that has done is increase costs for us while factories and marts drag their heals on installing the necessary readers," McNamara said. He added that new exports markets so far had not delivered money for the primary producers.
“There is no way sheep farmers can bear these sorts of price cuts and if they continue, most of us will not be able to stay going. Our produce has been rendered virtually worthless; we might as well be giving it away for free,” he said.
Monday and Tuesday will offer the best spraying conditions. \ Phill Doyle
Monday
After a dry and sunny start, scattered showers in the northwest will become more widespread, except in Munster and parts of south Leinster, where they will remain isolated. Top temperatures of 12-16°C will reach 17°C in parts of Munster, before falling to 3-5°C at night. Winds will be light, mainly northerly.
Tuesday
A similar mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, again more frequent in the east, will come with warmer temperatures of 13-18°C, lower in the north and north-east. Winds will be light and variable. Overnight temperatures will fall to between 5°c and 7°C.
Wednesday
Wednesday will start largely dry, but there will be showers over Ulster in the morning. Rain will then move in from the west, becoming widespread and persistent overnight. Temperatures will range from 13-15°C as light winds veer from northerly to southerly.
Thursday and later
After a showery day on Thursday with normal temperatures, the outlook for the end of the week is for continued unsettled weather. A northerly wind will come with temperatures slightly lower than usual.
Rain and soil condition
The east and south of the country is forecast to receive 5mm to 10mm in the coming week, and Atlantic coastal areas 15mm to 20mm. Most areas are expected to remain drier than normal, which was already the case last week.
Soil moisture deficits are above 40mm over parts of Munster and Connacht. Elsewhere soil moisture deficits are around 20mm to 30mm.
Temperatures
After a warmer than normal week, temperatures are forecast to stay close to average in the coming days. Grass frost is possible in some sheltered areas on Monday night but the risk is lower from Tuesday.
Sunshine and drying conditions
With higher than average sunshine expected in the coming week, drying conditions will be good on Monday and Tuesday, especially in Munster and Connacht, but this will vary with showers and spells of rain.
Spraying
Monday and Tuesday will offer the best spraying conditions.
Nine-year-old Darren Mangan from Tuam keeping an eye on auctioneer Pat Burke during the sheep sale at Tuam Mart. \ Brian Farrell
Sheep sale at Tuam Mart
Nine-year-old Darren Mangan from Tuam keeping an eye on auctioneer Pat Burke during the sheep sale at Tuam Mart. \ Brian Farrell
Sean Myers putting in a bid to auctioneer Pat Burke. \ Brian Farrell
An overview of the weekly sheep sale at Tuam Mart. \ Brian Farrell
Ollie Treacy moving bullocks
Beef farmer Ollie Treacy moving his herd of bullocks to fresh grass in Lisnagower, Co Tipperary. Ollie buys in weanlings and carries them through beef, finishing them on grass. \ Philip Doyle
Monday's cattle sale at Birr Mart
Liam Feighery bringing his cattle into Birr Mart prior to the weekly sale. Philip Doyle
Irish Farmers Journal's Beef Summit
Irish Farmers Journal beef and suckler editor Adam Woods, Irish Farmers Journal markets intelligence specialist Phelim O’Neill, the ICBF’s Andrew Cromie, Meat Industry Ireland’s Cormac Healy and UCD’s Prof Michael Wallace get the first panel of the Beef Summit under way at the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. \ Dave Ruffles
Teagasc director Gerry Boyle, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed, Brendan Gleeson of the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy at the Beef Summit. \ Dave Ruffles
Minister Michael Creed. \ David Ruffles
Minister Creed in conversation with Hannah Quinn-Mulligan of the Irish Farmers Journal \ Dave Ruffles