Editorial Opinion

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Opinion: proposed CAP will squeeze the squeezed middle more

As the days of reckoning for CAP grow closer, the European Commission's focus on "active farmers" is bad news for the drystock sector.

OPINION 9 May 2026

Opinion: proposed CAP will squeeze the squeezed middle more

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Colm McCarthy: Amid uncertainty, prudent progress is needed

Colm McCarthy: Amid uncertainty, prudent progress is needed

VIEWPOINTS 6 May 2026

Dempsey at Large: Results season underway

Dempsey at Large: Results season underway

VIEWPOINTS 6 May 2026

Home Farm: Catching up during dry spell

Home Farm: Catching up during dry spell

Home Farm: Catching up during dry spell

VIEWPOINTS 6 May 2026

No appetite for NI farm carbon audits

No appetite for NI farm carbon audits

No appetite for NI farm carbon audits

NORTHERN IRELAND 6 May 2026

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Colm McCarthy: hauliers unlikely allies for farm organisations

Colm McCarthy: hauliers unlikely allies for farm organisations

The farm tractors do very little mileage, while the truckers do a lot, far more than the average of 15,000 kilometres per annum of private motorists.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Dempsey at Large: food self-sufficiency policies

Dempsey at Large: food self-sufficiency policies

Europe on the other hand has steadily traded access to its food market at the expense of its own farmers, but in the interest of access for its own products and services.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Leaders required to sort Lough Neagh

Leaders required to sort Lough Neagh

Major investment is required if the problems in Lough Neagh and other water bodies are to be solved.

NORTHERN IRELAND 22 April 2026

Home Farm: Choice of nitrogen

Home Farm: Choice of nitrogen

We had sown the new grass last September – later than ideal – but it took well and was a good dense, highly-digestible sward.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Dairy reporting creates farmer confidence

Dairy reporting creates farmer confidence

Publication of dairy co-operatives' annual accounts brings a level of transparency for farmers not generally available in beef processing.

NEWS 22 April 2026

Dempsey at Large: tanks or tractors?

Dempsey at Large: tanks or tractors?

The new imperative of defence spending is directly leading to reduced spending on the CAP - the proposed budget is down by 20%.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Home Farm: ground conditions improve

Home Farm: ground conditions improve

We ended up finishing the buying season by buying cattle that won’t be ready until well into 2027.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

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New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

Irish dairy farmers will have the opportunity to see the latest technologies from New Zealand at an on-farm open day at Camcloon Dairy, Ballyfin, Co Laois, on Tuesday 19 May 2026 from 10am.

New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

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