Weather forecast

Although the day is starting with clear spells and some sunshine is expected across he country this morning, Met Éireann warns that winds will turn southerly and strengthen in the afternoon as storm Eva develops. The storm will bring some severe winds to coastal counties of the west and northwest of Ireland. There is an orange status wind warning in operation until the end of today for counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, with gusts of up to 120km/h forecast between 4pm and 9pm. Elsewhere, a status yellow warning is in place for gusts of up to 100km/h to 110km/h this evening.

Heavy rain will push across the country through the afternoon and evening, clearing the east coast in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Maximum temperatures will reach 9°C to 11°C, before dropping to 2-4°C at night.

In the news today

  • We exclusively reveal that the periods for hedge-cutting and and burning of hill vegetation are to be extended on a one-month trial basis, according to Heather Humphreys, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
  • Further motions have been brought against the IFA executive board, with Longford, Leitrim, Meath and Waterford IFA county executives calling for the resignation of the entire board at their county meetings this week. These four follow Galway, Limerick and Kilkenny IFA, all of whom tabled motions of no confidence in the board last week.
  • Also in IFA news, Derek Deane and Nigel Renaghan are the latest figures to have declared for the IFA presidency.

  • Approximately 3,000 farmers are yet to receive their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment. It is unlikely that many of these farmers will be paid in 2015.
  • And with the year 2015 soon drawing to a close, we look back on the year that was for the different sectors of Irish farming.
  • Coming up today on farmersjournal.ie and on the app

  • We report exclusively on the number of cattle thefts in the Republic of Ireland in 2015.
  • We have the latest on previously announced plans to name and shame the owners of calves persistently infected by BVD.
  • As the government invites tender for the National Broadband Plan, we explain the significance of the scheme for rural Ireland.
  • The latest odds for the IFA presidential race are coming in from Paddy Power.
  • The winner of our #festivefarm photo competition is to be announced.
  • What’s on today: