Bill
E: edit@farmersjournal.ie
T: 01 419 9500
Bill O'Keeffe is a Nuffield Scholar and farms at Clara Co. Kilkenny with his father Philip and uncle Matt. They milk 180 spring calving pedigree British Friesian cows, supplying Glanbia Co-op.
Bill O'Keeffe on 21 Sep 2022
Farmer Writes: cow prices holding up and ploughing returns
It was great to get out to meet everyone at the ploughing again this year, after a three-year break.
Bill O'Keeffe on 07 Sep 2022
Farmer Writes: game-changing rain and Tirlán
Tirlán as a brand is maybe a little underwhelming for the moment but hopefully it will grow on all of us.
Bill O'Keeffe on 24 Aug 2022
Farmer Writes: no passengers on farm if dry weather persists
We’ve had less overall rain this year in the southeast than 2018 so nature will probably make up for it at some stage.
Bill O'Keeffe on 10 Aug 2022
Farmer Writes: grass only growing in fits and starts
The milk that we produce can’t be produced at a lower carbon footprint anywhere else in the world, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 27 Jul 2022
Farmer Writes: Climate changing and farms changing with it
The finger of blame for the changing climate is being firmly pointed at Irish farmers from so-called experts in our own country.
Bill O'Keeffe on 13 Jul 2022
Farmer Writes: hurling to look forward to after the second cut
Things are picking up this week in Clara, with the hurling to look forward to after a week of getting ready for silage and TB testing.
Bill O'Keeffe on 29 Jun 2022
Farmer Writes: breeding season winding down
We have a few bulls still running with cows and heifers but we probably won’t milk any of these cows next year, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 15 Jun 2022
Farmer Writes: rain needed to get kick on grass growth
Bill O'Keefe has moved his replacements to an out-farm as grass growth has slowed in Clara.
Bill O'Keeffe on 01 Jun 2022
Farmer Writes: getting strong covers under control
A few repeats is all that is left from the breeding season on Bill O'Keefe's Co Kilkenny dairy farm.
Bill O'Keeffe on 18 May 2022
Farmer Writes: making use of good grass growth
With the first cut in and slurry out, the farm is set up to make use of excellent grass growing conditions, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 04 May 2022
Farmer Writes: a welcome drop of rain to bulk up the silage swards
Once silage is off, clover can be oversown, writes farmer Bill O’Keeffe as he gears up for the grass growth that will follow this week’s rain.
Bill O'Keeffe on 20 Apr 2022
Farmer Writes: good start to the breeding season
Dairy farmer Bill O'Keeffe is waiting on grass growth to kick on, as the herd is progressing well towards its breeding targets.