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 18 Nov 2020
Farmer Writes: hurdles keep rising for farmers
The hurdles keep rising for the farmer, some which are logical and make sense, and others that just create cost and cause confusion or even disillusion, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 04 Nov 2020
Farmer Writes: wet weather hitting hard
With the wet weather hitting hard, Bill O'Keeffe has dried off the first batch of cows for the winter.
Bill O'Keeffe on 21 Oct 2020
Farmer Writes: fairness of GII margins needs to be called into question
The strategy of GII to run the milk processing business with the fattest margin in the country will have to be called into question, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 07 Oct 2020
Farmer Writes: education is key for biodiversity and environment
It is just as important to explain to landowners how biodiversity benefits wildlife and why we are doing them as much as what to do and how to do it, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 30 Sep 2020
Farmers Writes: frustrating letters and trimming hedges
Bill O’Keeffe laments the fact he’s been told he overclaimed on land after planting hedgerows.
Bill O'Keeffe on 09 Sep 2020
Farmer Writes: planning for the winter period in Kilkenny
We should also get a good opportunity to empty the slurry tanks onto this ground with the umbilical system next week and start getting the farm set up for the winter period.
Bill O'Keeffe on 26 Aug 2020
Breaking in a new milking system
Dairy farmer Bill O'Keeffe has been breaking in a new milking system on his farm in Co Kilkenny, while trying to juggle ongoing farm building work.
Bill O'Keeffe on 12 Aug 2020
Farmer Writes: scanning cows and grass flying
Grass is still flying out of the ground this week so we made some more bales and it doesn’t look like it's time to mothball the mower for the winter yet either.
Bill O'Keeffe on 29 Jul 2020
Farmer Writes: farming moving from the fields to the office
The last month was more like June than July so we could still see plenty of surplus coming to hand before the end of the growing season, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 15 Jul 2020
Farmer Writes: farmers need to be paid for creating habitats
Unfortunately, margins are very tight in farming now and leaving more space for wildlife or creating new habitats often requires support and incentives to make it work, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 01 Jul 2020
Farmer Writes: doubling-up the parlour and Bord Bia audit
Bill O'Keeffe has decided to go for the double-up option instead of building a new rotary parlour.
Bill O'Keeffe on 17 Jun 2020
Farmer Writes: farming remains in the grip of a drought
Bill O'Keeffe is hoping for rain as a reprieve from the drought over the coming days.