Bill
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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 09 Oct 2019
Farmer Writes: off-farm it's all about the Bs
Off-farm it’s all about the Bs with Brexit, Boris, borders and budget making the headlines this month, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 25 Sep 2019
Farmer Writes: supporting native industries has to be better
Supporting our native and sustainable dairy and beef industries has to be better than watching great international eco-systems like the Amazon, literally go up in smoke, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 11 Sep 2019
Farmer Writes: footbathing and weighing in full swing
Meal feeding is down at 2kg and should stay at this level for the rest of September at least, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 28 Aug 2019
Farmer Writes: a show ring win and grass explosion
Bill O'Keeffe has been busy with grass, silage, fertiliser, and winning prizes.
Bill O'Keeffe on 14 Aug 2019
Farmer Writes: Glanbia – bigger but is it better
Glanbia is like the big centre forward that calls for every puck-out and takes all the frees but drifts out of the game when the pressure comes on, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 31 Jul 2019
Farmer Writes: hoping to grow the herd next year
Bill O'Keeffe has booked in scanning for mid-August for cows and heifers, with hopes of increasing the herd next year.
Bill O'Keeffe on 17 Jul 2019
Farmer Writes: feeding 3t of silage a day in July
Grass growth has fallen off a cliff on Bill O'Keeffe's Kilkenny farm.
Bill O'Keeffe on 03 Jul 2019
Farmer Writes: hoping for a short dry spell
The milking platform is drying out again every day and grass growth is dropping off rapidly as we move into July, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 19 Jun 2019
Farmer Writes: agriculture has a lot of targets to meet
This week Bill O'Keeffe gives an update on breeding and fodder-making on farm and looks at the Climate Action Plan.
Bill O'Keeffe on 05 Jun 2019
Farmer Writes: a stitch in time could prevent a lot of damage
In 2018 for example, GII struggled to pay a direct milk price to suppliers but still had a profit after tax of €57.8m, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
Bill O'Keeffe on 22 May 2019
Farmer Writes: dosing calves and concern over nitrates derogation
This week, Bill O'Keeffe writes about how breeding is going, having to dose calves and the nitrates derogation.
Bill O'Keeffe on 08 May 2019
Farmer Writes: breeding and closing off for silage
We have made no silage bales yet but will probably have to take out some paddocks next week after the rain, writes Bill O'Keeffe.