Martin Merrick

mmerrick@farmersjournal.ie

Explainer: what do the exemptions for farm buildings and slurry storage mean?

Farmers will now be able to increase slurry storage capacity and construct additional housing for livestock without the need to seek planning permission in certain situations.

BUILDINGS 23 December 2025

Explainer: what do the exemptions for farm buildings and slurry storage mean?

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Camera at the Mart: little change in pre-Christmas Dowra sale prices

Camera at the Mart: little change in pre-Christmas Dowra sale prices

MARKETS 23 December 2025

Camera at the Mart: quality store cattle hold firm in Kilkenny

Camera at the Mart: quality store cattle hold firm in Kilkenny

MARKETS 23 December 2025

Specifications on re-roofing grant announced

Specifications on re-roofing grant announced

Specifications on re-roofing grant announced

BUILDINGS 23 December 2025

Planning exemptions for sheds and slurry stores

Planning exemptions for sheds and slurry stores

Planning exemptions for sheds and slurry stores

NEWS 17 December 2025

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Martbids Database: demand stagnates for prime cattle

Martbids Database: demand stagnates for prime cattle

Martin Merrick gives an update on mart trade this week, where prime cattle demand has fallen off, while cull cows remain a great trade.

MARKETS 10 December 2025

Camera at the Mart: Charolais dominate numbers in Elphin

Camera at the Mart: Charolais dominate numbers in Elphin

Of the 107 animals to pass through the ring, 60 of them were Charolais, with most cattle present forward store or finished types.

MARKETS 10 December 2025

Beef management: bedding materials, winter AI and soil testing

Beef management: bedding materials, winter AI and soil testing

Martin Merrick gives advice on using appropriate bedding for your system, ensuring autumn calving cows get back in calf and soil testing over the winter period.

MANAGEMENT 10 December 2025

TAMS Tranche 8 approvals reach 77%

TAMS Tranche 8 approvals reach 77%

Martin Merrick gives the latest update on TAMS approvals as tranche 9 applications look set to begin being approved after Christmas.

BUILDINGS 10 December 2025

Sympathetic restoration keeps Meath courtyard intact

Sympathetic restoration keeps Meath courtyard intact

Martin Merrick details some of the work completed by John Plunkett on traditional outbuildings in the courtyard of his beef farm.

BUILDINGS 10 December 2025

ICBF Beef Quality Awards: award presentations highlight best in class

ICBF Beef Quality Awards: award presentations highlight best in class

The 24 winners spread across the six processors were recently presented with their awards for the high-quality beef being produced while utilising the CBV index. Martin Merrick reports.

NEWS 10 December 2025

Martbids Database: cattle trade cools in December

Martbids Database: cattle trade cools in December

Martin Merrick reports on the weekly cattle trade, as cattle prices reduce further ahead of the pre-Christmas lull.

MARKETS 10 December 2025

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Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

Our success in export markets depends not only on finding new buyers, but on protecting the strong and hard-fought position we occupy on the global stage.

Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

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