Martin Merrick

mmerrick@farmersjournal.ie

The Grass Week: further lack of rain spells trouble for some

Farmers in the east and south - and to a lesser extent in the west and north - will come under significant pressure now with a further lack of rain on the horizon.

GRASS & FEEDING 18 July 2026

The Grass Week: further lack of rain spells trouble for some

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MartBids Database: figures tell different feeling to mood

MartBids Database: figures tell different feeling to mood

MARKETS 15 July 2026

Beef Management: grass supplies, marginal ground, and hay and straw purchases

Beef Management: grass supplies, marginal ground, and hay and straw purchases

MANAGEMENT 15 July 2026

Grass+ Beef: west winning as east burns up

Grass+ Beef: west winning as east burns up

Grass+ Beef: west winning as east burns up

GRASS & FEEDING 15 July 2026

Utilising a paddock system for beef herds: the key areas to focus

Utilising a paddock system for beef herds: the key areas to focus

Utilising a paddock system for beef herds: the key areas to focus

BUILDINGS 15 July 2026

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Five key areas of vital importance for farm safety

Five key areas of vital importance for farm safety

Martin Merrick looks at some of the tasks and areas most associated with injuries and deaths on Irish farms, and how best we can reduce risks before they arise.

FARM SAFETY 8 July 2026

The Grass Week: holding cover name of the game amid dry spell

The Grass Week: holding cover name of the game amid dry spell

With a continuation of dry, hot weather, trying to hold farm cover is a priority on all farms with supplementation needed for many.

GRASS & FEEDING 8 July 2026

Safety when replacing concrete slats

Safety when replacing concrete slats

The replacement of concrete slats will be grant aided through TAMS III at a grant rate of 60%.

FARM SAFETY 8 July 2026

MartBids Database: positivity in heavy cattle trade

MartBids Database: positivity in heavy cattle trade

Martin Merrick looks at the MartBids data this week, which shows heavy and forward cattle taking another jump in price, while the first of the specialist weanling sales shows keen exporter demand.

MARKETS 8 July 2026

Camera at the Mart: keen demand for all types in New Ross

Camera at the Mart: keen demand for all types in New Ross

Beef cows rose by €30 to €70/head on the week previous, with all cattle types highly sought after by buyers at New Ross Mart on Saturday last.

MARKETS 8 July 2026

Beef Management: weighing, warm weather management and dung sampling

Beef Management: weighing, warm weather management and dung sampling

Martin Merrick discusses weighing weanlings in time to qualify for SCEP, managing stock and water supplies in warm weather and faecal sampling calves to make better informed decisions on dosing.

MANAGEMENT 8 July 2026

Grass+ Beef: caution to be exercised over hot spell

Grass+ Beef: caution to be exercised over hot spell

The dry, hot spell of weather over the next week could see some farms run down farm cover and find them needing to supplement stock unless measures are taken in time.

GRASS & FEEDING 8 July 2026

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What does it take to build and operate a resilient dairy-beef enterprise?

Operating as a fully standalone commercial entity, Tipperary Dairy Calf to Beef Demonstration Farm (Ballyvadin Beef Farm Ltd) offers farmers real-world data.

What does it take to build and operate a resilient dairy-beef enterprise?

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