Red diesel prices rise again in NI
Quotes for red diesel from fuel suppliers in NI have increased again on the back of rising global oil markets.
A price survey conducted as the Irish Farmers Journal was going to press on Wednesday found quotes for 2,000l of red diesel ranged from 105p/l to 108p/l plus VAT.
The indications from some suppliers were that further price rises will be applied before the end of the week.
At the start of this week, quotes for red diesel had fallen to around the 102p/l mark, but prices rose as oil markets braced for prolonged disruption due to the US-Iran war.
Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, was at $117/barrel on Wednesday, which compares to the most recent low of $90/barrel in mid-April.
With the 2026 silage season kicking off across NI this week, local contractors have been reluctant to quote prices for silage work in the hope that diesel prices will soon settle.
Bird flu housing order lifted in NI
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced that the compulsory housing measures for poultry and captive birds will be lifted across NI on Tuesday 5 May 2026, with the restriction in the Republic of Ireland removed at the same time.
Compulsory housing has been in place across NI since 6 November 2025 in order to prevent the spread of avian influenza (bird flu).
Confirming the change, Minister Muir urged all poultry keepers to maintain strict biosecurity. A ban on poultry gatherings remains in place.
Kristina Fleming: YFCU president
Kristina Fleming was elected president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) at the organisation’s AGM in Omagh on Saturday. The Ballywalter YFC member takes over from outgoing president Richard Beattie who served a two-year term in the role.
Joyce Allen from Moneymore YFC was elected deputy president and four vice presidents were elected, namely Joshua Keys (Seskinore YFC), Karen Walker (Collone YFC), James Morrison (Lisbellaw YFC) and Victoria Minford (Holestone YFC).
The first plan to deliver against a NI Peatland Strategy has been published by DAERA. It sets out 14 short-term targets out to December 2027, designed to help conserve and improve peatland in NI.
Included within those actions is work to gather together data on all peatland across NI to inform a new peatland asset register. The department also plans to launch a consultation on plans to restrict the sale of peat to the public by August 2026, while a long-awaited new ammonia strategy to deliver reductions in emissions from agriculture, is expected to be released by the same date.
The long-term aim of the DAERA strategy is to restore 150,000ha of degraded peatland by 2050.
Red diesel prices rise again in NI
Quotes for red diesel from fuel suppliers in NI have increased again on the back of rising global oil markets.
A price survey conducted as the Irish Farmers Journal was going to press on Wednesday found quotes for 2,000l of red diesel ranged from 105p/l to 108p/l plus VAT.
The indications from some suppliers were that further price rises will be applied before the end of the week.
At the start of this week, quotes for red diesel had fallen to around the 102p/l mark, but prices rose as oil markets braced for prolonged disruption due to the US-Iran war.
Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, was at $117/barrel on Wednesday, which compares to the most recent low of $90/barrel in mid-April.
With the 2026 silage season kicking off across NI this week, local contractors have been reluctant to quote prices for silage work in the hope that diesel prices will soon settle.
Bird flu housing order lifted in NI
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has announced that the compulsory housing measures for poultry and captive birds will be lifted across NI on Tuesday 5 May 2026, with the restriction in the Republic of Ireland removed at the same time.
Compulsory housing has been in place across NI since 6 November 2025 in order to prevent the spread of avian influenza (bird flu).
Confirming the change, Minister Muir urged all poultry keepers to maintain strict biosecurity. A ban on poultry gatherings remains in place.
Kristina Fleming: YFCU president
Kristina Fleming was elected president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) at the organisation’s AGM in Omagh on Saturday. The Ballywalter YFC member takes over from outgoing president Richard Beattie who served a two-year term in the role.
Joyce Allen from Moneymore YFC was elected deputy president and four vice presidents were elected, namely Joshua Keys (Seskinore YFC), Karen Walker (Collone YFC), James Morrison (Lisbellaw YFC) and Victoria Minford (Holestone YFC).
The first plan to deliver against a NI Peatland Strategy has been published by DAERA. It sets out 14 short-term targets out to December 2027, designed to help conserve and improve peatland in NI.
Included within those actions is work to gather together data on all peatland across NI to inform a new peatland asset register. The department also plans to launch a consultation on plans to restrict the sale of peat to the public by August 2026, while a long-awaited new ammonia strategy to deliver reductions in emissions from agriculture, is expected to be released by the same date.
The long-term aim of the DAERA strategy is to restore 150,000ha of degraded peatland by 2050.
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