The prospect of turning worthless rushes into cold hard cash piqued the interest of our readers in January 2019.
Bernard Carey’s Biomass to Biochar project will see rushes baled up and used as fuel and fertiliser.
The lovely tale of a mart drover being waked at the mart in Cahir, Co Tipperary, was hugely popular, while readers were agog at the tale of the farmer who was caught by gardaí with five round bales perched precariously on his jeep and trailer.
Gardaí stopped a farmer for towing an unsafe load of bales on Sunday (13 January).
Your fascination with rushes continued into February, when it was revealed that biochar from rushes was worth no less than €1,750/t.
There was sadness at the passing of legendary crooner Big Tom.
And the scale of cattle losses in flash floods in Australia shocked readers.
Big Tom McBride.
The story of a Co Louth farmer who shot a dog that was attacking his sheep highlighted the problem of livestock worrying on the Cooley peninsula. Farmers were unanimous in their support for dealing with the offending dog.
The international hunt for tractor drivers for silage season caught your attention in March, but confirmation of Larry Goodman’s millions was one of the most read articles of the month.
Larry Goodman.
Machinery and new technology were top of the list of most read articles in April.
The Irish purchase of Europe’s first 970hp forage harvester caught your eye in April, while the sale of a contractor’s silage fleet was pored over.
But it was the tale of a robotic dairy cow in Co Meath that spread like wildfire. Developed by the US Department of Defence, the story broke on a significant day of the year.
The prospect of winning an Isuzu D Max had our readers enthralled in May, as well as the sale of a beautifully manicured stud farm in Co Limerick.
Criminal masterminds targeted expensive John Deere equipment in a weekend theft spree.
Our comical list of the most annoying things that farmers say to contractors went viral in June.
Readers were fascinated to find out what gardaí are most likely to tackle tractor drivers on at a roadcheck. And more than 8,000 of you wanted to test your knowledge in our Leaving Cert ag science quiz.
Gardaí and customs officials were in the news again in July, seizing a tractor that had not been taxed for 15 years and uncovering a tonne of illegal meat at Dublin airport.
But the sight of silage bales being wrapped in clear plastic was the most read story of the month.
The misfortune of a Moneygall farmer who lost cattle to a lightning strike was our most read story in August, as the beef protests got under way.
Amid acrimonious scenes at factory gates, Dawn Meats pulled out of Tullamore Show.
The prospect of a deal to be had got many of you reading about the 500 machinery lots up for auction in Cavan.
Farmers protest at Dawn Meats at Grannagh, just outside Waterford City. \ Patrick Browne
As the beef crisis reached its zenith, our live updates throughout the night on the crisis beef talks in Ag House were devoured by more than 22,000 readers.
Just a week earlier, Bord Bia’s withdrawal and investigation into incorrectly labelled beef was read by thousands, but it was the tale of a farmer being fined for having green diesel in a car that never left the farm that topped the most read list for the month.
Sex and satellites dominated the most read list in October, with the revelation that the custodians of the land are luckier in bed than most.
Payment delays affecting farmers because of satellite inspections was widely read, while our feature on a beef finishing shed built on a budget was just the ticket for a good read.
News of a driverless tractor designed by a Roscommon man had farmers baying for more information in November.
The sad tale of Limerick man who was attacked and left in a pool of blood shocked the farming community.
And, with the live trade essential to keeping factories honest, there was fierce interest in the Turkish government’s stalling of orders for live cattle.
Loading the Express 1 with cattle for export to Turkey. \ Donal O'Leary
The year closed with the election of a new IFA president in Tipperary man Tim Cullinan, and more than 10,000 farmers followed our live blog detailing the counts, recounts and excitement of the day.
Gardaí were again on the case of farmers, but this time it was the remarkable tale of a 12-year-old driving a tractor in Trim at 2.30am.
Last but not least, we advised on the 10 best Christmas gift ideas for beef farmers – we hope you liked them!
Tim Cullinan delivers his acceptance speech after being elected IFA president. \ Philip Doyle
The prospect of turning worthless rushes into cold hard cash piqued the interest of our readers in January 2019.
Bernard Carey’s Biomass to Biochar project will see rushes baled up and used as fuel and fertiliser.
The lovely tale of a mart drover being waked at the mart in Cahir, Co Tipperary, was hugely popular, while readers were agog at the tale of the farmer who was caught by gardaí with five round bales perched precariously on his jeep and trailer.
Gardaí stopped a farmer for towing an unsafe load of bales on Sunday (13 January).
Your fascination with rushes continued into February, when it was revealed that biochar from rushes was worth no less than €1,750/t.
There was sadness at the passing of legendary crooner Big Tom.
And the scale of cattle losses in flash floods in Australia shocked readers.
Big Tom McBride.
The story of a Co Louth farmer who shot a dog that was attacking his sheep highlighted the problem of livestock worrying on the Cooley peninsula. Farmers were unanimous in their support for dealing with the offending dog.
The international hunt for tractor drivers for silage season caught your attention in March, but confirmation of Larry Goodman’s millions was one of the most read articles of the month.
Larry Goodman.
Machinery and new technology were top of the list of most read articles in April.
The Irish purchase of Europe’s first 970hp forage harvester caught your eye in April, while the sale of a contractor’s silage fleet was pored over.
But it was the tale of a robotic dairy cow in Co Meath that spread like wildfire. Developed by the US Department of Defence, the story broke on a significant day of the year.
The prospect of winning an Isuzu D Max had our readers enthralled in May, as well as the sale of a beautifully manicured stud farm in Co Limerick.
Criminal masterminds targeted expensive John Deere equipment in a weekend theft spree.
Our comical list of the most annoying things that farmers say to contractors went viral in June.
Readers were fascinated to find out what gardaí are most likely to tackle tractor drivers on at a roadcheck. And more than 8,000 of you wanted to test your knowledge in our Leaving Cert ag science quiz.
Gardaí and customs officials were in the news again in July, seizing a tractor that had not been taxed for 15 years and uncovering a tonne of illegal meat at Dublin airport.
But the sight of silage bales being wrapped in clear plastic was the most read story of the month.
The misfortune of a Moneygall farmer who lost cattle to a lightning strike was our most read story in August, as the beef protests got under way.
Amid acrimonious scenes at factory gates, Dawn Meats pulled out of Tullamore Show.
The prospect of a deal to be had got many of you reading about the 500 machinery lots up for auction in Cavan.
Farmers protest at Dawn Meats at Grannagh, just outside Waterford City. \ Patrick Browne
As the beef crisis reached its zenith, our live updates throughout the night on the crisis beef talks in Ag House were devoured by more than 22,000 readers.
Just a week earlier, Bord Bia’s withdrawal and investigation into incorrectly labelled beef was read by thousands, but it was the tale of a farmer being fined for having green diesel in a car that never left the farm that topped the most read list for the month.
Sex and satellites dominated the most read list in October, with the revelation that the custodians of the land are luckier in bed than most.
Payment delays affecting farmers because of satellite inspections was widely read, while our feature on a beef finishing shed built on a budget was just the ticket for a good read.
News of a driverless tractor designed by a Roscommon man had farmers baying for more information in November.
The sad tale of Limerick man who was attacked and left in a pool of blood shocked the farming community.
And, with the live trade essential to keeping factories honest, there was fierce interest in the Turkish government’s stalling of orders for live cattle.
Loading the Express 1 with cattle for export to Turkey. \ Donal O'Leary
The year closed with the election of a new IFA president in Tipperary man Tim Cullinan, and more than 10,000 farmers followed our live blog detailing the counts, recounts and excitement of the day.
Gardaí were again on the case of farmers, but this time it was the remarkable tale of a 12-year-old driving a tractor in Trim at 2.30am.
Last but not least, we advised on the 10 best Christmas gift ideas for beef farmers – we hope you liked them!
Tim Cullinan delivers his acceptance speech after being elected IFA president. \ Philip Doyle
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