Ground conditions

My Farming Week: balancing 27 suckler cows with shift work

James Skehan is a part time suckler farmer, farming with his wife Joanne and children Nellie and Macartan in Bridgetown, Killaloe, Co. Clare.

NEWS 2 September 2026

My Farming Week: balancing 27 suckler cows with shift work

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Contractors call for slurry spreading extension beyond 1 October

Contractors call for slurry spreading extension beyond 1 October

NEWS 26 August 2026

Fast-tracked payments on table

Fast-tracked payments on table

NEWS 19 August 2026

The Grass Week: drought still persisting in south and east

The Grass Week: drought still persisting in south and east

The Grass Week: drought still persisting in south and east

GRASS & FEEDING 15 August 2026

Farmer Writes: a calf with a broken leg

Farmer Writes: a calf with a broken leg

Farmer Writes: a calf with a broken leg

NEWS 17 June 2026

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Sheep Management: scald in lambs, weaning preparations and farmyard repairs

Sheep Management: scald in lambs, weaning preparations and farmyard repairs

To treat scald effectively with footbathing lambs must stand in the footbath for the recommended period of time followed by standing on a dry, hard surface

MANAGEMENT 22 April 2026

Dairy Management: heavy rain beginning to cause problems

Dairy Management: heavy rain beginning to cause problems

Widespread heavy rain over the weekend is beginning to cause ground-condition issues on heavier soils, writes Aidan Brennan.

MANAGEMENT 22 April 2026

Farmer Writes: hopefully it's not another one of those years

Farmer Writes: hopefully it's not another one of those years

In dry weather, it wouldn't be a huge issue, but with every wet day that comes, it's getting trickier. Cattle are becoming unsettled as well.

FARMER WRITES 22 April 2026

Farmer Writes: strong heats in dairy heifers

Farmer Writes: strong heats in dairy heifers

There’s always a certain relief once the final straw is put in and the flask lid closed.

FARMER WRITES 22 April 2026

Home Farm: Catching up during dry spell

Home Farm: Catching up during dry spell

Out in the fields, a neighbour with a high clearance, self-propelled sprayer did our oilseed rape for scleritinia.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Home Farm: Choice of nitrogen

Home Farm: Choice of nitrogen

We had sown the new grass last September – later than ideal – but it took well and was a good dense, highly-digestible sward.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

Home Farm: ground conditions improve

Home Farm: ground conditions improve

We ended up finishing the buying season by buying cattle that won’t be ready until well into 2027.

VIEWPOINTS 22 April 2026

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