Stocking rate

Clover and multispecies the saviours for organic farms which were in drought

The drought has highlighted the importance of multispecies and clover swards in organic systems for many farmers and the IFA is calling for the red clover scheme to be reintroduced.

NEWS 19 September 2026

Clover and multispecies the saviours for organic farms which were in drought

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Dairy farmers reminded to record slurry movements to outblocks

Dairy farmers reminded to record slurry movements to outblocks

NEWS 10 September 2026

Irish farms rank among the lowest stocked in EU

Irish farms rank among the lowest stocked in EU

NEWS 13 August 2026

Slurry paper acres must stop, says UFU

Slurry paper acres must stop, says UFU

Slurry paper acres must stop, says UFU

NORTHERN IRELAND 29 July 2026

Editorial: uncertain future for sheep farming

Editorial: uncertain future for sheep farming

Editorial: uncertain future for sheep farming

VIEWPOINTS 15 July 2026

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Dairy farm incomes up 41% in 2025

Dairy farm incomes up 41% in 2025

Dairy farm incomes increased in 2025 as a result of higher milk, calf and cow prices and higher milk volumes. However, clear volatility has been seen in the sector over recent years.

NEWS 1 June 2026

Heatwave advice: managing rams and safely transporting sheep

Heatwave advice: managing rams and safely transporting sheep

An excessive spike in rams' body temperature could potentially lead to fertility issues.

MANAGEMENT 1 June 2026

320,000ha in BISS opt not to meet active farmer check through stocking rate

320,000ha in BISS opt not to meet active farmer check through stocking rate

Topping, running goats or keeping donkeys can be used to demonstrate the farm activity needed to claim BISS, in lieu of meeting the ewe/ha stocking rate check.

NEWS 1 June 2026

ICMSA sticks to 1LU/ha active farmer definition as it wants headage off table

ICMSA sticks to 1LU/ha active farmer definition as it wants headage off table

The ICMSA does not want to see coupled income supports introduced in the 2028-2034 CAP as it warned that any headage would require a reduction in funds for area-based schemes.

NEWS 1 June 2026

Dairy Management: grassland management, feeding meal and spreading slurry

Dairy Management: grassland management, feeding meal and spreading slurry

Aidan Brennan looks at the key management tasks for the weeks ahead and says that fields cut for silage will need the P and K elements replaced.

MANAGEMENT 1 June 2026

Common-sense approach should apply to nitrates rules - ICSA

Common-sense approach should apply to nitrates rules - ICSA

ICSA rural development chair Edmond Phelan has called on the Department to apply the same approach to slurry imports as stocking figures.

NEWS 1 June 2026

8,691 non-stocking rate claims for BISS active farmer checks

8,691 non-stocking rate claims for BISS active farmer checks

Instead of using the previous year's stocking rate, farmers can satisfy the BISS active farmer check through maintaining land or cutting hay.

NEWS 1 June 2026

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Patrick and Valerie Sheehy: building better cows from day one

Achieving average weaning weights of 112kg doesn’t happen by accident. For Patrick and Valerie, it starts with calf management, high-quality nutrition and investing heavily in the first 70 days

Patrick and Valerie Sheehy: building better cows from day one

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