TOP STORIES
News
Revenue and Oireachtas ag committee at loggerheads on VAT reclaim
Anne O'Donoghue
Revenue provided some clarification on items that are eligible and ineligible for VAT reclaim by non-VAT registered farmers at the committee.
Revenue and Oireachtas ag committee at loggerheads on VAT reclaim
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Cheddar investment in Northern Ireland
Jack Kennedy
Cheddar investment in Northern Ireland
Dale Farm has moved to reward the farmer to further flatten the milk curve, and I presume to increase volumes processed on an annual basis.
Big push to get 45,000 BISS applications submitted
Darren Carty
Big push to get 45,000 BISS applications submitted
It is estimated that there are in the region of 45,000 BISS applications to be submitted in the final 10 days before the deadline of midnight on Wednesday, 15 May.
Rachel Donovan
Live export boat refused entry to port
Declan O’Brien
Concrete costs rise amid cement price hike
Pat O'Toole
Pesticides cut divides at Gowran IFA debate
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farm SPONSORED
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farm
DURA² fencing provided John Paul Bennett and his wife Laura with a durable and environmentally friendly fencing solution for their home and farm.
CLIMATE TARGETS
Using the lightning effect to create nitrogen
Aidan Brennan
Using the lightning effect to create nitrogen
Aidan Brennan reports from the Netherlands, where GEA have launched a new machine that increases the nitrogen content in slurry and reduces emissions.
European elections: the candidates running in the Midlands North West
Pat O'Toole
European elections: the candidates running in the Midlands North West
With 27 candidates standing for five seats, the 1.25 million people in the sprawling constituency have big decisions to make.
More timber-framed homes will reduce carbon emissions - researcher
Rachel Donovan
More timber-framed homes will reduce carbon emissions - researcher
Certain volumes of concrete and steel need to be replaced with materials such as timber in order for Ireland to meet its forestry targets, a forestry conference heard on Thursday.
PODCASTS
VIDEO HUB
MART REPORTS
Camera at the Mart: exporters drive demand in Elphin
Adam Woods
Camera at the Mart: exporters drive demand in Elphin
Adam Woods reports from Elphin Mart’s special weanling sale held last Monday.
Camera at the Mart: red hot forward store and cow trade in Kanturk
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: red hot forward store and cow trade in Kanturk
There was super demand for cattle at Kanturk Mart this week, with close to a 100% clearance rate. Demand was greatest for forward stores and cows, with farmer buyers driving trade for yearling stock.
Camera at the Mart: beef breeds dominate Tullow calf sale
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: beef breeds dominate Tullow calf sale
Trade for calves was solid at Tullow Mart for its weekly sale on Friday last, with a good selection of beef-cross calves going through the ring.
Sheep mart prices: agents keen but more cautious buying
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: agents keen but more cautious buying
It is clear that factories want to increase throughput, with agents keen not to let sheep home unsold, but also not willing to get caught up in heated bidding exchanges.
BEEF
Ashtree Woody had a firm hold in Thurles
Shanon Kinahan
Ashtree Woody had a firm hold in Thurles
1 euro subscription
Rachel Donovan
Live export boat refused entry to port
Martin Merrick
Soil temperatures and growth set to kick in to gear
Adam Woods
Factories apply pressure to trade
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Young dairy farmers can travel to New Zealand with new FRS scheme
Niamh Murphy
Young dairy farmers can travel to New Zealand with new FRS scheme
New Zealand Dairy Careers and FRS have announced a work exchange scheme for young dairy farmers.
McConalogue seeks coalition backing of derogation
Anne O'Donoghue
McConalogue seeks coalition backing of derogation
Minister McConalogue will bring a memo to his Cabinet colleagues next week asking for a whole Government approach to securing the derogation beyond 2025.
Declan Collins
Growth rates predicted to rise this week
e-Learning
Aidan Brennan
Dairy Management: grass growth and dairy beef bulls
There’s a future for palm oil in the dairy supply chain SPONSORED
There’s a future for palm oil in the dairy supply chain
If not palm, then what? Understanding the complex story of sustainable palm and the vital role it plays in supporting global conservation efforts, local economies and the dairy supply chain.
SHEEP
Sheep Trends: another low kill of just 38,565 sheep
Darren Carty
Sheep Trends: another low kill of just 38,565 sheep
Sheep mart prices: agents keen but more cautious buying
Darren Carty
Sheep mart prices: agents keen but more cautious buying
NI Trends: cattle prices slowly edging upwards; lamb trade under pressure
Kieran Mailey
NI Trends: cattle prices slowly edging upwards; lamb trade under pressure
Camera at the Mart: smaller numbers but strong prices in Ballina
Martin Merrick
Camera at the Mart: smaller numbers but strong prices in Ballina
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
TB herd incidence now above 5%
Noel Bardon
TB herd incidence now above 5%
A lack of stakeholder engagement on curbing TB spread between cattle is holding up eradication efforts, Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has claimed.
Livestock - its role in our economy and ecosystems
Adam Woods
Livestock - its role in our economy and ecosystems
Professor Frank O’Mara, president of animal task force and director of Teagasc, outlines the role of livestock in our economy and ecosystem.
PEDIGREE
Lisduff Emirates a high flier in Nenagh
Shanon Kinahan
Lisduff Emirates a high flier in Nenagh
Shanon Kinahan was in Central Auctions Nenagh on Thursday where 24 Aberdeen Angus bulls sold to an average price of €3,540.
A special night at FBD National Hall of Fame awards
Shanon Kinahan
A special night at FBD National Hall of Fame awards
Shanon Kinahan was at the FBD National Hall of Fame awards in Athlone on Sunday night, where the top breeders in the bovine, equine and ovine industries were celebrated.
'Everything is connected': protecting future generations with farming techniquesSPONSORED
'Everything is connected': protecting future generations with farming techniques
Rising temperatures, endless droughts and devastating floods – an unrelenting cycle of extreme weather is pushing communities in Malawi into deadly hunger.
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farmSPONSORED
How FRS fencing and DURA² helped transform our home and farm
DURA² fencing provided John Paul Bennett and his wife Laura with a durable and environmentally friendly fencing solution for their home and farm.
Upgrading barley yields with a new fungicide solutionSPONSORED
Upgrading barley yields with a new fungicide solution
Due to relentless wet weather, the spring of 2024 has proven to be an extremely testing time for growers.
Pump up your crops with VIXERAN®SPONSORED
Pump up your crops with VIXERAN®
VIXERAN®, a proven bacteria-based biofertiliser by Syngenta Biologicals, allows your crop to fix nitrogen (N) directly from the atmosphere. This improves nitrogen use efficiency on your farm.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Dale Farm’s cheese investment is about adding value as well as capacity
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Dale Farm’s cheese investment is about adding value as well as capacity
The £70m (€81.5m) investment is one of the largest ever by an agri-food company in Northern Ireland.
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
Stephen Robb
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
Dairygold Co-Operative Society intends to build a new biomass plant for the generation of steam as part of the decarbonisation roadmap for its Mallow site, replacing natural gas use.
US beef price hits factory margins
Phelim O'Neill
US beef price hits factory margins
Farmers in the US are on the crest of a beef price wave, but it is being felt on factories' bottom line.
What we learned from co-op annual reports
Lorcan Roche Kelly
What we learned from co-op annual reports
Industry leaders are singing from the same hymn sheet, as milk supply growth ends.
TILLAGE
Boortmalt enters partnership with Soil Capital
Niamh Murphy
Boortmalt enters partnership with Soil Capital
1 euro subscription
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: upward price trend continues
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Management: planting, fungicides and bird food
Niamh Murphy
Potato planting still behind on a normal year
Boortmalt enters partnership with Soil Capital SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
Redrock Machinery Ltd Acquires Ktwo and Warwick trailers
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Redrock Machinery Ltd Acquires Ktwo and Warwick trailers
Redrock Machinery Ltd has announced that it has successfully acquired the Ktwo and Warwick trailers brands. Peter Thomas Keaveney and Gary Abbott report.
On review: compact handler offering big capacity
Peter Thomas Keaveney
On review: compact handler offering big capacity
Peter Thomas Keaveney got the opportunity to spend some time with the Weidemann T7042, the first model from the manufacturer to have a 7m lift and 4.2t lifting capacity.
Gary Abbott
Is Suzuki’s KingQuad 750 king of the quads?
Michael Moroney
Renault blends new hybrid system smoothly in Arkana refresh
Gary Abbott
New Holland presents platform to simplify digital farm management
New quad bike regulations - are you ready? SPONSORED
New quad bike regulations - are you ready?
Quad bikes are designed to cope with a wide variety of terrain types and so are a fantastic aid for farm work - by Ciaran Roche, FBD risk manager.
PROPERTY
Sizeable Meath farm is guided at €20,000/ac
Paul Mooney
Sizeable Meath farm is guided at €20,000/ac
The farm comes with a practical yard that has both slatted and bedded cattle sheds, writes Paul Mooney.
€250,000 guide price on Kerry hill holding with farmhouse
Paul Mooney
€250,000 guide price on Kerry hill holding with farmhouse
Large property has plenty of road frontage and could attract a buyer with environmental priorities, writes Paul Mooney.
Model cattle yard with compact farm in Westmeath
Paul Mooney
Model cattle yard with compact farm in Westmeath
This holding is in a convenient location, about 12km from bustling Athlone, writes Paul Mooney.
BUILDINGS
TAMS costings: review required amid skewed results
Martin Merrick
TAMS costings: review required amid skewed results
TAMS costings have been falling far short of actual costs for some time, but how does TAMS III reference costs stack up.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Delay to Nature Resoration Law approval
Declan O’Brien
Delay to Nature Resoration Law approval
Opponents of the law claim it gives too much power to Brussels to dictate how member states use their land.
Farmers need clarity on biodiversity aims and supports - ATU researcher
Noel Bardon
Farmers need clarity on biodiversity aims and supports - ATU researcher
The messaging on biodiversity and food production policy aims must be made clear to farmers if they are to buy into environmental schemes, an ATU researcher has said.
RENEWABLES
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
Stephen Robb
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
Dairygold Co-Operative Society intends to build a new biomass plant for the generation of steam as part of the decarbonisation roadmap for its Mallow site, replacing natural gas use.
State-led offshore wind farm sites revealed
Stephen Robb
State-led offshore wind farm sites revealed
The seas belong to the Irish people and how we develop them and use the resources must benefit the Irish people, according to Minister Eamon Ryan.
FORESTRY
Forestry plantings remain on the floor
Declan O’Brien
Forestry plantings remain on the floor
Unless there is a surge in activity between now and December, the total area planted will fall well below 2,000ha again this year.
Ash dieback package to boost replanting activity
Declan O’Brien
Ash dieback package to boost replanting activity
An upsurge in activity is expected to remove and replant much of the 20,000ha of diseased ash plantations in the country that have not been removed to date.
NORTHERN IRELAND
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Weekly round-up of news from the farming industry in Northern Ireland.
Surge in NI sheep exports to Britain
Kieran Mailey
Surge in NI sheep exports to Britain
Exports of sheep from Northern Ireland to Britain are up 83% year-on-year.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Life
Meet the Makers: sister duo Eadaoin and Catherine
In this week’s Meet the Maker, Grace Hanna chats to sisters Eadaoin and Catherine about their design-led interiors business Pebble and Sash.
Meet the Makers: sister duo Eadaoin and Catherine
Comment
Editorial: WhatsApp group configurations
Irish Horse
Irish Horse: what will Irish racing look like in 2028?
Careers
60% growth of employment for international financial services sector
Comment
Katherine O'Leary: ‘I first met my mother-in-law Lil, 46 years ago’
Gardening with Gerry: summer Magnolia
Gerry Daly
Gardening with Gerry: summer Magnolia
Summer magnolias are just showing leaves and swelling their flower buds as we head into the next season, writes Gerry Daly.
Long and skort of it
Denis Hurley
Long and skort of it
Last month, Camogie Congress voted against allowing players to wear shorts. Sarah O’Donovan feels that such a stance will be relaxed – the key is to provide choice, writes Denis Hurley.
Irish Horse Ringside Stories: flying British ambassador
Helen Sharp
Irish Horse Ringside Stories: flying British ambassador
While UK-based Lucinda Starling has clocked up air miles in her career, she is also an ambassador for Irish-breds cross-channel. In conversation with Susan Finnerty.
Irish Horse: seasons of change
Helen Sharp
Irish Horse: seasons of change
Looking past the wet ground to the season ahead and celebrating social media fame for the new donkey additions to the farm, writes Christa Dillon.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch: this week's pictures of the week shows fieldwork continuing
Photo Desk
Watch: this week's pictures of the week shows fieldwork continuing
Watch: this week in photos - grass, ploughing and bringing in cows
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - grass, ploughing and bringing in cows
Watch: this week in photos - some farmers back on the land
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - some farmers back on the land
Watch: this week in photos - grass, milking, marts and farm walks
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos - grass, milking, marts and farm walks
VIEWPOINTS
Time for candidates to work for their farmer constituents
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Home Farm: watching the winter barley
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Dempsey at Large: Tirlán's role in Glanbia plc
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
New Zealand farmers fighting back and seeking support
Contributor
Contributor
MOST READ
Beef prices: factories apply pressure to the trade
 
Beef prices: factories apply pressure to the trade
Agri Careers: 'I was forced to move to study veterinary medicine'
 
Agri Careers: 'I was forced to move to study veterinary medicine'
Solar PV banned on Italian land
 
Solar PV banned on Italian land
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
 
Proposed Dairygold biomass plant will replace natural gas
€150,000 worth of meat stolen from Dublin petrol station
 
€150,000 worth of meat stolen from Dublin petrol station
Young dairy farmers can travel to New Zealand with new FRS scheme
 
Young dairy farmers can travel to New Zealand with new FRS scheme
Fine farm of land in Tuam
 
Fine farm of land in Tuam
Watch: €8,800 top call at Limousin premier sale in Roscrea
 
Watch: €8,800 top call at Limousin premier sale in Roscrea
Beef production down almost 4% in 2023
 
Beef production down almost 4% in 2023
Department to provide in-person SCEP training this summer
 
Department to provide in-person SCEP training this summer