Keeping milk moving

Peak milk has passed in the last week for most milk processors. Milk supply for the last month is estimated to be up by over 30m litres on the same month last year. Every day in May, at this time of the year, over 2,000 lorry loads of milk are collected each day and delivered to Irish milk processors. \ Donal O' Leary

Kerry Agribusiness has close to 300 lorries per day. \ Donal O' Leary

Washing milk lorries in the intake bays at Kerry Foods Charleville plant. \ Donal O' Leary

Good weather makes for easier silage making

The spell of good weather has allowed silage to be cut across the country over the last number of weeks. David Hayden (right) baling silage on Peter Greeney’s farm in Slade Valley, Co Dublin, while Adam McGarr draws bales. \ Damien Eagers Photography

Turning and baling silage on Peter Greeney’s farm in Slade Valley, Co Dublin. \ Damien Eagers Photography

Ballylin dairy herd of 200 cattle out in a fresh paddock

Lesley Speer and David Speer with their Ballylin dairy herd of 200 cattle out in a fresh paddock on the edge of Lough Swilly overlooking Inch Island, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

My Farming Week: Colin Goulden, Gortnadrass, Co Sligo

Sheep farmer Colin Goulden is getting ready for a busy shearing season in Co Sligo as he prepares to shear over 5,000 sheep. \ James Connolly

Colin filling a seed hopper on his farm in Gortnadrass, Co Sligo. \ James Connolly

I farm: “Just over 100ac of owned and leased land which varies in quality from mainly loamy soils to some heavier ground. I also lease another 50ac of commonage.”

Wood and perspex isolates bidders at the marts

A mixture of wood and perspex isolates each of the bidders in a new system with confined spaces at Rathfriland Mart in Newry, Co Down. \ Houston Green

Conor McShane from Hilltown, Co Down. \ Houston Green

Bidding for the first time through a perspex screen at the new set-up at Rathfriland Mart : Brian Doyle Markethill and John Patton from Mountnorris.

Cattle at grass

Suckler farmer Mick Delaney with his cattle at grass; Mick finishes his animals as two-year-olds on his farm in Lacken, Co Kilkenny. It’s been a great first half to the year in terms of grass growth and grazing conditions on farms around the country, with drystock farmers reporting that animals have been thriving well at grass. \ CJ Nash

Suckler farmer Mick Delaney with his cattle at grass; Mick finishes his animals as two-year-olds on his farm in Lacken, Co Kilkenny. It’s been a great first half to the year in terms of grass growth and grazing conditions on farms around the country, with drystock farmers reporting that animals have been thriving well at grass. \ CJ Nash

Cutting silage for the pit

Trevor Johnston cutting silage for the pit on his farm in Lugnagon, Co Leitrim. Trevor contract-rears calves and also runs a farm contracting business with his father Tom. \ Philip Doyle

With schools closed, Trevor's daughters Kenzie and Lacie are helping out around the farm. \ Philip Doyle

Irrigation is essential for high-value vegetable crops

A field of broccoli being irrigated as the sun beats down in in Grangerosnolvon, Co Kildare. \ CJ Nash

A broccoli field with two irrigation machines, helping the crops as the dry weather continues in Grangerosnolvon, Co Kildare. \ CJ Nash

Read more

This week in photos: silage baling, inseminating cows and donkey milk soap

This week in photos: harvesting cauliflower and anchored livestock carrier

This week in photos: drawing silage, picking strawberries and making hay

This week in photos: farming for generations

This week in photos: Tayto crisps and raking, making and wrapping bales