Cutting-edge technology
John Kennedy and Alan Cunneen of Kennedy Agri drawing silage from Italian rye grass for John Minihan at Coolbawn, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. John Kennedy also runs Stealth Manufacturing where, during the winter he works on R&D projects with Hispec and Tanco. The Kompactor trailer being used to draw the silage is a prototype for Hispec that John has been working on since 2013. It is a push principle trailer which compacts grass as it is collected, allowing the trailer to carry 40% to 50% more, depending on the dry matter. \ Odhran Ducie
John Kennedy Agri Contracting harvesting Italian ryegrass at Coolbawn, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Making May hay while the sun shines
Contractor Paudie Kelly baling hay for beef and suckler farmers Johnny Hoey and sons in Cullaville, Co Armagh. The field was reseeded with Italian rye grass on 2 September 2019. The first crop of hay to come off the field yielded 14 bales to the acre. \ Barry Cronin
Haybaling in Cullaville, Co Armagh, on John Hoey's farm is tractor driver Paudie Kelly. \ Barry Cronin
Clothing and cooking oils
Keith Horan is a suckler and tillage farmer from Killincooly More, Co Wexford. He is harrowing a field in preparation to plant his first crop of hemp. Hemp is a versatile crop which can be used to produce clothing and cooking oils. \ Claire Nash
Keith Horan.\ Claire Nash
Keith Horan.\ Claire Nash
Keith Horan is a suckler and tillage farmer from Killincooly More, Co Wexford. He is harrowing a field in preparation to plant his first crop of hemp. Hemp is a versatile crop which can be used to produce clothing and cooking oils. \ Claire Nash
My Farming Week: Seán Murphy, Ballymacsimon, Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford
Dairy farmer Sean Murphy from Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. Seán started his dairy enterprise in 2019 and is now milking 72 cows on his home farm in Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
This week: ”I am about three weeks into breeding season, so far it’s going very well. Apart from that, I would be getting the yard ready for silage.” \ Claire Nash
Dairy farmer Sean Murphy from Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
Three generations of dairy farming
Three generations of the O’Donovan family are living and working their dairy enterprise on Rouryhill Farm, Ballyvoreen, Rosscarbery, Co Cork. Denis and his wife Collette are presently running the 160-cow herd on the farm that was started by his parents DJ and Sheila in the mid-1960s. Eoghan is currently in fourth year and has ambitions of staying home on the farm into the future. The O’Donovans are also one of four farms in West Cork Farm Tours, which has had to cancel all activities due to the COVID-19 virus. \ Donal O’Leary
Cork marts preparing for buyer return
A general view of the main ring at Corrin mart where preperations are being made for 8 June when marts can potentially allow buyers return to the ringside during sales. \ Donal O' Leary
Corrin Mart in Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary
Whelock fruit farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
Cyril Whelock picking strawberries on the Whelock fruit farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. This season will be extremely challenging for the strawberry farmers who traditionally sell produce on the side of the road. Whelocks have reopened their on site farm shop and implemented all the HSE guidelines. \ Claire Nash
On site, they also have added a Jersey cow, which was named Hope by their social media followers. \ Claire Nash.
Cyril Whelock's farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
Sheep and cattle farming in Co Galway
Sheep and cattle farmer William Ralston tending to his flock of mountain ewes with their lambs in Creggymulgreny, Craughwell, Co Galway. \ David Ruffles
William Ralston's farm in Creggymulgreny, Craughwell, Co Galway. \ David Ruffles
Read more
This week in photos: farming for generations
This week in photos: Tayto crisps and raking, making and wrapping bales
This week in photos: silage, bed tilling and spraying off rushes
This week in photos: restrictions at the mart and rolling spring oats
Cutting-edge technology
John Kennedy and Alan Cunneen of Kennedy Agri drawing silage from Italian rye grass for John Minihan at Coolbawn, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. John Kennedy also runs Stealth Manufacturing where, during the winter he works on R&D projects with Hispec and Tanco. The Kompactor trailer being used to draw the silage is a prototype for Hispec that John has been working on since 2013. It is a push principle trailer which compacts grass as it is collected, allowing the trailer to carry 40% to 50% more, depending on the dry matter. \ Odhran Ducie
John Kennedy Agri Contracting harvesting Italian ryegrass at Coolbawn, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. \ Odhran Ducie
Making May hay while the sun shines
Contractor Paudie Kelly baling hay for beef and suckler farmers Johnny Hoey and sons in Cullaville, Co Armagh. The field was reseeded with Italian rye grass on 2 September 2019. The first crop of hay to come off the field yielded 14 bales to the acre. \ Barry Cronin
Haybaling in Cullaville, Co Armagh, on John Hoey's farm is tractor driver Paudie Kelly. \ Barry Cronin
Clothing and cooking oils
Keith Horan is a suckler and tillage farmer from Killincooly More, Co Wexford. He is harrowing a field in preparation to plant his first crop of hemp. Hemp is a versatile crop which can be used to produce clothing and cooking oils. \ Claire Nash
Keith Horan.\ Claire Nash
Keith Horan.\ Claire Nash
Keith Horan is a suckler and tillage farmer from Killincooly More, Co Wexford. He is harrowing a field in preparation to plant his first crop of hemp. Hemp is a versatile crop which can be used to produce clothing and cooking oils. \ Claire Nash
My Farming Week: Seán Murphy, Ballymacsimon, Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford
Dairy farmer Sean Murphy from Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. Seán started his dairy enterprise in 2019 and is now milking 72 cows on his home farm in Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
This week: ”I am about three weeks into breeding season, so far it’s going very well. Apart from that, I would be getting the yard ready for silage.” \ Claire Nash
Dairy farmer Sean Murphy from Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
Three generations of dairy farming
Three generations of the O’Donovan family are living and working their dairy enterprise on Rouryhill Farm, Ballyvoreen, Rosscarbery, Co Cork. Denis and his wife Collette are presently running the 160-cow herd on the farm that was started by his parents DJ and Sheila in the mid-1960s. Eoghan is currently in fourth year and has ambitions of staying home on the farm into the future. The O’Donovans are also one of four farms in West Cork Farm Tours, which has had to cancel all activities due to the COVID-19 virus. \ Donal O’Leary
Cork marts preparing for buyer return
A general view of the main ring at Corrin mart where preperations are being made for 8 June when marts can potentially allow buyers return to the ringside during sales. \ Donal O' Leary
Corrin Mart in Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary
Whelock fruit farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
Cyril Whelock picking strawberries on the Whelock fruit farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. This season will be extremely challenging for the strawberry farmers who traditionally sell produce on the side of the road. Whelocks have reopened their on site farm shop and implemented all the HSE guidelines. \ Claire Nash
On site, they also have added a Jersey cow, which was named Hope by their social media followers. \ Claire Nash.
Cyril Whelock's farm in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. \ Claire Nash
Sheep and cattle farming in Co Galway
Sheep and cattle farmer William Ralston tending to his flock of mountain ewes with their lambs in Creggymulgreny, Craughwell, Co Galway. \ David Ruffles
William Ralston's farm in Creggymulgreny, Craughwell, Co Galway. \ David Ruffles
Read more
This week in photos: farming for generations
This week in photos: Tayto crisps and raking, making and wrapping bales
This week in photos: silage, bed tilling and spraying off rushes
This week in photos: restrictions at the mart and rolling spring oats
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