Agricultural News
It could be 2023 before CAP is reformed
The prospect of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) being pushed out by several years was highlighted at a meeting of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee this evening....
Stop using antibiotics in healthy animals, WHO urges farmers
The World Health Organization urged farmers on Tuesday to stop using antibiotics to promote growth and prevent disease in healthy animals because the practice fuels dangerous drug-resistant superbug infections in people....
Gangs now pay local informants and monitor social media to see when homes are left empty
CRIME gangs have responded to the Operation Thor crackdown by gardaí on rural burglaries with a change in tactics....
Teagasc make a number of key changes to advisory management
Two new Teagasc Regional Advisory Managers will be appointed in the coming months. Regional managers lead the delivery of Teagasc advisory services to farmers and the delivery of educational courses in the regional education centres....
Worried about Russia's march on grain markets? It could be worse
Russian grain is flowing around the world in a way not seen since the last years of the Tsarist empire a century ago but the country’s export expansion looks set to hit a wall because of a lack of infrastructure....
Government removed and destroyed our healthy cow, farmer claims
Farmers have accused Defra of breaking into their barn, seizing and killing a healthy cow over fears that it had tuberculosis....
It's true - Irish farmers have influenced the world
Irish farmers have been to the fore of technology and innovation for decades and many are having their tales of how they spread Irish knowledge around the world....
Hogan denies EU offered South Americans access for 98,000t of beef
European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan has vehemently denied reports that the EU has offered access to the European market for up to 98,000t of beef from Mercosur trading bloc....
Ornua plant in Spain ‘severely damaged’ by fire
Ornua has confirmed that a fire has severely damaged its mozzarella production facility at Ornua Ingredientes España, Avila, Spain....
Demand for top class equestrian properties is buoyant judging by recent auction results
Kildare auctioneer Willie Coonan believes the autumn is the best time to sell land and his experience in the auction room over the last week would tend to support this view....
WATCH: 'He's destroyed' - Sister of farmer dragged from bed and beaten by gang 'will never return home'
The sister of a farmer who was attacked at the weekend wants more gardai based in rural communities, CCTV cameras at motorway exits and ample resources allocated to fight rural crime....
How joining this society could help you survive four years studying Ag Science
Any one that has ever studied in UCD know the 'Ags' are renowned for their active social life....
Farmer and 'soulmate' dog viciously attacked by gang who broke into house for 'small sum of cash'
A farmer who was beaten and bound by a gang of men at the weekend is still recovering in hospital in Co Offaly and it has emerged that his dog was also beaten in the attack....
Farmers with above ground slurry tanks face inspections
Over 250 Co. Limerick farmers with above ground slurry tanks have been written to by the council to say they will be carrying out inspections of the tanks....
Farmer cries in court as he recalls how his sheep were 'ripped asunder' by Alsatians
A farmer was reduced to tears at Carrick on Suir District Court recently, as he recalled the day his sheep were “ripped asunder” by vicious dogs....
Gardai believe vehicle used in attack on farmer was parked in local field for some time
Gardai in the Midlands are searching for four culprits after a farmer in his 50s was subject to an aggravated burglary at his home....
Investigation launched and reward offered as cattle worth €17,000 are stolen
Gardaí are investigating a theft incident at a farm in Louth Village, Dundalk, Co Louth over the weekend....
Champion Aubrac breeder on why interest in the breed is continuing to spread
A Donegal breeder maintained a long-running winning streak when recording a double success at the Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society Show and Sale at GVM Mart, Tullamore on Saturday....
#WhoIsSue? Mystery of giant field message solved
The creator of a mysterious message which sparked widespread bemusement when it was spotted in an Oxfordshire field has been revealed....
Clarity has been provided on some important finance measures for farmers
The last few weeks have been something of a rollercoaster for many farm families in the throes of succession planning....
The Irish farmer with hundreds of thousands of social media followers
He has 165,000 followers on Facebook and 50,000 on Snapchat, but few know the man behind the success of 'Snapped on the Farm'....
Solid fuel home fires main threat to air quality, say environmental chiefs
The use of peat, wood and coal to heat homes is the biggest threat to air quality in Ireland, environmental chiefs have warned....
Tax farmers for producing greenhouse gas emissions - Citizens Assembly
Farmers could face taxes for greenhouse gas emissions produced from farming, if the views of the Citizens Assembly are considered by the Government....
See the latest machinery innovations from Agritechnica
This year's Agritechnica Show in Germany is set to attract 400,000 visitors from November 12 to 18....
Compact Meath farm with a €200,000 price tag
When it comes to farmland sale auctioneers will tell you their bread and butter is made up of the smaller parcels that sell consistently....
No joke: China's war on pollution stirs up world's top pig farming sector
When Zhang Faqing received a letter from the government last December ordering him to close his pig farm on the outskirts of Beijing with just two weeks notice, he thought it was a joke....
'Citizens Assembly totally out of touch on proposal to charge farmers for emissions'
Calls at the Citizens Assembly to charge farmers for emissions are "totally out of touch" according to Michael Fitzmaurice....
Eight steps to better winter feed management
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Model farm in Tipperary attracting keen interest from dairy farmers
I got slightly lost on my way to see a 127ac residential farm for sale at Cullen in Co Tipperary. I turned left instead of right in the village of Monard and found myself at Soloheadbeg beside the memorial commemorating the ambush that marked the outbreak of the War of Independence....
The Irish milking parlour milking thousands of cows in the desert
Kildareman John Dore looked to the real kingdom of Kerry to build and design Baladna’s rotary milking parlour in the kingdom of Qatar....
Autumn storms have put the kibosh on winter sowing plans
The long-drawn-out harvest, some of which we failed to save, has been follow by dreadful conditions for those attempting to sow winter crops in the midlands....
The flock's scoring averages have improved this season
With all ewes having undergone AI in two groups on October 16 and 18, the pressure is off for another year....
The end is nigh for the days of blanket dry cow therapy
When the World Health Organisation states that "antimicrobial resistance is a global health emergency", and the UK's chief medical officer says the threat posed by resistance to antibiotics "ranks alongside terrorism", then perhaps it is time to realise that the days of blanket dry cow therapy may soon be coming to an end....
Growers receiving €20/t less than they did in 1976
Farmers have warned they may opt out of growing malting barley, with prices now €20/t below the price they received four decades ago....
Opinion: Catalan farmers are embroiled in this dangerous political stand-off
When Catalan farmers drove a tractorcade into Barcelona last month they were not protesting against falling farm incomes, or increasing pressure on government over some burning issue like the glyphosate ban....
Meet the Irishman helping Qatar import 10,000 cows
There's dairy expansion and then there's going from zero to 3,000 cows in less than four months....
Watch: There's something special about this busy motorway - see the working farm inside
We're well used to motorways in Ireland, but this section of the M62 in Yorkshire is pretty impressive - the road splits and there is a full working farm in between the lanes....
Ornua opens new innovation centre in Chicago
Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products has officially opened a 5,000-square-foot Innovation Centre in Chicago Illinois, the newest development by its subsidiary, CoreFX Ingredients....
Meet the Irish farmer who's set to be a Canadian TV star
Tourism Ireland in Canada has teamed up with The Weather Network, to promote the island of Ireland, which will run until mid-November and part of that will include Donegal farmer Patsy McNulty talking about how Irish farmers predict the weather....
Young boy injured in farm accident in midlands
A young boy was seriously injured in an accident on a farm in Co Laois yesterday....
Department rules out restrictions on land sales to corporations
The Department of Agriculture confirmed it will not move to introduce restrictions on the sale of agricultural land....
Farmers urged to bury their underpants to improve quality of their beef
Burying a pair of underpants in a field may not seem the obvious starting point for the perfect roast, but farmers are being urged to dig deep for tastier meat....
Loan terms are too short and putting pressure on farmers
Expand your herd only if it's right for your farm and your family, a leading dairy expert has said....
Factories feeling the heat as numbers tighten
Factory prices of €370-3.75/kg for bullocks and €3.80-3.85/kg for heifers are coming under pressure as numbers tighten....
'After six generations we may have to walk away from malting barley'
We talked to three tillage farmers who joined the protest outside the Boortmalt HQ in Co Kildare to highlight the poor returns they receive for malting barley....
Analysis: Merchant millers may need to be braver and more creative in battle with Glanbia
Spare a thought for the lads in Glanbia's PR department. If they aren't getting it in the neck from farmers about the latest scheme to lock in loyalty through feed purchases, they're fighting a backlash from the country's usually mild-mannered meal millers....
Gardai warn farmers to lock up equipment amid spate of farm machinery thefts
Gardai in the Cavan/Monaghan border Division issued a warning to all householders and farms with premises close to main routes to take extra precautions in locking- up sheds and increasing security around their properties, to prevent the theft of lawn-mowers and other gardening equipment....
Farmers face opening silage pits of 'extremely variable' quality
Many farmers are facing into the winter with fodder that is of questionable quality, according to silage analysis results....
Is it time to cancel some cows' winter holidays?
An estimated 23pc of cows in the liquid milk herd are taking a long holiday every winter....
Tractor NCT may be parked as Department of Transport takes on industry concerns
The controversial NCT for tractors may be parked, after a stakeholder meeting today....
Men V rhododendron: Volunteers to tackle plant invader
It is an invasive plant that threatens thousands of acres of farmland bordering the country's national parks but the battle against the rhododendron will be strengthened next week by an army of volunteers from the Men's Shed movement....
'Consumers are under a constant barrage of misleading and ill-informed' messages about dairy'
Dairy industry leaders have said that consumers are under a constant barrage of "misleading and ill-informed" messages about dairy....
Intervention proposals a threat to milk price safety net: ICMSA
Proposals to fundamentally change the intervention pricing structure for dairy commodities have provoked strong criticism from the ICMSA....
'Brexit can let the UK re-think its approach to farming'
Brexit presents a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" for the UK to rethink its approach to farming, the countryside and rural communities, a think tank said....
Farmer fined after boy (14) collapsed when working with slurry
A 14-year-old was put in an induced coma after being overcome by fumes pumping slurry at a farm, a court has heard....
Online US sales of sports protein powders drives growth at Glanbia
Glanbia has reported a ‘good performance in the first nine months of 2017’with its onlines sales in the US, the key driver of growth....
Online US sales of sports protein powders drives growth at Glanbia
Glanbia has reported a ‘good performance in the first nine months of 2017’with its onlines sales in the US, the key driver of growth....
Argentina hopes new ambassador will help secure Mercosur trade deal
Argentina's outgoing Agriculture Minister Ricardo Buryaile is to become Argentina's ambassador to the EU, looking to secure a Mercosur deal....
Marts: All change as heavy stock take a €75 to €90/hd hit
Two weeks ago it appeared that a corner had been turned on the balance between numbers and buyers. Bigger sales coincided with bigger numbers of buyers arriving ringside....
Factories: ICM plants up their quotes by 10c/kg
The two ICM plants at Camolin and Navan have increased their lamb quotes by 10c this week to €4.50+10c/kg quality assurance....
ESB offers farmers €12,000 per pylon in 'uprating' works
Farmers who have ESB pylons on their land have been offered up to €12,000 per pylon by ESB Networks to carry out "uprating" works on their property....
Teagasc 'can't compete on starting salaries' but one-third of staff earn €60,000 or more
Teagasc has warned that it cannot compete with the private sector for staff due to low starting-level salaries, while its annual report shows that more than one third of permanent staff earn €60,000 or more....
European and US dairy sectors driving dairy market recovery
The European and US dairy markets are leading international recovery in milk markets, the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit was told....
Department announces start of Knowledge Transfer payments to 19,000 farmers
The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced that farmers in 1,100 Knowledge Transfer groups are due to get payments from the first year of the scheme....
Why the 2018 grazing season starts now
With the time changed, the days shorten, darkness descends earlier, look to prepare land, livestock and farmyards for the winter....
What has been the EU's response to growing butter demand?
Figures from the UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) show that while international butter markets were rising to record highs, the EU response has been muted....
Wet weather drags down New Zealand' dairy production
Wet weather has officially stalled spring dairy production in New Zealland....
ICBF beef bull ratings are 'flawed' and breeders demand answers
Beef breeders are demanding answers after it has emerged that beef bull ratings have been largely based on the performance records of just four progeny....
Farmer drove tractor around city 'looking for women'
An agricultural worker from Co. Donegal who drove a tractor around the centre of Derry earlier this year, told police officers who stopped him that he was "looking for women"....
We cannot allow no-deal Brexit to happen, warns McGuinness
There is a "real risk" the UK could crash out of the EU without a Brexit deal, Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness has warned....
Volatile weather demands concrete solutions
With the ground now saturated it wasn't hard to make the decision to house most of the stock....
White South African farmers block major routes in protest over murders
Thousands of white farmers have blocked traffic on some major roads in South Africa in what they call a Black Monday protest against the high rate of murders of farmers....
Why this sheep farmer opted for an infusion of prize-winning Ulster genes
The Bluefaced Leicester ewes have received AI and are due to lamb down the last few days of February....
The Irish cat that has just landed a book deal
Move over Babe the Pig, there's a new four-legged shepherd in town and he's not a work of fiction. Bodacious, the shepherd cat walked into Kilkenny sheep farmer Suzanna Crampton's life 11 years ago, and now his adventures are being turned into a novel....
Storm Ophelia was a reminder of how vital generators and other back-up equipment are for dairy farmers
Dairy farmers were forced to play the generator game as a result of power outages suffered due to the 190km/h winds of Storm Ophelia last Monday....
This 60ac farm by the shores of Lough Derg has big potential
A 60ac residential farm in a number of divisions is on the market near Portumna, Co Galway and is guided at €675,000....
Hundreds of thousands in damage as fire rips though agri contractors shed
A massive fire which engulfed the sheds of an agricultural contractor caused damage estimated at several hundred of thousands of euro....
'Absurd and Unfair' - Law Society head hits out at Donohoe over stamp duty
The president of the Law Society has written to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to complain about "absurd and unfair" transitional arrangements for stamp duty on non-residential property....
Watch: How this high spec forager is reducing wastage and manual work
Blaney Forager X10 bale unrollers are now a common sight on farms throughout Ireland....
An understated classic in Tipp guided at €750,000
I see so many houses of Georgian vintage on my trips around the country I sometimes expect to become 'all Georgianed out'....
This auctioneer remembers when the Purcells would come looking for hundreds of cattle
All regular buyers have their own way of conveying a bid to the auctioneer, according to veteran auctioneer George Candler....
How to get the most out of your cattle over the winter
During the winter housing period, maintaining thrive in weanlings and store cattle is vital....
Law Society head hits out at Donohoe over stamp duty
The president of the Law Society has written to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to complain about "absurd and unfair" transitional arrangements for stamp duty on non-residential property....
Opinion: Security issues as much of a priority as economics in Brexit negotiation
We rarely get good news about Brexit. It's not a happy theme - but it's one we have to continually face because of its huge ramifications for Irish farming, agribusiness and the economy generally....
How these Dutch farmers solved the problem of cows 'feed sorting' their winter rations
A well-known phenomenon on many farms during winter is the way in which cows move their noses through the feed in order to try and extract the tastiest feed....
Strong bidding sees midlands farm sell for €7,200 per acre
Mullingar auctioneers Murtagh Bros had a good week in the auction rooms last week selling one farm under the hammer and other immediately after auction. Among the successes was a 100ac farm with a derelict residence at Cornacarta, Ballymahon, Co Longford. It made €720,000 or €7,200/ac....
Analysis: Measures that can give you relief on new 6pc stamp duty rate rate
There have been significant changes to stamp duty in the last number of years with a large reduction in rates....
Powerful Waterford land set to make €8,000/ac under the hammer
I was half expecting auctioneer Dan Fleming to ring and cancel our planned trip to view a 76ac non-residential Waterford farm at Knockroe, Tallow, Lismore between Fermoy and Lismore. The rain was falling in torrents and I was well on the road when the Blarney auctioneer eventually called....
After 45 years as an auctioneer, selling cattle, horses and 'slaves' George Chandler has no plans to quit
During the 1980s and 90s, the mart trade experienced many a crisis, but the one that really stands out for Kilkenny-based auctioneer, George Candler, was the Foot and Mouth Disease of 2001....
Heavy ground is taking its toll on herd performance
Ophelia has left a trail of destruction in her wake we never want to see again....
Chipping away at spud imports - Farmers seeking to unearth the potential of salad potatoes
Farm organisations are seeking to unearth the potential of salad potatoes and chipping potatoes in order to reduce our reliance on imports....
Six steps to getting your diet feeder in shape for winter feeeding
Diet feeders require regular maintenance and now is a good time to do some pre-season checks before things get busy over the winter feeding period....
'We can no longer stick our heads in the sand - Ophelia was linked to climate change'
We can't "stick our heads in the sand any longer" when it comes to the impact climate change is having on Irish trees, Teagasc forestry advisor Steven Meyen has warned....
Advice: Contact your local authority or the ESB to deal with dangerous trees
Q Last week's storm uprooted some trees on the border between my land and my neighbour. Although still standing I am concerned that it will fall and bring down the power lines along side and if that happened I would likely lose power to the milking parlour and other facilities. I have told my neighbour that he needs to have the tree removed and made safe, but I don't think he has done anything...
Meet the farmer who took the unusual step of switching from dairying to cattle finishing
The roof was blown off Paudy O'Brien's calving shed in Co Cork by Storm Ophelia, but he has no further farm damage to report apart from a couple of trees falling to earth on his farm....
Bids to reclaim farm 'obsessive, hopeless and vexatious' - judge
A HIGH Court judge has imposed litigation restrictions on a woman and her non- professional advisor over their involvement in multiple actions that amounted to "an abuse of process upon an abuse of process" concerning a midlands farm....
Gallery: Traditional Tipp holding on 21ac with a host of farm buildings guided at €450,000
This house on 21.5ac at Ballincor, Lisronagh in Co Tipperary is coming to auction with a guide price of €450,000....
'Would-be' son in law steals life savings from farmer who withdrew money from banks to keep it safe at home
A Co Clare farmer who withdrew his life savings from various financial institutions around the time of the economic crash has been unable to retire due to the theft of the €130,000 by his would-be son in law, a court has heard....
New Zealand looks to muscle in on Ireland’s grass-fed beef and lamb story
New Zealand is looking at creating an umbrella marketing ‘story’ for its beef and lamb brands, which would emulate yet challenge Irish beef and lamb....
Health and Safety Authority to start intensive farm inspection campaign (here's what they will be looking for)
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will begin a month long intensive farm inspection campaign on Wednesday, November 1....