The pandemic is tough going. Trying to keep in a positive frame of mind with all the work and life pressures is challenging at the best of times, and especially now. The virus will attack anyone and its effect can vary from asymptomatic to ICU admission to death.
For this reason, it is disappointing to see politicians, with or formerly with, agriculture portfolios disregarding COVID-19 guidelines and absolutely the last thing that the agriculture industry needs is further instability.
Farming
Grass is flying out of the ground these days and the last of the surpluses were gathered from the paddocks at the beginning of August. It’s full steam ahead building covers at the moment along with walking paddocks regularly. Growth is still well ahead of demand so reaching the September targets will be fairly achievable.
One of my father’s favourite programmes on television is Countryfile, which airs weekly on BBC. However, he laments their movement away from farming content in recent years to focus on other rural content.
In any case, "Adam’s Farm" is his favourite segment, in which presenter Adam Henson focuses on current tasks on his farm is the Cotswolds, and introduces his rare breeds of practically every farm animal. This has convinced him to purchase some rare breed cattle himself and he duly went and acquired two pairs of Droimeann cows and calves.
James Mimnagh's father has bought some rare breed, beautifully marked Droimeann cattle.
I recently applied for the Beef Finisher Payment scheme and would encourage all eligible farmers to apply. Being a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme is the only requirement, and most farmers probably are if they slaughtered cattle within the qualifying slaughter dates for payment.
James Mimnagh's livestock.
We are beginning to sell store bullocks and heifers, and the first batch of heifers was sold recently in Granard and made a price of €1.84/kg.
Marts have to be commended with their initiative shown during the lockdown, in relation to online bidding, and I’m hopeful that it is a sale route that will continue to coincide with the traditional ringside bidding when things return to normal. You can’t bully a fellow farmer into not bidding when they are at their kitchen table!
Finally, I’d like to congratulate my neighbour, Ronan, on the birth of 20 piglets from one sow which you may have seen on RTÉ News last month. Here’s hoping she continues to be as prolific in future.
Read more
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The pandemic is tough going. Trying to keep in a positive frame of mind with all the work and life pressures is challenging at the best of times, and especially now. The virus will attack anyone and its effect can vary from asymptomatic to ICU admission to death.
For this reason, it is disappointing to see politicians, with or formerly with, agriculture portfolios disregarding COVID-19 guidelines and absolutely the last thing that the agriculture industry needs is further instability.
Farming
Grass is flying out of the ground these days and the last of the surpluses were gathered from the paddocks at the beginning of August. It’s full steam ahead building covers at the moment along with walking paddocks regularly. Growth is still well ahead of demand so reaching the September targets will be fairly achievable.
One of my father’s favourite programmes on television is Countryfile, which airs weekly on BBC. However, he laments their movement away from farming content in recent years to focus on other rural content.
In any case, "Adam’s Farm" is his favourite segment, in which presenter Adam Henson focuses on current tasks on his farm is the Cotswolds, and introduces his rare breeds of practically every farm animal. This has convinced him to purchase some rare breed cattle himself and he duly went and acquired two pairs of Droimeann cows and calves.
James Mimnagh's father has bought some rare breed, beautifully marked Droimeann cattle.
I recently applied for the Beef Finisher Payment scheme and would encourage all eligible farmers to apply. Being a member of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme is the only requirement, and most farmers probably are if they slaughtered cattle within the qualifying slaughter dates for payment.
James Mimnagh's livestock.
We are beginning to sell store bullocks and heifers, and the first batch of heifers was sold recently in Granard and made a price of €1.84/kg.
Marts have to be commended with their initiative shown during the lockdown, in relation to online bidding, and I’m hopeful that it is a sale route that will continue to coincide with the traditional ringside bidding when things return to normal. You can’t bully a fellow farmer into not bidding when they are at their kitchen table!
Finally, I’d like to congratulate my neighbour, Ronan, on the birth of 20 piglets from one sow which you may have seen on RTÉ News last month. Here’s hoping she continues to be as prolific in future.
Read more
Farmer Writes: necessary changes often get put on the long finger
Country warned to prepare for Storm Francis
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