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Farmer Writes: A new year, a new challenge
Bill O'Keeffe
As the year draws to a close, so does my time contributing to this page in the Irish Farmers Journal.
13 December 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: An avalanche of farming issues
The biggest issue facing farmers and farm leaders as we move into the darkest months of the year could be mental health.
29 November 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: wind-down for winter begins
We are doing a bit extra with calf housing this year, in case regulations change enough to increase the number of calves around the yard through the spring.
Farmer Writes: free from the shackles of TB
We are milking once a day for the last week and will continue with this for the rest of the season now, with both man and beast needing a break after a tough year.
15 November 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: cows housed after relentless rain
We’ve never seen it this wet this early in the winter over this side of the country, writes Bill O'Keeffe.
1 November 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: winter closing in fast
Farmer Bill O’Keeffe writes about the transition from autumn into winter and looks at the struggle of farmers to get recognition for their sustainability efforts.
18 October 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: clear TB test a good omen
There seems to be less farm businesses putting up stands every year at the Ploughing, but it’s still the biggest show in town.
20 September 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: grass jumping out of the ground
Kilkenny farmer Bill O’Keeffe writes about his plans to diversify his sward to improve cow performance.
6 September 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: Keeping an eye on those milking the farmer
Kilkenny dairy farmer Bill O’Keeffe is fed up of buying at retail price, selling at wholesale price and paying freight both ways, as the saying goes.
23 August 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: tough summer for silage and harvest
The straw situation has deteriorated every week as we moved through the summer.
9 August 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: disappointing weekend in Kilkenny
We will have reduced nitrogen application by another 20% this year and maybe 40% on historic levels, with very little effect on grass grown.
26 July 2023 Farmer Writes
Farmer Writes: farmers let down by bad actors
If we are honest, the bull calf was deemed irrelevant for a long period of time right from the top of our advisory service down to the farm gate.
12 July 2023 Farmer Writes