Matt Dempsey

mdempsey@farmersjournal.ie

Dempsey at Large: the early lessons from solar

I was able to study the output from the panels which varied hugely depending on the weather and the time of day, writes Matt Dempsey.

VIEWPOINTS 7 January 2026

Dempsey at Large: the early lessons from solar

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The Home Farm: not a typical beef year

The Home Farm: not a typical beef year

VIEWPOINTS 7 January 2026

Dempsey at Large: getting the facts straight on nitrates

Dempsey at Large: getting the facts straight on nitrates

VIEWPOINTS 24 December 2025

Home Farm: beef market surprises

Home Farm: beef market surprises

Home Farm: beef market surprises

VIEWPOINTS 24 December 2025

Dempsey at Large: Need for Irish cereal breeding policy

Dempsey at Large: Need for Irish cereal breeding policy

Dempsey at Large: Need for Irish cereal breeding policy

VIEWPOINTS 17 December 2025

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Home Farm: sophisticated solar

Home Farm: sophisticated solar

The early closed paddocks have covers fit to graze after the long mild spell, but while the grass might be fit to graze, the land certainly isn't.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Dempsey at Large: Teagasc looks to the future

Dempsey at Large: Teagasc looks to the future

Has our competitive position deteriorated or improved vis-à-vis third countries, such as Russia and Brazil, and what can be done to reverse the erosion of our ability to compete.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Home Farm: rain ruins spraying plans

Home Farm: rain ruins spraying plans

Obviously we have all the cattle in at this stage. The latest ones to be housed put on absolutely no weight over the last month or six weeks.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Dempsey at Large: TB control - more of the same

Dempsey at Large: TB control - more of the same

The chickens are now coming home to roost, with an incredible €158 million allocated to the programme in the recent budget, an astonishing €20 for every cow, bullock and calf in the country.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Home Farm: starting our solar journey

Home Farm: starting our solar journey

We dithered as to whether the wire should be buried beneath the yard or brought around overhead by being attached to the existing outhouses.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Dempsey at Large: ingredients for EU food and drink exports

Dempsey at Large: ingredients for EU food and drink exports

It’s hard to see the unwinding of the Mercosur deal, but we should at least press for food and drink sold within the EU and exported under an EU label to be made from EU ingredients.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

Home Farm: a blip or a trend?

Home Farm: a blip or a trend?

The dry, cooler weather has allowed us to graze out the remaining paddocks with light cattle. All the heavier ones are in at this stage.

VIEWPOINTS 26 November 2025

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Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

Our success in export markets depends not only on finding new buyers, but on protecting the strong and hard-fought position we occupy on the global stage.

Irish dairy’s green advantage across the globe

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