Ploughing no matter the weather

Grass growth powers ahead

Dairy Farmer Gerry Hoey and his daughter Aoife and son Darragh on the family farm (Furryhill Farm), Castletown, Co Meath. Gerry is happy with current grass growth getting 90kg/ha for his Friesian cross breed cattle. \ Barry Cronin

Darragh Hoey on the family farm in Castletown, Co Meath. \ Barry Cronin

Bringing the cows home

Dairy farmer Dan Hennessy brings in his cows in Moanour, Co Tipperary, for evening milking as the rain pours down. Dan described the last month as touch and go as they waited for rain to spur on grass growth following the spring dry spell. \ Philip Doyle

Dan Hennessy brings in his dairy cows in Moanour, Co Tipperary. \ Philip Doyle

My Farming Week: Rory Comiskey, Loughlan, Co Leitrim

Contractor and sheep farmer Rory Comiskey with his kids Kyle and Cian Leckaun during a break from mowing. \ Philip Doyle

Rory runs a contracting business alongside a flock of 150 ewes in Co Leitrim, near the Sligo border.

Mowing. \ Philip Doyle

I farm: “About 150 ewes and run a contracting business. All my land is rented in Sligo, but it is only seven or eight miles across the border. It consists of 50ac of lowland grazing ground and 50ac of a hill.”

First of its kind in Ireland: Natutec Drive System

James Clarke stands beside the Natutec Drive System by Koppert Biological Systems which spreads natural beneficial organisms on the Strawberry plants at Clarke’s Fruit Farm in Stamullen, Co Meath. \ Damien Eagers

James Clarke operates the Natutec Drive System. \ Damien Eagers

The machine disperses mites and insects which are the natural solution to pest control. \ Damien Eagers

Shauna Mellor from Stamullen picks strawberries. \ Damien Eagers

Training the sheepdog in Co Donegal

Dwyane Shiels of Woodtown Texels, Milford, Co Donegal, putting to work his nine-month-old sheepdog, Floss. \ Clive Wasson

Gerard Shiels, Woodtown Texels, Milford, Co Donegal, dressing Garngour Alabama out of Ettrick Bambi on Tuesday evening. \ Clive Wasson

Gerard Shiels training nine-month-old Floss. \ Clive Wasson

Woodtown Delilah, by Deveronvale Aftershock out of Woodtown Barbie - who won All Ireland Ewe Lamb and Overall Champion Donegal Texel Championship 2018 looking out from her shed on Tuesday last. \ Clive Wasson

'Sustainable Farm Insights’ program launched on Tullamore Farm

Justin McCarthy and Mary Delaney from the Irish Farmers Journal along with with Seán Molloy, Director of Strategy and Supply Development at Glanbia, met at the Irish Farmers Journal demonstration farm in Tullamore, Co Offaly to launch the new 'Sustainable Farm Insights’ program \ Philip Doyle

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This week in photos: drawing silage at Clonmacnoise

This week in photos: farmers back around the ring

This week in photos: making hay and silage while the sun shines

This week in photos: irrigation, silage and milk processing