TOP STORIES
Tillage
Ticking the boxes: tillage jobs for the coming weeks
Siobhán Walsh
Here are some crops from the southeast last week and some tips on what to have on the to-do list.
Ticking the boxes: tillage jobs for the coming weeks
 
 
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Horse traceability failures threaten Irish meat industry - Prof Wall
Caitríona Morrissey
Horse traceability failures threaten Irish meat industry - Prof Wall
Prof Patrick Wall has assessed the weaknesses and loopholes in Ireland's equine traceability and made a series of recommendations for action.
Farm Tech Talk: beef boom, lambing and positive water quality
Jack Kennedy
Farm Tech Talk: beef boom, lambing and positive water quality
The ongoing positivity in the beef trade, an improvement in water quality results and lambing 2025 all feature on this week's Farm Tech Talk.
Amy Forde
Heydon urges vigilance following foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Slovakia
Amy Forde
Late ACRES payments: share your views
Rachel Donovan
Farming News: beef boom, Macra hustings and grass growth
Technology for Profit: high standards with efficiency in mind SPONSORED
Technology for Profit: high standards with efficiency in mind
Brendan and Ciarán Brady, Cootehill, Co Cavan, exemplify how two generations can work together to maximise both the efficiency and profitability of a family-run dairy farm.
MART REPORTS
Camera at the Mart: heavy cull ewes hit a high in Milford
Rachel Gallagher
Camera at the Mart: heavy cull ewes hit a high in Milford
Rachel Gallagher reports from Milford Mart for the fortnightly sheep sale.
Weanlings break €5/kg barrier
Adam Woods
Weanlings break €5/kg barrier
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade including news of record prices.
Camera at the Mart: red hot trade in Cahersiveen spring show and sale
Tommy Moyles
Camera at the Mart: red hot trade in Cahersiveen spring show and sale
There were more weanling bulls than usual at Iveragh Mart's spring bull and bullock show and sale this week and trade was red hot.
PODCASTS
VIDEO HUB
BEEF
Premier Hereford sale sees average price increase by over €1,000 from last year
Nevan McKiernan
Premier Hereford sale sees average price increase by over €1,000 from last year
The Grass Week: miniscule rainfall lends to more field work
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: miniscule rainfall lends to more field work
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed on three farms in Slovakia
Amy Forde
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed on three farms in Slovakia
Over €4.3m in Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme payments issue
Amy Forde
Over €4.3m in Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme payments issue
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
New Zealand trials bulk tank TB test with Enfer
Amy Forde
New Zealand trials bulk tank TB test with Enfer
New Zealand is the first country to try to use bulk tank milk test in a national TB management programme.
The Grass Week: miniscule rainfall lends to more field work
Martin Merrick
The Grass Week: miniscule rainfall lends to more field work
The nearly non-existent rainfall over the past week or more has allowed for more field work to be completed as stock starts to hit grass.
Amy Forde
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed on three farms in Slovakia
e-Learning
Anne O'Donoghue
Tirlán meets Minister for Agriculture on retaining derogation
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmers SPONSORED
Land purchase considerations: key factors for farmers
The nature of farming like any business, is that farmers are continually investing in their farms, land, infrastructure, buildings, stock and machinery to improve on-farm efficiencies or productivity
SHEEP
CSP dairy-beef scheme to open again in April
Darren Carty
CSP dairy-beef scheme to open again in April
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed on three farms in Slovakia
Amy Forde
Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed on three farms in Slovakia
Camera at the Mart: heavy cull ewes hit a high in Milford
Rachel Gallagher
Camera at the Mart: heavy cull ewes hit a high in Milford
Hogget price cuts ‘unacceptable’ at critical time of year - IFA
Anne O'Donoghue
Hogget price cuts ‘unacceptable’ at critical time of year - IFA
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
Eight new bluetongue cases in England over past week
Noel Bardon
Eight new bluetongue cases in England over past week
The eight cases represent a total of 18 bluetongue-3 positive cattle tested due to pre-movement controls or birth defects.
Martbids Database: live exporters drive the trade
Adam Woods
Martbids Database: live exporters drive the trade
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s happening in the country’s marts.
PEDIGREE
Premier Hereford sale sees average price increase by over €1,000 from last year
Nevan McKiernan
Premier Hereford sale sees average price increase by over €1,000 from last year
Nevan Mc Kiernan reports on the Premier Hereford show and sale of bulls which took place at Golden Vale Mart, Tullamore, on Saturday
Angus bulls in hot demand at Kilkenny bull sales
Nevan McKiernan
Angus bulls in hot demand at Kilkenny bull sales
Nevan McKiernan reports on the mixed breeds sale of pedigree bulls at Kilkenny Livestock Mart on Wednesday.
Getting through the first SBLAS audit SPONSORED
Getting through the first SBLAS audit
Damien Murray, Origin Green Producer Liaison & Standard Co-Coordinator gives a step by step guide for new suckler members of SBLAS facing their first audit.
Technology for Profit: high standards with efficiency in mindSPONSORED
Technology for Profit: high standards with efficiency in mind
Brendan and Ciarán Brady, Cootehill, Co Cavan, exemplify how two generations can work together to maximise both the efficiency and profitability of a family-run dairy farm.
EASYFIX launches revolutionary slurry aeration system - ePulseSPONSORED
EASYFIX launches revolutionary slurry aeration system - ePulse
Suitable for existing and new tanks - 60% TAMS approved. Agitates slurry. Improves safety. Enhances nutrients.
Meath’s green fields inspired Mark to pursue career to protect the environmentSPONSORED
Meath’s green fields inspired Mark to pursue career to protect the environment
Former Meath hurler and senior engineer Mark O’Sullivan is part of a team working to bring more renewables on to the electricity grid.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
The great South American cattle scam
Lorcan Roche Kelly
The great South American cattle scam
Investments in cattle in Uruguay have gone sour for thousands of middle-class Uruguayans.
Scanlon’s pay topped €6m in 2024
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Scanlon’s pay topped €6m in 2024
CEO of Kerry Group's total remuneration increased by almost €1.5m last year.
Glanbia leadership pay drops almost as much as share price
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Glanbia leadership pay drops almost as much as share price
Both the CEO and CFO positions saw lower pay in 2024, but still earned millions.
New Kerry faces old Kerry challenges
Lorcan Roche Kelly
New Kerry faces old Kerry challenges
The leading milk price controversy hasn’t gone away as Producer Organisation puts price on top up for 2024.
TILLAGE
Ticking the boxes: tillage jobs for the coming weeks
Siobhán Walsh
Ticking the boxes: tillage jobs for the coming weeks
Tillage Podcast: walking winter crops and planting update
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage Podcast: walking winter crops and planting update
Grain Trends: slight recovery in markets this week
Siobhán Walsh
Grain Trends: slight recovery in markets this week
Wexford event to mark a century of harvesting
Siobhán Walsh
Beans and oats sold out as planting continues
Ticking the boxes: tillage jobs for the coming weeks SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
Kuhn adds rotary hoe to mechanical weeder range
Gary Abbott
Kuhn adds rotary hoe to mechanical weeder range
Following on from launching its mechanical hoes at Agritechnica in 2023, Kuhn has now completed its mechanical weeder offering with the launch of its Starliner rotary hoe range.
Quicke launches new Unigrip soft hands attachment
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Quicke launches new Unigrip soft hands attachment
Quicke has introduced its new Unigrip L+ and XL+ soft hands attachment, which is capable of handling two bales at once.
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Contractor charges see a rise of 5% this year
Gary Abbott
Telescopic loader registrations up 70%
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Manitou Group sales drop 7.5% in 2024
New quad bike regulations - are you ready? SPONSORED
New quad bike regulations - are you ready?
Quad bikes are designed to cope with a wide variety of terrain types and so are a fantastic aid for farm work - by Ciaran Roche, FBD risk manager.
PROPERTY
Thatched cottage full of charm and potential
Paul Mooney
Thatched cottage full of charm and potential
This iconic thatched cottage sits on a quiet road with well-maintained traditional outbuildings, writes Paul Mooney.
Large hill farm with potential near Banteer
Paul Mooney
Large hill farm with potential near Banteer
The holding comes with a farmhouse, sheds and entitlements to EU payments.
Large block of designated land
Paul Mooney
Large block of designated land
The land sits between Thurles and Limerick City and is ideally suited for grazing, writes Paul Mooney.
BUILDINGS
Annual maintenance required on farm roadways
Martin Merrick
Annual maintenance required on farm roadways
Martin Merrick looks at some areas that farmers may need to draw attention to when it comes to roadway maintenance.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Farmers recognised for reduction in nitrates levels in rivers
Anne O'Donoghue
Farmers recognised for reduction in nitrates levels in rivers
The EPA's early insights nitrogen indicator for 2024 shows that nitrogen levels in rivers have reduced in 2024 compared with 2023.
Map: new research estimates that 30% of country is covered by peaty soils
Noel Bardon
Map: new research estimates that 30% of country is covered by peaty soils
Low-flying aircraft were able to determine whether a soil was peaty, based on differing levels of radiation detected above peats v non-peats.
RENEWABLES
Solar move for one of Ireland’s largest dairy farms confirmed
Anne O'Donoghue
Solar move for one of Ireland’s largest dairy farms confirmed
The Cork-based Browne family said they will now “rethink” the future of their farm with a view to leading the way in sustainability.
Nearly 26% of renewable electricity lost in Northern Ireland in 2024
Stephen Robb
Nearly 26% of renewable electricity lost in Northern Ireland in 2024
Provisional data from EirGrid shows that nearly 26% of renewable electricity was lost in Northern Ireland in 2024 due to insufficient grid capacity, while 9% was lost in the Republic.
FORESTRY
Forest owners should maximise the salvage value of trees – Minister
Amy Forde
Forest owners should maximise the salvage value of trees – Minister
The Minister encouraged all stakeholders in the selling and buying of timber to engage constructively to ensure that the prices agreed are transparent.
Teagasc announces post-storm timber harvesting events
Amy Forde
Teagasc announces post-storm timber harvesting events
Talking Timber, Teagasc’s annual timber marketing event, also returns with a particular focus on the post-storm harvesting response.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Man dies in farm incident in Tyrone
Amy Forde
Man dies in farm incident in Tyrone
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that it attended the scene of a sudden death in Killeter.
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Peter McCann
News round-up from Northern Ireland
Weekly round-up of news from the farming industry in Northern Ireland.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Comment
Celebrating St Patrick's Day
Our cultural celebration of music, colour and flair certainly warms the heart on cold, March days.
Celebrating St Patrick's Day
Life
Diarmuid Gavin: Diarmuid’s going native and wild in the garden
Comment
'How many farmers are this week suffering from backache, sore knees or hips?'
Property
75ac residential farm with four-bedroomed house
Property
Residential holding will be offered in lots
Bungalow on 10ac parcel of land for auction
Paul Mooney
Bungalow on 10ac parcel of land for auction
The house has been vacant for some time and now requires upgrading and modernising. Paul Mooney reports.
Large block of designated land
Paul Mooney
Large block of designated land
The land sits between Thurles and Limerick City and is ideally suited for grazing, writes Paul Mooney.
Farmhouse ready for an upgrade
Paul Mooney
Farmhouse ready for an upgrade
It sits on 28.5ac of grazing land in Mayo and comes with a simple farmyard, writes Paul Mooney.
Thatched cottage full of charm and potential
Paul Mooney
Thatched cottage full of charm and potential
This iconic thatched cottage sits on a quiet road with well-maintained traditional outbuildings, writes Paul Mooney.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch: this week in pictures as newborn lambs and farm work unfold
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in pictures as newborn lambs and farm work unfold
Watch: North Tipperary Ploughing Championships 60th anniversary
Photo Desk
Watch: North Tipperary Ploughing Championships 60th anniversary
Watch: This week in photos as farm visits & fertiliser spreading unfold
Photo Desk
Watch: This week in photos as farm visits & fertiliser spreading unfold
Watch: this week in photos, as farmers tackle slurry, marts and spring prep
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos, as farmers tackle slurry, marts and spring prep
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial: building on nitrates success
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Editorial: post-storm help required
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Editorial: lamb price decline
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Editorial: beef price warning
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
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High-profile dairy exits a warning sign
 
High-profile dairy exits a warning sign
How high will the beef price go?
 
How high will the beef price go?
Watch: seven-year-old suckler cow tops €5,000 in Castlerea Mart
 
Watch: seven-year-old suckler cow tops €5,000 in Castlerea Mart
Kilkenny auction on behalf of contractor
 
Kilkenny auction on behalf of contractor
Agri-jobs: dairy and pig farm workers in demand
 
Agri-jobs: dairy and pig farm workers in demand
New Zealand trials bulk tank TB test with Enfer
 
New Zealand trials bulk tank TB test with Enfer
Horse traceability failures threaten Irish meat industry - Prof Wall
 
Horse traceability failures threaten Irish meat industry - Prof Wall
Beef prices jump on the back of tight supplies
 
Beef prices jump on the back of tight supplies
Large block of designated land
 
Large block of designated land
Brass tacks to know when building a rural home
 
Brass tacks to know when building a rural home