TOP STORIES
Viewpoints
Editorial: stock number decline should reignite policy rethink
Jack Kennedy
Farmers need to know what stocking rate they can hold. Without it, on farm investment will stagnate.
Editorial: stock number decline should reignite policy rethink
 
 
Significant investment needed to achieve climate targets – IFA
Climate and environment
Significant investment needed to achieve climate targets – IFA
Fine Gael MEPs vote against amendment to abandon Mercosur deal
News
Fine Gael MEPs vote against amendment to abandon Mercosur deal
KNOWLEDGE HUB
MOST POPULAR
TOPICS THIS WEEK
Sheep
Over 25% less sheep slaughtering this March – CSO
Podcast
Farming news: cattle numbers tumble, €75/cow beef scheme and water charges
LATEST HEADLINES
NEWS
Weekend weather: warm, wet and cloudy
James Hanly
Weekend weather: warm, wet and cloudy
Met Éireann has said that the weekend will be rather cloudy with spells of showers and highest temperatures of 17°C.
Co-ops and pig farms on EPA national priority site list for 2024
James Hanly
Co-ops and pig farms on EPA national priority site list for 2024
The system uses performance-based indicators to rank industrial and waste licensed sites in order of priority for enforcement with scores assigned under environmental performance and compliance.
Paul Mooney
€510,000 paid for Co Limerick farm
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage podcast: Spraying, potatoes and politics
James Hanly
Man injured in Kerry road collision with cow
Honda Launches First-Ever 0% Finance Deal on Lawn and Garden Range SPONSORED
Honda Launches First-Ever 0% Finance Deal on Lawn and Garden Range
With the return of warmer days and the fresh scent of cut grass in the air, homeowners across the country are turning their attention to lawn care.
MART REPORTS
Exporters continue to drive weanling bull trade
Adam Woods
Exporters continue to drive weanling bull trade
Adam Woods has the latest on this week’s mart trade, including what’s happening in the country’s marts.
Grass buyers push ewe and lamb prices in Brockagh
Rachel Gallagher
Grass buyers push ewe and lamb prices in Brockagh
Rachel Gallagher reports from Brockagh Cloghan mart for their Easter bank holiday sale.
Solid trade in Kilkenny mart
Adam Woods
Solid trade in Kilkenny mart
Adam Woods has all the details of last Thursday’s general cattle sale held in Kilkenny mart
PODCASTS
VIDEO HUB
BEEF
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
Phelim O'Neill
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
90% increase in BVD positive calves
Darren Carty
90% increase in BVD positive calves
Beef cattle finishers advised to hang tough
Adam Woods
Beef cattle finishers advised to hang tough
Actions confirmed for National Beef Welfare Scheme
Darren Carty
Actions confirmed for National Beef Welfare Scheme
FARM PROGRAMMES
DAIRY
Tirlán’s sustainable farming academy opens for applications
James Hanly
Tirlán’s sustainable farming academy opens for applications
Tirlán suppliers are invited to submit expressions of interest to secure one of 20 places on the fully-funded course covering topics such as climate, soil health, water and biodiversity.
Kildare dairy farmers fleet of machinery and equipment for auction this weekend
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Kildare dairy farmers fleet of machinery and equipment for auction this weekend
Michael Doyle Auctioneers is set to host a clearance sale of tractors, machinery and dairy equipment for Mr Richard Kingston Barrowhouse, Athy Co Kildare.
Darren Carty
90% increase in BVD positive calves
e-Learning
Darren Carty
Live exports accelerating the herd decline
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
Over 25% less sheep slaughtering this March – CSO
James Hanly
Over 25% less sheep slaughtering this March – CSO
Sheep 2025 major sheep event launched for 21 June 2025
Darren Carty
Sheep 2025 major sheep event launched for 21 June 2025
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
Phelim O'Neill
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
Sheep prices fall by over €10/head
Darren Carty
Sheep prices fall by over €10/head
KNOWLEDGE HUB
ANIMAL HEALTH
90% increase in BVD positive calves
Darren Carty
90% increase in BVD positive calves
The increase to 359 head stems from some herds recording significant breakdowns with the herd prevalence increasing by less than 20%.
TB reactors up 8.5% so far this year
Noel Bardon
TB reactors up 8.5% so far this year
The number of cattle going down in TB tests was up over 8% when comparing the first three months of 2025 with the same months last year.
PEDIGREE
Inchisine achieve top price in Kilmallock
Nevan McKiernan
Inchisine achieve top price in Kilmallock
Seven bulls at the Munster Angus Breeders sale were sold for prices over €4,000, writes Nevan McKiernan.
Limousin and Angus sales flying high
Nevan McKiernan
Limousin and Angus sales flying high
Both the Angus and Limousin breeds have enjoyed some terrific bull sales lately.
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.
Levelling up calf rearing with Teemore Mono Calf BuildingSPONSORED
Levelling up calf rearing with Teemore Mono Calf Building
Proper calf shed ventilation is crucial for maximising calf performance and profitability.
Honda Launches First-Ever 0% Finance Deal on Lawn and Garden Range SPONSORED
Honda Launches First-Ever 0% Finance Deal on Lawn and Garden Range
With the return of warmer days and the fresh scent of cut grass in the air, homeowners across the country are turning their attention to lawn care.
Calf Rearing Success with GAIN Easi-BeefSPONSORED
Calf Rearing Success with GAIN Easi-Beef
Laois farmer Jarlaith Duggan calves 180 cows, with a focus on keeping heifer calves for herd replacements.
For daily news, mart prices and ePaper access from 6am on Thursday, subscribe for just €1 SUBSCRIBE
AGRIBUSINESS
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
Phelim O'Neill
Big drop in British beef and sheep output
Tight British and Irish supplies of beef and sheep meat opens the door wider for Australian and New Zealand imports.
Carbery reports profit and revenue growth in 2024
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Carbery reports profit and revenue growth in 2024
West Cork co-op surveyed suppliers to understand outlook for milk supply.
Investor letter shows Tirlán’s Glanbia losses top €700m
Lorcan Roche Kelly
Investor letter shows Tirlán’s Glanbia losses top €700m
The tumble in the share price of Glanbia needs to be addressed by its largest shareholder, says investor.
European tractor sales hit 10-year low in 2024
Peter Thomas Keaveney
European tractor sales hit 10-year low in 2024
Agricultural tractor registrations in 2024 across Europe were 8.1% lower than in 2023 and were at their lowest level since 2014, according to a CEMA report.
TILLAGE
Tillage podcast: Spraying, potatoes and politics
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage podcast: Spraying, potatoes and politics
Grain trends: prices drop this week, currency hitting markets
Siobhán Walsh
Grain trends: prices drop this week, currency hitting markets
Tillage management: winter crops and weeds in spring cereals
Siobhán Walsh
Tillage management: winter crops and weeds in spring cereals
A new insecticide has been introduced to the market
Siobhán Walsh
Spot spraying can reduce inputs and improve efficiency
Tillage podcast: Spraying, potatoes and politics SPONSORED
Sustainability progress on Irish farms
Origin Green sustainability and data analytics manager Dr Eleanor Murphy reports on Irish farm emissions.
MACHINERY
Kildare dairy farmers fleet of machinery and equipment for auction this weekend
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Kildare dairy farmers fleet of machinery and equipment for auction this weekend
Michael Doyle Auctioneers is set to host a clearance sale of tractors, machinery and dairy equipment for Mr Richard Kingston Barrowhouse, Athy Co Kildare.
European tractor sales hit 10-year low in 2024
Peter Thomas Keaveney
European tractor sales hit 10-year low in 2024
Agricultural tractor registrations in 2024 across Europe were 8.1% lower than in 2023 and were at their lowest level since 2014, according to a CEMA report.
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Demand for European machinery is on the rise again
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Bobcat launches new ‘V-Drive’ telehandlers
Peter Thomas Keaveney
Kverneland launches 0% finance on full range
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
65ac holding will be auctioned in two lots in Tipperary
Paul Mooney
65ac holding will be auctioned in two lots in Tipperary
One has a shed and house ruins, the other comes with the option of renting an additional 10ac.
Big farm will generate lots of interest in private treaty sale
Paul Mooney
Big farm will generate lots of interest in private treaty sale
Few farms of this size come on sale. This property also has a large farmyard.
Tipp holding could suit any farming enterprise
Paul Mooney
Tipp holding could suit any farming enterprise
The land is in one large, level field and is currently under cereals.
BUILDINGS
Farm buildings forum updates on reference cost review and slurry storage costs
Martin Merrick
Farm buildings forum updates on reference cost review and slurry storage costs
Though reference costs are not where they should be since TAMS III opened over two years ago, an ongoing review has been confirmed again by the Department of Agriculture.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Significant investment needed to achieve climate targets – IFA
James Hanly
Significant investment needed to achieve climate targets – IFA
IFA environment chair John Murphy said that the fairest and most efficient way to support climate action is to incentivise and support farmers to adopt measures in the plan.
Co-ops and pig farms on EPA national priority site list for 2024
James Hanly
Co-ops and pig farms on EPA national priority site list for 2024
The system uses performance-based indicators to rank industrial and waste licensed sites in order of priority for enforcement with scores assigned under environmental performance and compliance.
RENEWABLES
Wind supplies 38% of Ireland's electricity so far in 2025
Stephen Robb
Wind supplies 38% of Ireland's electricity so far in 2025
March Wind Energy report shows that Irish wind farms provided 38% of the country’s electricity over the first quarter of 2025.
Our growing electricity demand
Colm McCarthy
Our growing electricity demand
Electricity is already more expensive in Ireland than in competitor countries and will become more so if government fails to align planning policy with cost containment.
FORESTRY
Total of 26,000ha of forestry damaged by storms, satellite images confirm
Noel Bardon
Total of 26,000ha of forestry damaged by storms, satellite images confirm
The minister urged forestry owners with impacted sites not to rush any forest management decisions.
Storms flatten over 26,000ha of trees
Donal Magner
Storms flatten over 26,000ha of trees
The detailed mapping assessment was carried out using imagery acquired from the Sentinel and SkySat satellite constellations.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Inheritance tax will ‘starve’ Northern Ireland’s economy
James Hanly
Inheritance tax will ‘starve’ Northern Ireland’s economy
From April 2026, 100% relief for APR and BPR will be limited to the first £1m of combined agricultural property - any value above this is set at 50%.
News in-brief from Northern Ireland
David Wright
News in-brief from Northern Ireland
Weekly news in-brief from across the farming industry in Northern Ireland.
IRISH COUNTRY LIVING
Comment
Editorial: ‘why is this noble profession struggling?’
There are less teachers in our children's schools and this was top of the agenda at the teachers conferences this week.
Editorial: ‘why is this noble profession struggling?’
Comment
'The record book will be under my pillow and will have to be wrestled from me'
Property
Tipp holding could suit any farming enterprise
Property
65ac holding will be auctioned in two lots in Tipperary
Property
Big farm will generate lots of interest in private treaty sale
Build a sunny south-east business empire for €1.3m
Paul Mooney
Build a sunny south-east business empire for €1.3m
All of the buildings included in this impressive Wexford property are large in scale and built to last.
Gardening with Paul Maher: glow up with hardy annuals
Contributor
Gardening with Paul Maher: glow up with hardy annuals
Growing annual bedding plants in your garden can save you money while you enjoy the beauty.
Five races to savour at the Punchestown Festival
Mark Costello
Five races to savour at the Punchestown Festival
Mark Costello previews the big race meeting which brings down the curtain on the National Hunt season
Authorities aiming to speed up delivery of houses with new NPF
Jacqueline Hogge
Authorities aiming to speed up delivery of houses with new NPF
County development plans look set to be revisited as councils around the country seek to accelerate building.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch: this week in photos as farmers sow, spread and welcome new lambs
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos as farmers sow, spread and welcome new lambs
Watch: this week in photos, as farmers sow, graze and showcase spring farming
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos, as farmers sow, graze and showcase spring farming
Watch: this week in photos as spring lambs, record sales and farming life unfold
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos as spring lambs, record sales and farming life unfold
Watch: this week in photos as farmers plough, sow and learn across Ireland
Photo Desk
Watch: this week in photos as farmers plough, sow and learn across Ireland
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial: stock number decline should reignite policy rethink
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
Our growing electricity demand
Colm McCarthy
Colm McCarthy
Home Farm: Extraordinary spring for cattle trade
Matt Dempsey
Matt Dempsey
Editorial: slurry management critical to protect future farmers
Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy
MOST READ
Conflicted feelings: I complained about a local farmer spreading slurry
 
Conflicted feelings: I complained about a local farmer spreading slurry
Should we worry about cattle numbers?
 
Should we worry about cattle numbers?
Live exports accelerating the herd decline
 
Live exports accelerating the herd decline
Mayo farm company fined €4,000 for polluting river
 
Mayo farm company fined €4,000 for polluting river
Exporters continue to drive weanling bull trade
 
Exporters continue to drive weanling bull trade
Farmers should consider selling at marts as factories cut beef prices - IFA
 
Farmers should consider selling at marts as factories cut beef prices - IFA
€510,000 paid for Co Limerick farm
 
€510,000 paid for Co Limerick farm
Britain upgrades risk of foot-and-mouth incursion to medium
 
Britain upgrades risk of foot-and-mouth incursion to medium
The Erth Panbuster: proven design gets modern tweak
 
The Erth Panbuster: proven design gets modern tweak
Irish cattle herd set to hit lowest level in 10 years
 
Irish cattle herd set to hit lowest level in 10 years