This week's front cover picture: Harvesting beet in Co Tipperary

Patrick and Noreen Fitzgerald from Marhill, New Inn, Co Tipperary, with their children Kate, Ryan, Richard and Ellie watching over Noddy Byrne of Tom Doherty Contracting, Knockgraffon, as he lifts Patrick’s fodder beet. Patrick set the Magnum variety in mid-April and will use 25% for his own suckler herd with the rest sold to regular local customers. \ Donal O’Leary

Dairy Day 2018

Food economist Ciaran Fitzgerald discusses climate change and the environment for a growing dairy sector at Dairy Day 2018. \ Philip Doyle

Tina and Holly Dolan, with Anthony Leddy, all from Co Cavan. \ Ramona Farrelly

James Geoghan of Agri Knives, John Burgess from Bagnelstown and his son Shane. \ Ramona Farrelly

Arthur Smyth from Dunderry, Co Meath. \ Ramona Farrelly

Tullamore Macra's trip to Tullamore Farm

A talk on beef, animal nutrition and winter dosing took place on Tullamore Farm this week for a group of visiting Macra members. The talk was given by farm manager Shaun Diver. The visiting group included Damien Culleton, Sean Foyle, Tullamore Macra chair Boyce Claxton, Jamie O’Dea, Stanley Seale, Adrian Seale and Hazel Seale. \ Ramona Farrelly

Athenry Mart

Paddy Forde from Athenry moving sheep at Athenry Mart. \ Hany Marzouk

Eoin Lyons and Frank Brady from Athenry at Athenry Mart. \ Hany Marzouk

Tom Darcey and Shane Kavanagh at Athenry Mart. \ Hany Marzouk

Kieran McTiernan in Co Sligo

Kieran McTiernan of Progressive Genetics artificially inseminating suckler cows on a farm in Co Sligo. \ Philip Doyle

Scanning cows in Co Offaly

AI technician Joe Hannon from Croghan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, scanning and weighing cows for Des Claxton at Ballinashra, Killeagh, Co Offaly. Des is helped on the farm by his sons Craig, Stephen and Boyce. This is the farm’s first year of AI using Moocall heat collars. Stephen says the family is interested in building a herd of pedigree Simmental cattle in the future. \ Ramona Farrelly

Craig Claxton feeding bulls on the family farm at Killeagh, Co Offaly. \ Ramona Farrelly