Farming for generations

Anna and Connor Mills checking on some yearling bullocks staying on land their father Declan leases to local farmer Aidan Ryan in Reask, Duleek, Co Meath. Anna and Connor’s grandmother Nora Mills, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, farmed the land all her life. Now retired, Nora milked cows, grew potatoes and reared cattle. \ Philip Doyle

Strict restrictions at Carnew Mart

Liam Furlong from Co Wexford looks over the bulls and bullocks available for sale before placing his bid at Carnew Mart in Co Wicklow. Carnew Mart has implemented restrictions, strictly limiting the amount of people on the grounds to combat the transmission of COVID-19. \ Philip Doyle

Harold Stephenson and his father Derek from Inch, Gorey, Co Wexford, review stock. \ Philip Doyle

Harold Young, who works at Carnew Mart, looks over stock. \ Philip Doyle

Liam Furlong. \ Philip Doyle

My farming week: Eoin Purfield, Ballymagarvey, Balrath, Navan, Co Meath

Eoin Purfield farms 200ac of potatoes and 300ac of tillage alongside his father John in Co Meath. They have a contract with Tayto to provide potatoes for crisping. \ Philip Doyle

“This week, we are finishing planting potatoes for Tayto crisps. We hope to have everything in the ground by Tuesday morning.”

“Planting progress in Meath has been brilliant this year. We have never had as good a run at it so early. In 2018, we had a good run at it in May, but we haven’t had such a good run at it in April for a very long time.”

Moving electric fence after milking

Peter Anderson, a new entrant dairy farmer from Kilrush, Athy, Co Kildare, moving electric fence with his son Stephen prior to cows going to paddock automatically after being milked by a Lely Astronaut. \ John Anderson

Suckling surprise in Co Down

Declan McGeown from Rathfriland in Co Down got a surprise when he saw a lamb suckling at one of his suckler cows. Declan is a beef, sheep and tillage farmer. He also grows about 10 acres of potatoes. \ Declan McGeown

Raking grass in Co Offaly

Andrew Mulligan raking grass in Rhodes, Co Offaly. April has been exceptionally warm and dry, leading to good growth in grass with many rotting out to start off the silage season. \ Claire Nash

Andrew Mulligan raking in Rhodes, Co Offaly. \ Claire Nash

Setting maize in Co Cork

Mike O’Brien of Drew Crowley Agri Contracting, Barryroe, and Stephen O’Brien of Dinny McCarthy Agri Contracting, Clonakilty, Co Cork, check on a field of maize they set for Michael John Twomey, Ballyvackey, Clonakilty, Co Cork. The variety sown is P8201 maize at a rate of 42,000 seeds/acre. \ Donal O’ Leary