This week's cover: Alan Colbourne in Co Offaly

Alan Colbourne's sucklers featured on the cover of this week's paper. Alan also farms tillage at Cree, Birr, Co Offaly.

He has just let his one-year-old sucklers out to grass for the first time since October.

He rears his cattle from birth until 18 months of age. \ Philip Doyle

John Carroll's dairy farm in Co Laois

John Carroll owns a dairy farm at Coolkerry, Rathdowney, Co Laois.

He left beef farming in August 2014 and made the switch to dairy, where he is now milking 160 Holstein Friesan and Jersey cross cows.

Also pictured here is Ciarán Finane, who milks for John. \ Claire-Jeanne Nash

Ploughing ground in Co Cork

Dan Cooney and Cathal Browne were out in the fields this week, ploughing ground for contractor Mike Cooney at Ballyhooly, Co Cork.

The team was ploughing ahead of planting spring barley, which will be undersown with grass seed for arable silage. \ Donal O'Leary

Eamon Glin in Co Roscommon

Eamon is a suckler and mountain sheep farmer at Greagh, Argina, Co Roscommon, overlooking Lough Allen.

He left the majority of his cows out to grass over a week ago, bar a few calving cows which are still being kept inside. \ Philip Doyle

Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show

Michéal Roseingrave from Crusheen, Co Clare, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

James Ronan from Claremorris, Co Mayo, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

Fergal Flanagan from Co Roscommon, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

Alisha and Gearoid Ryan from Kilmurry, Co Clare, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

The Hynes family from Athlone, Co Westmeath, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

Barry and Rory Quinn from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, and Dan Melody (sponsor of the class) from Bunratty, Co Clare, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles

Aidan and Shannon Kinahan from Kilfinane, Co Limerick, at the Newmarket-on-Fergus agricultural show. \ Olivia Charles