Hi °C | Lo °C Farmers face return of crippling debt charges
Farmers are facing crippling interest rates as co-ops reintroduce charges of 1pc per month to accounts over the coming weeks.
Tree dig-up 'was painful'
Martin Kennedy could barely watch as 18,500 ash trees were dug up and buried in huge pits on his farm near Kilmeaden, in Co Waterford, last week.
Dairy farmers upset over BVD payments
Dairy farmers have described Minister Simon Coveney's €100/hd BVD compensation payment for suckler farmers as "manifestly unfair".
More co-ops join the 37c/l club as markets maintain solid demand
aurivo, Tipperary, Arrabawn and the west Cork co-ops have all increased milk price to 37c/l or higher in recent days on the back of solid demand on international dairy markets.
Moisture meter wins top prize for Kildare farmer
Kildare farmer Alistair Chambers has been named Student Engineer of the Year 2013 for designing an in-cab digital moisture meter that can be used for both hay and straw bales.
Written agreement is the key to contract rearing's whats and ifs
There's a lot of talk about contract rearing of replacement heifers for dairy herds, but in reality not a huge amount is happening.
CAP deal likely next week
The talk from Brussels would appear to suggest that a deal on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform looks likely to be agreed next week.
Weather turned full circle, but at least we filled pits
Since my last column, the weather has turned full circle. It has been a case of farmers buying hay one week and making hay the next week.
Getting grazing plans back on track is my priority now that silage is in the pit
Even though the rain has returned again, the recent spell of Mediterranean weather marked the end of a year of miserable conditions which can be best described as the stuff of nightmares.
€22m biomass plant gets green light
Plans to build a new briquetting plant capable of processing 300,000t of biomass a year have been unveiled.
Wholecrop could reduce workload
Last week's rain came to the rescue of many of our late sown spring cereal crops which lacked vigour and had widespread magnesium deficiencies.
Lambert's stud farm still breeding BAGS of Bounce
Watching Jack Lambert spring into the plate on his stallion Killinick Rebel, it's hard to believe that the man is 81 years of age.
Farmers face return of crippling debt charges
Farmers are facing crippling interest rates as co-ops reintroduce charges of 1pc per month to accounts over the coming weeks.
Restored monastery on 52ac is guided at €590k
Strawberry Hill House has all the look and feel of a monastery but none of the asceticism associated with such a place.
Busy summer solstice for auctions
The longest day of the year is going to be busy day in the auction rooms. Among the properties coming to auction that day is a 43ac parcel of ground at Newberry, Kilcullen in Kildare. It comes with a guide price of €10,000/ac.
South Kerry farms full of facilities
Two south Kerry farms owned by the same vendor will cause some excitement in that part of the Kingdom when they come for auction in early July.
€760k for 78ac Co Meath farm
There is mixed news from the auction rooms this week. A 78ac residential farm at Bective in Co Meath sold for €760,000 under the hammer of Navan auctioneer John Harrington, while a 76ac farm at Kells was withdrawn by the same auctioneer.
Practices of past still have merit
There have been huge changes in farming practices during the past 50 years. Gone are the scythe, the hay knife, the horse, the reaper and binder, the ricks of hay and straw, the milk churn, and the hairy outlying Hereford cross store bullocks along with the fairs where they were bought and sold.
Partnerships offer best hope of getting land to those who are searching for a hands-on role
There is a widely held view that the land rental market has been stagnated by the on-going CAP reforms. Macra studies have confirmed that the uncertainty over CAP is affecting succession decisions.
Can you break an ISPCA pony?
Are you experienced in breaking young horses and ponies? Could you donate your time and experience to help the ISPCA?
Urgent warning on horse welfare
Horse owners have warned of an 'animal welfare catastrophe' next winter unless the Department of Agriculture moves to create an outlet for unwanted horses.
Taking the crucial steps to improved foot health in cows
I don't like going onto dairy farms and finding milking cows in the paddock next to the parlour. Okay, they may be kept close to the parlour for AI purposes, but generally finding cows in the paddock next to the parlour is an indicator of foot problems.
Hoof expert says routine trimming can really pay off
The impact of the long winter has not gone unnoticed with Donegal-based hoof trimmer Francis Burns.
Pottinger's big movers and mowers wheeled out at silage demo
Pottinger recently held a field demonstration of its full range of silage harvesting machinery including forage wagons, mowers and rakes.
Silage wagons making a comeback as Clonmel takeover works out seamlessly
Six months ago Pottinger, the Austrian farm machinery company which sells a lot of grass and tillage kit in Ireland, completed the takeover of its Irish distributor, T Traynor and Sons of Clonmel.
Live exporters lift trade
The sheep trade has a much more positive air about it this week as factory prices stabilise and buying for the live export market has kicked off.
Steer quotes firm at 450c/kg despite factory pressure
Factories are trying hard to exert downward pressure on prices but are meeting with resistance from farmers who just can't afford to sell at lower prices.
Moyglare farm an adventure or investment
There was a time when people 'down the country' bought houses in the vicinity of a university either as an investment or as a way of injecting life into the 'dead money' paid to rent accommodation for their student fledglings.
Rocketing milk supplies trigger superlevy threat
A dramatic turnaround in national milk supplies has given rise to fears that Ireland could incur a superlevy fine for exceeding its national milk quota in 2013/2014.
Birds Eye beef pledge
Frozen Food giant Birds Eye announced last week that it would source all its future beef requirements from Irish and British farms in an attempt to draw a line under the horsemeat scandal.
Teagasc has no plans to let the grass grow under its feet
"Those are nice looking lambs," said the man at the Teagasc open day on sheep in Athenry. "Aye, but look at what they're 'atin," said his companion, referring to the carpet of leafy grass under the flock.
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Dissident republican risk 'severe'
The threat from dissident republicans remains severe, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said.
Special needs education cuts slammed by teachers union
THE country's largest teaching union has accused the Government of enforcing savage cuts on pupils with special needs.
‘Ireland prostituted to Obamas’ rages Clare Daly
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny told Clare Daly TD her comments were a “disgrace” after an astonishing attack by the Independent TD in the Dail this morning.
Special needs education cuts rapped
The country's largest teaching union has accused the Government of enforcing savage cuts on pupils with special needs.
Ryanair spends £10bn on planes
Low-fares airline Ryanair has confirmed it would be buying around £10 billion-worth (11.6 billion euro) of new planes in a move that will create more than 3,000 jobs.
Labour spent €21.50 per vote won in Meath East by-election disaster
THE Labour Party spent over €21.50 per vote won in their disastrous Meath East by-election campaign.
Labour spent €21.50 per vote won in Meath East by-election disaster
THE Labour Party spent over €21.50 per vote won in their disastrous Meath East by-election campaign.
Adrian Ernest Bayley given 35 year sentence for brutal rape and murder of Jill Meagher
The man who brutally raped and murdered Irish woman Jill Meagher will be jailed for at least the next 35 years.
Father's tears as he visits scene of tragedy
IT WAS a route that was all-too familiar, up the long avenue into the estate and turn right for number 9 Langford Downs – only this time he couldn't go in.
Home-tax spot checks
INSPECTORS are carrying out spot checks on properties to track down people who are still evading the second home charge four years on. Donegal County Council has deployed staff working in its Non Principal Private Residence division to inspect properties countywide in a bid to ascertain ownership and liability for the €200 levy.
