Latest:
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- 05:00 Heir apparent keeps his cool as knives are sharpened for FG...
- 05:00 With such a motley crew, no wonder he jumped ship
- 05:00 Office politics snuffed out Fine Gael's brightest star
- 05:00 Huge army of 'spies' keeps tabs on Chinese
- 05:00 Welcome to Motown but without the soul
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- 05:00 Retail units up for grabs in Polebarry
Browned off but all's not lost
I walked my first farm of the year last Friday. A little late in the year, I know, but priority had to be given to other work commitments. Last November, grass quality looked really good on dairy farms. A fine October allowed swards to be grazed out really well. And while November was very wet, we still looked in good shape going into the winter.
Make technology your friend
As we are all aware, last year was a devil of a year. In a few articles last year, I monitored the performance of a discussion group, comparing last year's performance with that of 2008.
Focus energy on profit rises
As of last Thursday a total of 400 Dairy Profit Monitors from spring milk producers were processed by Teagasc.
Good time to join discussion
We handed out the application form for the Dairy Efficiency Programme at the discussion group meeting last week.
Beating off the infection issue
Today's typical dairy farmer has more cows and replacements than they had 10 years ago. They are also calving cows closer to February.
Keep it clean
Let me first declare my background in milking cows: I once milked 90 cows at home on a Sunday evening in 1982 when my brother went to the Leinster final at Croke Park.
Carrying out vital checks
WE use the California Milk Test (CMT), together with the ICBF problem cow report, to target sample-infected quarters, where the high SCC cow reacts to the CMT with a viscous drip.
Form expert team to solve SCC woes
Teamwork is defined as "the work or co-ordinated effort of a group of people to produce a desired result or a common goal".
Make most of Greenfield visit
Have you heard about the Greenfield Dairy Project in Kilkenny? Certainly if you are from that county you will have heard all about the work that has gone on at this 113ha (net area) tillage farm in the town land of Clare, six miles from Kilkenny city. A major open day will be held on the farm on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Yet again the New Year springs hope of upturn
I began the first article of last year with the following few sentences: "A happy New Year to one and all. Good riddance to 2008.
Breaking News
- 00:34 Thalidomide victims get £1m payout
- 00:19 Probe after man injured in shooting
- 19:59 Dublin mayoral election 'this year'
- 19:14 Big financial presence for 70 years
- 18:39 Co-operation 'key to prosperity'
Top stories from Tuesday, 09.02.10
- 05:19 Honda expands recall over airbags
- 02:39 White Stripes blast 'war' advert
- 02:39 Haiti earthquake death toll rises
- 15:59 Briton dies in 'bungled robbery'
- 14:49 US Army launches Afghan offensive
Top stories from Tuesday, 09.02.10
- 00:59 Australia given green light
- 22:09 Three-sy does it for Cottagers
- 22:04 Tuncay snatches point for Potters
- 22:04 Tevez and Adebayor on target for City
- 22:04 Dindane claims dramatic equaliser
Top stories from Tuesday, 09.02.10
Most Popular
- Millionaire gives away fortune which made him miserable
- Schoolgirl (12) falls into 'swallow hole'
- 'He didn't make friends and looked down on us'
- Final salute to 'giant of the Irish Left' as MacGiolla is laid to rest
- Two shot in US bowling alley row
- Newly departed Lee still in line for €15,445 lump sum
- Fear for jobs as Bank of Scotland about to make key Irish decision
- 750 jobs to go at Bank of Scotland Ireland
- Cost of restoring fire-ravaged mansion to run into millions
- Sam Smyth: Fledgling George flees the playground of fantasy politics
- Millionaire gives away fortune which made him miserable
- Fear for jobs as Bank of Scotland about to make key Irish decision
- Kevin Myers: Failure is actually what independent Ireland has always done best. We even failed at prosperity
- Danger of third-hand smoke raises new health alarm
- Victims ask Pope for €1bn
- Billionaire Eike Batista keeps SLR McLaren in living room
- Two shot in US bowling alley row
- Sam Smyth: Fledgling George flees the playground of fantasy politics
- St Patrick's Day plan for landmarks
- Cows outnumber New Zealand people
Columnist Comments
• Kevin Myers: Reality is indeed stranger than the maddest fiction
Alice was looking pale and sullen and her cucumber sandwiches lay uneaten before her.
• Martina Devlin: Shoppers going north are not traitors, just sensible
This time it's Brian Lenihan's turn to do his patriotic duty. When he tried to discourage us from cross-border shopping last year, on the grounds that we'd be paying "her majesty's taxes" rather than contributing to the Republic's economy, his reproach fell on deaf ears.
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