Balmoral Show

Goat farmers and best of friends Yvonne Hamilton, Jean Jones and Marie Kerry

Balmoral Show: 'You couldn’t wish for anywhere better when the sun shines’

It's sun hats at the ready with crowds of 120,000 expected over the next four days of the Balmoral Show.

Balmoral Show: Belfast pupils collect unusual but moo-ving spot prize

Students from a Belfast grammar school travelled to the Balmoral Show to collect an unusual competition prize - five Aberdeen Angus-cross calves.

Balmoral Show: Farming women tell of life on the land and the event they wouldn't miss

As all roads lead to the Balmoral Show this week, it will be an extra special event for the Ulster Farmers' Union as it celebrates its centenary.

Henry Savage from Cullyhanna with some of his Limousin beef cattle

The sale of my prized bull made page three of The Sun newspaper just a few years ago

Henry Savage is a 59-year-old farmer who can boast that he has appeared on page three of the Sun newspaper.

New chief executive to take up reins of Balmoral Show

The Balmoral Show will have a new figurehead this year after its organiser appointed a new boss.

Adam Henson delivers his presentation to in the ABP stand at Balmoral Show. PIC: Matt Steele/McAuley Multimedia

'I'm a farmer first, then a TV presenter'

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson says his passion for farming means he often forgets the cameras are rolling when he’s out working on the show.

Sheep judging takes place in the parading ring. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye.com

Farming's younger generation talk of Brexit and their hopes for the future

Northern Ireland's next generation of farmers have spoken of their worries about what Brexit might spell for the occupation they love.

Farmers 'slogging their guts out' inspires rugby star

Ireland rugby captain Rory Best said growing up watching farmers "slogging their guts out every day" has pushed him to become an ambassador for local produce.

The Balmoral agricultural show will move to a new site at the Maze on the outskirts of Lisburn

Balmoral Show: Ice cream, sunshine and great craic - the verdict so far on North's greatest farming show

Daphne Hill, a beef farmer from Malinhead, Co Donegal: "This is my first time at the show," said Daphne. "I came along with my fiancé. So far, I've been watching the stock judging and have been looking around the machinery stands. I'm from a dry stock farm so I've been watching the beef cattle here."

Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill pictured on the cattle lawn at Balmoral Show.

Ten things you can't miss at this year's Balmoral Show

What's in the store for the thousands of people attending the Balmoral Show?

Chef Novelli visits Balmoral show

TV chef has said he intends to meet as many Northern Ireland food producers as possible this week at the Balmoral Show.

Libby Clarke with her daughters Kate and Lucy

Balmoral Show: Echo the heifer becomes unlikely moo-vie star on Facebook

A Co Down heifer has become an unlikely social media star as her owners count down to the Balmoral Show this week.

Balmoral Show: 50 chefs in a food tent, a health village and robot milkers... all in an extended event

Fifty chefs will cook up a storm at the Balmoral Show this week as the agricultural extravaganza extends to four days for the first time.

All the fun of the fair at The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society's annual show at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park near Lisburn in Co Antrim. Photo: Mark Marlow/Pacemaker Press.

'Hassle-free' special train and bus schedule unveiled for show

The organisers of the Balmoral Show have urged visitors to plan their journeys in advance and take advantage of special bus, coach and rail travel arrangements.

Limousin heifer, Millbrook Ginger Spice, retained her title as Balmoral's inter-breed beef champion at the new showgrounds in Lisburn last week. Pictured is Dunbia's David Chestnut presenting the award to owner, Meath's William Smith. The show's move from central Belfast to the 64ac site of the notorious Maze prison proved a great success with record crowds over three days

Photo: Aaron McCracken/Harrisons

Balmoral set to pull in a record 100,000 visitors

Visitor numbers at the Balmoral Show are expected to crack the 100,000 mark for the first time, as the warm weather and an extra day of celebrations are expected to bring families out in force over the next four days.

Pig farmer who told two repossession men to get into pen with agitated boar was 'in the thick of' juror interference

A pig farmer who told two repossession men to get into a pen with an agitated boar must wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against his conviction for false imprisonment and other charges.

At the launch of the Dairygold 'Making The Farm A Safer Place' safety focus day in Mallow Racecourse are Billy Cronin, Dairygold, John O'Gorman, Vice Chairman, Dairygold, James Lynch, Chairman, Dairygold & John Maher, Teagasc Dairy Specialist. Photo O'Gorman Photography.

Farmers urged to attend free farm safety event

In light of the continuing high level of farm accidents and fatalities in the farming sector, Dairygold and Teagasc are organising an event on Friday May 12 at Mallow racecourse focusing on ‘Making your Farm a Safer Place’.

FBD appoints new Chief Commercial Officer

FBD will announce today that John Cahalan will be appointed its new Chief Commercial Officer, subject to Central Bank of Ireland approval.

Food exports face tariffs of 35pc without deal on Brexit

Ireland's food exports to Britain - which support 150,000 jobs - face tariffs of up to 35pc if UK-EU Brexit talks collapse with no deal.

The IFA has reportedly “worked hard to drive a strong calf export trade” and are pushing “to develop new markets”, such as Turkey, where this month more than 3,000 young bulls depart for “finishing” on local farms. Photo: Stock image

LacPatrick enjoys 25pc UK sales surge after Brexit vote

Dairy co-operative LacPatrick has seen a 25pc surge in its sales into the British market in the wake of Brexit.

Prime 120ac Galway farm up for auction

One of my journeys last week took me to the heart of Galway farming country and a 120ac residential roadside farm at Cooloo near Moylough in the north of the county.

Pat Loughlin and Brian Murphy with the Balmoral-sourced Fort Knocks which won the hunter title at the RDS

All roads lead to Balmoral

Late April signifies the start of the new showing season and last weekend exhibitors from around the country travelled to Thomastown in Co Kilkenny, a popular county show which traditionally serves as a wonderful venue ahead of the annual Balmoral Show which kicks off next Wednesday.

The farm at Berrillstown near Dunshaughlin goes to auction on May 23 and is guided at €2m

157ac grass and tillage farm hits the market with state-of-the-art finishing sheds

As I got out of my car to walk the 157ac non-residential Berrillstown farm near Dunshaughlin in Co Meath, I asked my host, Stephen Barry of Potterton auctioneers, would I need wellingtons.

Brexit data and rumblings from the States are giving me the economic jitters

Years of covering farm politics has left me slightly jaded of the types of headlines generated by the IFA event last week - 'Brexit to be biggest threat to farming in history of the State' and the like.

We're spending far less on food than we did 70 years ago

New statistics from the CSO show a sharp fall in the proportion of consumers income spent on food over the past 77 years.

The large diesel laundering plant discovered at Kilnasaggart Road in the Jonesborough area in January 2013

Gang who hid fuel laundering plant under agricultural shed avoid jail

Three men linked to a "sophisticated" Co Armagh diesel laundering plant capable of producing 22 million litres of illicit fuel a year have been sentenced.

Edmond Scanlon, who will take over from Chief Executive Stan McCarthy in September. Picture Colm Mahady / Fennell Photography.

Kerry reports strong start to year

Kerry has announced in its first quarter results a 3.8pc growth in business volumes and says growth of 5-9pc in adjusted earnings per share is still on track.

Britain’s PM Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after Parliament was dissolved ahead of the general election Picture: Reuters

Brexit blockade: UK giant wants ban on Irish meat

Farmers and producers are facing a massive threat to exports after a British supermarket giant piled the pressure on competitors to not stock Irish beef.

'Serious' animal tagging and movement case put back again

A judge has said “a serious case” involving bovine tagging and identification and animal movement and animal welfare had acquired “legs all of its own”, because of the number of times it has been on the court lists over the past year and a half without being finalised.

Apprentice board signs off on massive contribution to farm education

The Farm Apprenticeship Board (FAB) has announced that it has ceased all operations.

May 2019