Year: 2021

The annual Teagasc Sheep Conference will take place virtually this year and held across two evenings, starting at 8pm this evening (26 January) and Thursday 28 January with national and international speakers. In addition, the Zoom webinars will run questions and answers sessions for sheep farmers to expand their understanding on a range of issues relating to the animals.  Hosted by Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, he added: “As we face into 2021, this is an important opportunity for sheep farmers,…

The fifth year of the Sheep Welfare Scheme begins on 1 February, 2021 and is open for new entrants to sheep farming. Funding of €17 million has been secured to extend the scheme for a fifth year. Existing participants in the Government scheme will automatically be enrolled in year 5 and do not need to take any further action.  The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said…

Monday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. BULLOCK 300-400kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgFR 1.54/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:AAX, 363kg 2.34/kg 850.00FR, 335kg 1.58/kg 530.00FR, 385kg 1.51/kg 580.00 BULLOCK 400-500kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgAAX 1.95/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 448kg 2.14/kg 960.00BBX, 420kg 2.10/kg 880.00AAX, 437kg 2.06/kg 900.00AAX, 435kg 1.84/kg 800.00 COW 500-600kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgFR 1.25/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:FR, 520kg 1.29/kg 670.00FR, 540kg 1.20/kg 650.00 COW 600-700kg Mon 25 Jan Avg…

Monday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. SHEEP 40-50kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.61/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 43kg 4.50/kg 195.00SHEEP, 41kg 2.93/kg 119.00SHEEP, 41kg 2.86/kg 117.00SHEEP, 45kg 2.84/kg 128.00SHEEP, 46kg 2.78/kg 127.00SHEEP, 45kg 2.78/kg 125.00 SHEEP 50-60kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 1.81/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 50kg 2.74/kg 137.00SHEEP, 52kg 2.64/kg 137.00SHEEP, 51kg 2.53/kg 130.00SHEEP, 55kg 2.49/kg 137.00SHEEP, 50kg 1.08/kg 54.00SHEEP, 50kg 1/kg 50.00 SHEEP 60-70kg Mon 25 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP…

Thirty new field officers are being recruited in a nationwide campaign to stop the Curlew from becoming extinct in Ireland. The large wader bird, which has a distinctive call, lives in the Irish countryside but is now close to extinction according to new figures.  National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Minister Malcolm Noonan said: “The situation for the Curlew is one of the most difficult and pressing conservation concerns of our time, we’ve seen a 96 per cent decline of breeding Curlew since…

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has welcomed the news that the EU Commission has agreed to an extension of the state aid approval for Ireland’s National Forestry Programme for this year. Forestry Minister Pippa Hackett said: “This is good news which will provide assurance to those who wish to apply for grants under the current forestry programme.” The Minister said the extension was necessary as there were…

Nominations for the Farming For Nature Ambassador Awards close on Sunday (January 24) at midnight.  More than 200 professionals working in farmland biodiversity across Ireland are invited to nominate a farmer who they think is worthy of recognition for their work in supporting nature on their farm and in their community.  Nominations are being sought from organisations including: the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Heritage Council, Department of Agriculture,…

Friday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Heifer 300-400kg Fri 22 Jan Avg Price/KgCHX 2.52/kgLMX 2.37/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 375kg 3.09/kg 1160.00LMX, 380kg 2.68/kg 1020.00CHX, 365kg 2.55/kg 930.00CHX, 330kg 2.55/kg 840.00CH, 370kg 2.54/kg 940.00CHX, 365kg 2.52/kg 920.00 Heifer 400-500kg Fri 22 Jan Avg Price/KgCHX 2.44/kgLMX 2.38/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 480kg 2.79/kg 1340.00CHX, 435kg 2.67/kg 1160.00LMX, 430kg 2.63/kg 1130.00CHX, 465kg 2.58/kg 1200.00CHX, 475kg 2.53/kg 1200.00LMX, 420kg 2.52/kg 1060.00 Heifer 500-600kg Fri 22 Jan…

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said the requirement will apply to all cattle, pigs, sheep and goats brought into NI from Britain since the beginning of January. In order to comply with entry requirement rules, livestock breeders in England, Scotland and Wales will be required under EU legislation to use the official International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) two-letter country code ‘GB’ on tags, for livestock moving to…

Daytime temperatures will fall as low as 2° this weekend (23-01-2021). Frost will linger for much of Saturday morning. It will remain dry over most of the country, with spells of winter sunshine but scattered showers of hail, sleet and potential snow in the north and west. LSL News.

Thursday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. BULLOCK 300-400kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgBULLOCK 2.33/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:BULLOCK, 350kg 2.77/kg 970.00BULLOCK, 325kg 2.52/kg 820.00BULLOCK, 300kg 2.5/kg 750.00BULLOCK, 305kg 2.46/kg 750.00BULLOCK, 360kg 2.33/kg 840.00BULLOCK, 385kg 2.31/kg 890.00 BULLOCK 400-500kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgBULLOCK 2.13/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:BULLOCK, 420kg 2.19/kg 920.00BULLOCK, 470kg 2.06/kg 970.00 HEIFER 300-400kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgHEIFER 2.03/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:HEIFER, 388kg 2.37/kg 920.00HEIFER, 305kg 2.36/kg 720.00HEIFER, 305kg 2.20/kg 670.00HEIFER,…

Thursday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. SHEEP 20-30kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.03/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 24kg 2.58/kg 62.00SHEEP, 26kg 1.96/kg 51.00SHEEP, 23kg 1.90/kg 44.00SHEEP, 25kg 1.68/kg 42.00 SHEEP 30-40kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.76/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 34kg 3.31/kg 111.00SHEEP, 39kg 3.20/kg 124.00SHEEP, 35kg 3.17/kg 112.00SHEEP, 32kg 3.17/kg 103.00SHEEP, 40kg 3.14/kg 125.00SHEEP, 38kg 3.07/kg 118.00 SHEEP 40-50kg Thu 21 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.74/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 44kg 3.05/kg 133.00SHEEP,…

The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) met with Minister Eamon Ryan and discussed the potential for small-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plants on Irish farms. The failure to achieve 2020 renewable energy targets was also acknowledged at the meeting. LSL News.

Government funding of €14 million will be made available to businesses for energy efficient buildings, including the planning of capital projects for new or existing buildings, for embedding energy efficiency in the design of projects. In order to qualify for a grant, participants must follow the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) Excellence in Energy Efficient Design (EXEED) standard. LSL News.

Wednesday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Lamb 40-50kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgLB 2.80/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LB, 48kg 2.88/kg 138.00LB, 43kg 2.86/kg 123.00LB, 48kg 2.85/kg 137.00LB, 47kg 2.85/kg 134.00LB, 46kg 2.85/kg 131.00LB, 44kg 2.84/kg 125.00 Lamb 50-60kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgLB 2.64/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LB, 50kg 2.82/kg 141.00LB, 50kg 2.78/kg 139.00LB, 50kg 2.78/kg 139.00LB, 50kg 2.78/kg 139.00LB, 50kg 2.76/kg 138.00LB, 50kg 2.76/kg 138.00 Lamb 60-70kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgLB…

Wednesday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Cattle 300-400kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgCATTLE 1.06/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CATTLE, 395kg 2.10/kg 830.00CATTLE, 395kg 0.03/kg 10.00 Cattle 400-500kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgCATTLE 2.18/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CATTLE, 435kg 2.53/kg 1100.00CATTLE, 460kg 2.39/kg 1100.00CATTLE, 485kg 2.37/kg 1150.00CATTLE, 480kg 2.33/kg 1120.00CATTLE, 460kg 2.33/kg 1070.00CATTLE, 400kg 2.3/kg 920.00 Cattle 500-600kg Wed 20 Jan Avg Price/KgCATTLE 2.02/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CATTLE, 500kg 2.38/kg 1190.00CATTLE, 530kg 2.38/kg 1260.00CATTLE, 500kg 2.3/kg 1150.00CATTLE,…

Wintry weather expected for the country in the next number of days, with a Status Yellow snow and ice warning in place for Co. Wicklow. Met Éireann warns that it will “turn colder from Wednesday with weather conditions becoming increasingly wintry for the rest of the week”. “There will be a risk of frost and icy conditions, with falls of sleet or snow at times.” LSL News.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue has confirmed the funding has been allocated for the National Reserve in 2021. He welcomed the recommendation made by the Direct Payments Advisory Committee regarding the continuation in 2021. Minister McConalogue said: “I welcome the agreement reached by the group in terms of funding for the National Reserve. The Securing of the National Reserve for 2021 is a very important step in…

Tuesday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Cattle 400-500kg Tue 19 Jan Avg Price/KgCATTLE 1.62/kgFR 1.65/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CATTLE, 420kg 2.02/kg 850.00CATTLE, 447kg 1.99/kg 890.00CATTLE, 437kg 1.99/kg 870.00CATTLE, 465kg 1.94/kg 900.00CATTLE, 460kg 1.93/kg 890.00CATTLE, 455kg 1.91/kg 870.00 Cattle 500-600kg Tue 19 Jan Avg Price/KgCATTLE 1.39/kgFR 1.26/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CATTLE, 502kg 2.11/kg 1060.00CATTLE, 540kg 1.83/kg 990.00FR, 510kg 1.76/kg 900.00CATTLE, 505kg 1.72/kg 870.00CATTLE, 590kg 1.68/kg 990.00CATTLE, 520kg 1.60/kg 830.00 Cattle 600-700kg Tue 19 Jan…

Tuesday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Lamb 20-30kg Tue 19 Jan Avg Price/KgLAMB 2.29/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LAMB, 28kg 2.54/kg 71.00LAMB, 29kg 2.41/kg 70.00LAMB, 27kg 2.37/kg 64.00LAMB, 25kg 2.2/kg 55.00LAMB, 28kg 2.14/kg 60.00LAMB, 29kg 2.07/kg 60.00 Lamb 30-40kg Tue 19 Jan Avg Price/KgLAMB 2.37/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LAMB, 37kg 2.92/kg 108.00LAMB, 39kg 2.87/kg 112.00LAMB, 39kg 2.67/kg 104.00LAMB, 36kg 2.28/kg 82.00LAMB, 34kg 2.24/kg 76.00LAMB, 35kg 2.06/kg 72.00 Lamb 40-50kg Tue 19 Jan Avg Price/KgLAMB…

Two processors Dairygold and the Carbery Group have both announced they will hold their milk prices in December.  Dairygold said the dairy markets remain relatively stable, following the positive outcome of the EU/UK Trade Deal.  A Dairygold spokesperson for the southern cooperative confirmed: “Dairygold has maintained its December quoted milk price unchanged at 32.311 c/L (VAT Adjusted 5.6% vs. 5.4%) based on standard constituents of 3.3% protein and 3.6% butterfat,…

There has been a rise in the number of tractors and self-propelled machinery registered, according to the latest figures released by the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association. In December the number of new tractors registered grew significantly compared with the same month in 2019 with 26 units registered, more than double the12 units registered a year previously.  Overall, the total annual registrations in 2020 was 1,910 units, which was…

Monday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Bullock 300-400kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgSIX 2.22/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:CHX, 315kg 2.63/kg 830.00SIX, 340kg 2.32/kg 790.00SIX, 355kg 2.11/kg 750.00 Bullock 400-500kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgAAX 2.10/kgCHX 2.44/kgFR 1.75/kgFRX 1.80/kgHEX 2.02/kgLMX 2.52/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 425kg 2.56/kg 1090.00CHX, 420kg 2.5/kg 1050.00LMX, 435kg 2.48/kg 1080.00CHX, 400kg 2.42/kg 970.00CHX, 445kg 2.38/kg 1060.00AAX, 495kg 2.20/kg 1090.00 Bullock 500-600kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgAAX 2.11/kgCH 2.51/kgCHX 2.40/kgFR 1.76/kgFRX…

Monday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Sheep 30-40kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.93/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 33kg 3.24/kg 108.00SHEEP, 36kg 3.04/kg 109.00SHEEP, 37kg 3.00/kg 110.00SHEEP, 38kg 2.85/kg 107.00SHEEP, 39kg 2.84/kg 110.00SHEEP, 36kg 2.80/kg 101.00 Sheep 40-50kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP 2.79/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:SHEEP, 40kg 3.12/kg 125.00SHEEP, 44kg 3.10/kg 136.00SHEEP, 45kg 3.07/kg 138.00SHEEP, 48kg 3.06/kg 147.00SHEEP, 44kg 3.05/kg 134.00SHEEP, 45kg 3.04/kg 137.00 Sheep 50-60kg Mon 18 Jan Avg Price/KgSHEEP…

Colder temperatures with sleet and snow and frequent rain are predicted this week with the Met Eireann issuing a yellow rainfall warning for 11 counties from this evening (January 18).  The Status Yellow alert is in place for Connacht, Longford, Louth, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan from 9pm on Monday night until 9pm on Tuesday.  Today will begin with scattered outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, becoming overcast and misty…

Domestic milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers grew by 8.9% in November 2020 compared to the same month in the previous year. The latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) estimates the monthly milk intake at 455.2 million litres for November 2020.  During the period January to November 2020, domestic milk intake was estimated at 8.041 billion litres, an increase of 3.8% from 7,744 billion litres when compared to…

Friday’s selected marts price report: copyright LSL. Suckler 500-600kg Fri 15 Jan Avg Price/KgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 560kg 1.55/kg 870.00FR, 550kg 1.45/kg 800.00HEX, 560kg 1.34/kg 750.00 Suckler 600-700kg Fri 15 Jan Avg Price/KgLMX 1.97/kgSIX 1.68/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LMX, 650kg 2.35/kg 1530.00CHX, 635kg 2.31/kg 1470.00LMX, 685kg 2.31/kg 1580.00LMX, 610kg 1.92/kg 1170.00LMX, 645kg 1.88/kg 1210.00LMX, 675kg 1.82/kg 1230.00 Suckler 700-800kg Fri 15 Jan Avg Price/KgLMX 1.90/kgHighest Price/Kg Lots:LM, 730kg 2.04/kg 1490.00LMX, 775kg 2.04/kg 1580.00BBX,…

Bord na Móna today (January 15) announced the end of all peat harvesting operations to focus on renewable energy. The company suspended peat harvesting on its lands last year following a 2019 High Court decision that ruled all peat harvesting on bogs over 30 hectares required planning permission.  Bord na Móna said harvesting employees have already been transferred to peatland rehabilitation projects ahead of the decision and it would not affect the number of staff employed.  The company’s last full peat harvest took place in 2018, followed by a partial harvest…

The continuation of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) opens tomorrow (January 16). The scheme which closes on April 16 2021 provides grants for on-farm capital investment.  Some amendments have been made to new tranche, which include addition of investments formerly available under the Calf Investment Scheme will be included under TAMS. Derogation farmers will no longer be ligible to apply for support LESS equipment. GPS spreaders will be available for…

With the season of peak milk production set to start in a few months, a Tipperary TD has called on the Agriculture Committee to bring to his attention to the need for vaccinations to made available to the sector by that stage.