Author: Brendan Hannigan

Irish livestock farmers will be able to sell their manure and slurry to a “manure co-op” to produce biogas Genos Resources is running a €120 million anaerobic digestion (AD) project and its operations director said it will be speaking to livestock farmers. “We’re actively targeting livestock farmers big and small across the country to pledge their support for what effectively is a manure co-op, as opposed to a milk co-op,”…

Fairly mixed with sunny spells and scattered showers, in moderate southerly winds. Temperatures little below average across south Munster and south Leinster with highest temperatures of 13 to 15C, but milder or warmer elsewhere with temperatures of 15 to 19C.  It will be a mostly dry night with clear spells, though it will be cloudier in the west and south with scattered light showers. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11C.

A €1 billion National Recovery and Resilience Plan will allocate €524 million to climate and biodiversity-led projects. The European Commission will now assess the plan before it is submitted for approval to the Council of the European Union.  Aims of the draft plan include how to address green and digital issues and following the Covid-19 pandemic supporting economic and social recovery. There is a strong focus on return to work…

A £2 million support package has been launched for potato farmers affected by Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. During the pandemic the hospitality and food sector had a reduced need for potatoes leaving large quantities of unsold potatoes that would have otherwise been processed. The new scheme is open to farmers with unsold potatoes in their stores that are no longer of acceptable quality for the processing market. Growers can dispose…

Another very warm day for many on Wednesday, though showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop from the southwest. Drier from Thursday with showers or thunderstorms confined to the southeast. 

Wednesday will be a cloudier day overall with rain developing in the south during the morning and moving northwards through the day, with some heavy and thundery downpours in parts. There is the risk of spot flooding.  Maximum temperatures will range between 15C in Munster to 22C in Ulster, where it will be largely dry until evening with sunshine and moderate to east to southeast winds. 

Farmers across the UK are concerned about rising rural crime, which has been highlighted by the recent tractor theft from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Essex farm. A recent National Farmers’ Union (NFU) survey across England and Wales about rural crime revealed: – Almost one third said they had experienced at least one crime during 2020. – Victims of crime suffered average losses of £4,473. – More than half of farmers…

The odd shower in places on Saturday, otherwise largely dry with increasing amounts of sunshine and turning warmer for most. Rain possible in the far northwest on Monday. 

It will become noticeably warmer over the weekend with spells of sunshine, generally dry too with a little patchy rain or drizzle occurring in places.

DEFRA chiefs have confirmed plans to stop licensing of new intensive badger culls after 2022, despite helping to reduce bTB rates.. Existing cull licenses could be cut short after two years, instead of running for five years, where there is sufficient scientific evidence to support.  The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said it was “disappointing and frustrating” to see the Government pressing ahead with proposals to abandon badger culling.  NFU deputy…

Ministers have welcome the news that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has recognised Ireland as having a negligible risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, described the reinstatement of Ireland’s negligible BSE risk status, “as a ringing endorsement of Ireland’s robust animal health, food and food safety controls”. The recognition was adopted by resolution of the World Assembly of Delegates of the…

Friday will start mostly cloudy with light rain over the eastern half of the country. Drier to the west with sunny spells. By evening some brighter spells will develop across the east. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18C, cooler along eastern and norther coasts, in light northerly breezes. 

Prince Charles has called for small-scale family farmers in the UK and across the world to come together in a cooperative movement using sustainable farming methods.  Small farmers in the UK and EU are facing changes with the loss of farm subsidies and new post-Brexit trade deals in the UK along with reforms to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). “These small farmers are some of the most hard-working and…

The European Union’s plans to amend the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and encourage more eco-friendly farming could hit Irish farm incomes, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association. More than €10 billion in subsidies to Irish farmers, covering the 2023 to 2027 period, are in jeopardy as ministers discuss reforming CAP. “If the EU was serious about more environmental ambition, they should put up more funding instead of taking 20 to…

Remaining unsettled with rain or showers, which will often be heavy and at times thundery. Perhaps fewer showers across Scotland where cloudier with light rain. Temperatures near to below normal. 

Starting mostly dry with sunny dry with sunny spells and showers. The showers will be mostly over the northern half of the country where some will turn heavy later. Rain will move northwards into Munster and Connacht through the evening. Highs of 13 to 16C, in a light southerly breeze. Rain will extend to all areas on Friday evening. It will be a mild night with temperatures not falling below…

A £500,000 Farming Hedgefund is available for farmers in England to plant new hedges, hedgerow trees and gap planting. The Tree Council is leading Close the Gap, a partnership project, with a year of activity to champion 500,000 miles of hedgerows.  Farmers are being asked to get involved to halt biodiversity decline, tackle climate change and preserve the unique character of the of the English countryside.  Close the Gap will…

The Results-based Environment Agri Pilot Project (REAP) received over five times the limit of participants with nearly 11,000 applications.  It became apparent in recent days that the scheme would be oversubscribed, calls began for more farmers to be accepted into the pilot than originally planned.  IFA rural development chair Michal Biggins said it shows there is demand for environmental schemes among farmers.  “The budget of €10 million per annum is…

Irish exports received a boost today (Friday) following the UK’s announcement it will delay introducing post-Brexit checks on EU goods coming into Britain by six months.  The grace period is being applied by the UK on the GB-EU trade following fears of food shortages.  Cabinet Minister Michael Gove announced the delay and said it will give Irish and UK businesses more time to prepare. Irish Exporters Association (IEA) welcomed the…

Lakeland Dairies has revealed an increased milk price for last month alongside a fourth consecutive month’s bonus payment. In Ireland, a base price of 33.34c/L including VAT/ lactose will be paid for milk supplied in February. This is an increase of 1c/L on January. The normal out of season bonus of 5c/L applies for February. Lakeland Dairies is the first processor to announce its milk price this month and said…

The IFA is encouraging forest owners to join an online meeting to learn more about a plan to improve the delivery of forestry licences. The newly-launched Project Woodland plan will be launched this evening (Thursday) between 7.30pm to 9pm. Farmers will be able to hear from Minister of State, Pippa Hackett and Jo O’Hara, the former CEO Scottish Forestry and author of the report. IFA Farm Forestry Chairman Vincent Nally…

Over the past six years Ireland’s contribution to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reached €26 million, according to a new report. The largest share of Ireland’s voluntary funding between 2014-2020 went to the FAO’s efforts to protect livelihoods and eradicate hunger and malnutrition. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, attended a virtual ceremony with FAO Director-General QU Dongyu to launch the report, FAO…

There will be a mix of sunny spells and heavy blustery showers, with the risk of hail and thunder today (Friday). It will be cool, with highs of only 7 or 8C, in moderate, southwesterly winds. This evening (Friday) will be cold with lows of 1 to 2C and patchy frost.  On Saturday it will be cool and blustery with scattered heavy showers and hail. Some of the showers will…

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) wants to be included in discussions about reintroducing predators back into England’s countryside. Farmers have hit out after it was revealed that Natural England wants to create a forum to consider plans to bring back animals such as wolves and lynx back into the wild. Defra confirmed that as part of its 25-year Environment Plan, Natural England wants to establish a forum to explore opportunities…

A four month suspension on tariffs between EU and the US has been welcomed by Irish importers and exporters. The tariff suspension was agreed between the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden during a telephone conversation. It is hoped the suspension in tariffs will pave a way forward in transatlantic relations and relates to the on-going Boeing-Airbus aircraft dispute. Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey…

For Thursday there is a Yellow weather warning in force for the UK. The weather will continue to be unsettled with rain showers which will be heavy at times with hail and thunder over northern hills. The gales should ease but it will remain windy. 

It will remain quite windy with frequent blustery showers and some sunny spells. However the rain will be heavy with hail and thunder. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10C with fresh and gusty westerly winds. In the evening it will be mixed with some lear spells and heavy showers continuing overnight affecting most areas with possible hail and thunder. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5C with fresh and gusty southwest…

Bovine TB in Ireland continues to be a significant challenge and will be discussed at the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine today (Tuesday 9 March). Key stakeholders will appear before the committee to discuss how to bring about the eradication of the disease. Committee chair Jackie Cahill, TD, said: “In 2016 Ireland reached a historical low number of Bovine TB cases. However, it has increased each year…

Farming remains overwhelmingly male in Ireland, with just 12 per cent of Irish farmers, revealed the Irish Farmers’ Association. Prof Sally Shortall, who is Professor of Rural Economy at Newcastle University’s Centre for Rural Economy believes the reason there are so few women in farming is because culturally it is a very male industry. “It’s very much the tradition that fathers pass the land to their sons,” she said. “That…

It will be a mainly dry start to Wednesday, with a few sunny spells but rain will push into the west and southwest through the morning, becoming widespread during the afternoon with some heavier rain showers expected. However, it will become quite windy as moderate southerly winds get stronger through the day. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13C. In the evening it will be wet and windy. There will be…