Category: News

Farmers have faced huge increases in input and output prices over the past year, along with strong gains in cattle and milk prices. The increase in input and output price indices for the last calendar year means September 2021 Terms of Trade of 103.6 is close to the previous year’s figure of 103.8. According to new figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), fertiliser prices have risen by nearly…

Northern Ireland (NI) will bring in a bird flu prevention zone from midnight on 17 November, the Government has confirmed. The decision comes following a number of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 cases in wild birds across Britain in recent weeks. Five different locations have reported cases of the H5N1 strain being found in captive birds and poultry. All bird keepers, including pet and commercial flock owners, in Northern…

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-JLMURT-1261241 James L. Murtagh Auctioneers are delighted to offer for sale by public auction this c.53 acre farm at Gortumly , Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath (in one or more lots). The majority of the lands are of excellent quality, all in permanent pasture and laid out in neat regular shaped divisions. This super holding is being offered in three lots as follows; Lot 1: c.35.25 acres (including cattle holding facilities) Top…

Rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, persistent at times in the northwest where it will often be breezy. Some occasional brightness in the east though. Temperatures around average.

Mainly dry to begin on Saturday with bright or sunny intervals over the eastern half of the country but mostly cloudy conditions further west. Patchy rain and drizzle will push in from the west from late morning gradually extending eastwards through the day. Top temperatures of 12 to 15C, with light westerly breezes backing southerly through the morning and afternoon, increasing moderate along Atlantic coasts. Mild for the time of…

Bird flu has been detected in a white-tailed sea eagle near Tarbert, County Kerry. The white-tailed eagle was tested by a veterinary laboratory in Limerick as part of the Government’s wild bird Avian Influenza surveillance programme.  The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 – known as bird flu – was found in the eagle. Minister Charlie McConalogue said: “It is the…

Plans to develop a new feed additive that reduces methane emissions by 30 per cent, are being backed a Dutch nutrition company. A new plant at its site in Scotland will be used by Royal DSM for the large-scale production of its feed additive for ruminants. The company is investing around €120million into the project and claim a quarter of a teaspoon of Bovaer daily will reduce gut methane emissions…

Mild, windy and fairly cloudy for most with areas of rain moving east and southeast across the country. Winds easing later over Scotland.

Friday will continue windy with showers or longer spells of rain. However, there will also be some bright intervals. Fresh to strong, gusty westerly winds will continue and will be strongest in the north and northwest of the country. Winds will gradually move east through the evening and drier periods will develop. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13C.

Global nutrition group Glanbia plc is selling its stake in Glanbia Ireland – its milk processor and grain buyer – for €307 million. Glanbia plc has signed a deal with Glanbia Co-op, which is owned by farmers who supply it, for its 40 per cent interest.  The sale will allow Glanbia plc to focus on food ingredients and sports nutrition. Glanbia Ireland, which is the largest milk processor and grain…

The co-operation of farmers is “essential” if EirGrid and the EBS are to develop the grid infrastructure, say the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA). Plans unveiled by EirGrid include having 500MW of electricity coming from micro-generation by 2030. Currently, Ireland’s farms are behind most of the EU countries for renewable energy from agriculture, producing 2.6 per cent to the EU-27 average of 12.1 per cent.  IFA environment chair, Paul O’Brien, said…

Funding of €70m has been announced for Ireland’s meat and dairy processors.  Following Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) there are 22 projects in the dairy and meat sectors that have been identified for funding to help them diversify and develop. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he was “extremely proud” of the fact that Ireland produces enough food to feed nine times its population and the sector employs 165,000 people. …

The Irish Government said it is determined to cut the rate of serious and fatal incidents in the agricultural sector. Between 2016 and 2020, there were 100 fatal incidents on Irish farms. Of these, 46 involved a farm vehicle, seven involved machinery and 20 involved livestock. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon, said the figures are a “stark reminder of the dangers on farms”. In 2020…

Saturday’s auctions on LSL. Register at www.lslauctions.com to take part. *Details correct at the time of publication. Auctions are subject to change without notification.

Saturday’s auctions on LSL. Register at www.lslauctions.com to take part. *Details correct at the time of publication. Auctions are subject to change without notification.

Monday’s auctions on LSL. Register at www.lslauctions.com to take part. *Details correct at the time of publication. Auctions are subject to change without notification.

There have been 2,274 new tractors licensed in Ireland so far this year, according to information compiled by the Department of Transport. Between January to October 2021, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said along with the 2,274 new tractors licenced there have been 2,927 used tractors licensed.  Compared to the same period in 2020, there were 1,994 new tractors registered and 2,039 imported licensed. October 2020, proved to be a…

Following the introduction of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in the UK, all Northern Ireland poultry farmers are being urged to tighten their bio security. With the migratory season underway there is an increased risk of infection. All bird keepers are being advised to remain vigilant and keep a close eye on flocks for avian flu symptoms. Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) poultry chair, Ronnie Wells confirmed that several cases…

Tuesday’s auctions on LSL. Register at www.lslauctions.com to take part. *Details correct at the time of publication. Auctions are subject to change without notification.

Farmers and rural communities feel they have been “singled out” and made to “carry the carbon can” according to one of Ireland’s farming organisations. President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) Pat McCormack said it was wrong to ask farmers to foot additional costs when people responsible were having trade deals with countries “that have no intention of addressing climate change”. ICMSA is a farming group representing approximately…

Irish growers are missing out on nearly €1million in revenue each month due to the ongoing timber licensing crisis, say senior industry figures. The backlog of around 5,000 licences had also led to an estimated €70 million per annum in lost revenue for Irish sawmills and a 700,000 tonne shortfall of Irish wood over the past two years. That equates to approximately €1m in lost revenue to forestry growers, mainly…

Any rain in the southeast will clear on Tuesday morning. There will be a good deal of dry weather with sunny spells, but some showers also in Connacht and west Ulster. Cloud will thicken countrywide through the evening. Highest temperatures of 12 or 13C, with moderate southwest breezes. Tuesday night will start off dry. However, outbreaks of rain may move up over the southern half of the country overnight. Lowest…

Cloud and rain moving southeast through Tuesday with blustery showers following in the north. Cloud and outbreaks of rain in the south likely returning north midweek. Mild in the south.

With Bonfire Night celebrations planned this weekend farmers have asked people not to release sky lanterns because of the dangers to animals and farms. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is warning that sky lanterns – also known as Chinese lanterns – can injure or kill farm animals and wildlife if released in the countryside.  They are also a fire risk to crops and farm buildings and create litter. “Please think…

Farmers will work with the Government’s new Climate Action Plan, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president. The plan has set out guidelines to help fight again global warming for all sectors across Ireland’s economy including agriculture.  A reduction of between 22 per cent and 30 per cent between now and 2030 has been outlined for the agricultural industry.  However, IFA head Tim Cullinan claimed working with the Government…

Saturday’s auctions on LSL. Register at www.lslauctions.com to take part. *Details correct at the time of publication. Auctions are subject to change without notification.

Farmers and experts have blasted politicians and officials for aa lack of leadership on farming and climate change.  An Oireachtas committee heard on Tuesday that too often the debate on how farming must adapt to climate change was driven by “misinformation” and a “toxic narrative”. Cork dairy farmer Donal Sheehan said: “Everyone is kicking the dairy cow numbers issue down the road but we cannot have our cake and eat…

Up to 1.3 million cattle would have to be culled in Ireland to reach Government targets, according to a new study. Ireland has traditionally depended on farming to drive its economy with some of its most successful exports including Kerrygold and Pilgrim’s Choice. The Irish Government is due to unveil its climate emergency plans on today (Thursday) and is considering a 21 per cent to 30 per cent cut in…

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Minister has criticised Great Britain’s trade deal with New Zealand describing the dealing as a “very serious threat” to NI farmers. Under the terms of the deal, tariffs will be removed from exports of lamb, beef and butter from New Zealand into the UK.  According to the Department for International Trade (DIT) the tariffs can be staged over time to give Uk farmers time to adjust.  Mr…

Raw milk supplier Patrick Bradley says farmers could be at forefront of the solar electricity generation. Mr Bradley, a dairy farmer in Co Leitrim, has a raw milk bottling plant with his father on their 100-acre farm near Newtowngore, with a 60-strong dairy herd. Their product – For Their Gut Sake Lovely Leitrim Raw Milk – is sold in about 70 outlets across Ireland and in glass bottles to customers…