Category: News

Cold and frosty for western areas early Sunday. Showers elsewhere, with snow over high ground. Organised band of rain clears east Monday, preceded by snow. Wet and increasingly windy Tuesday.

Staying cold but becoming drier for the rest of the weekend. However, it will turn unsettled again early next week, with a spell of windy and showery weather developing on Monday night and Tuesday.

Friday’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 will receive new payments for improving and conserving soil and grasslands from 2022, the UK Government has confirmed. However green groups have voiced disappointment that the scheme falls short of what is needed. The UK’s post-Brexit Agriculture Bill was introduced in 2020, which included measures to prevent farmers from being financially incentivised to over-produce at the expense of the environment. These new measures will replace the EU’s Common Agricultural…

A suspected bird flu case in Northern Ireland will result in 27,000 ducks being culled and a temporary control zone being set up in the area. If the case is confirmed in Country Tyrone, a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone will need to be put in place of the temporary control zone.  Northern Ireland’s chief vet Dr Robert Huey said the site of the suspected case of…

Unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain. Some snow at times in the north, mainly over hills. Often windy, particularly in the southwest on Saturday. Rather cold.

Friday will begin dry with some brighter spells. Overall cloudy though with some scattered showers moving up across the southern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9C, in mostly light variable breezes. Later in the day, outbreaks of rain are expected in Atlantic counties.

The European Commission will return more than €21 million to Irish farmers that was taken from direct payments. During 2021, under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), €879.8 million was deducted from European farmers for the agricultural crisis reserve.  The money was used to ensure the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) did not overrun.  European Farmers are supported through the EAGF to provide a secure supply of safe, healthy and affordable…

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is calling for an end to paying farmers retrospectively for milk. Farmers in NI are the only place in the UK where dairy processors use a retrospective payment system. David Brown, UFU deputy president said: “At the beginning of November, First Milk, A GB based cooperative announced the price their farms would receive for milk produced in December.  “But here farmers will not know until…

Irish farmers are calling for a bigger share of retail meat sales profit to cover the high input costs on farms. Farmers believe beef prices need to reach €5/kg for them to maintain parity with 2020 incomes and cover increased costs. IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden, said beef prices have moved on by 5c-10c/kg last week but are still behind the strong growth of key export market returns.  The Irish…

Mild and cloudy on Tuesday with rain moving southeast, perhaps becoming heavy for a time. Turning colder on Wednesday with blustery showers, these becoming restricted to eastern areas on Thursday.

It will be a damp and rather breezy start to the day with further patchy drizzle. A band of heavy rain will arrive into Atlantic counties during the afternoon, moving eastwards during the evening. The rain will be accompanied by a fresh and gusty southwest wind, veering west to northwest. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11C.

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.

British retailer Waitrose has vowed to step-up the price paid to farmers in order to help pig producers get through the current crisis. Waitrose will be implementing a base rate to ensure farmers are not left out of pocket with the falling pig price.  Waitrose senior agriculture manager Jake Pickering said the retailer has always had a strong sense of right and wrong, particularly when it comes to animal welfare.…

One thousand farmers are being given €4m in advanced payments under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS), the Minister of State for Agriculture confirmed. Under the terms of the scheme, farmers can qualify for annual payments of up to €220 per hectare during the conversion period and up to €170 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status. Minister of State for Agriculture, Pippa Hackett, said: “One of our clear…

A unique Roman mosaic showing a famous battle during the Trojan War has been uncovered in an English farmer’s field in Rutland. It is one of only a handful of mosaics found across Europe and would have formed part of the floor of a Roman villa.  Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England described the find as “remarkable”. Historic England believes the villa dates back to the third or forth century…

Prescriptions for anti-parasitic treatments and medicated feed for livestock have been postponed until 1 June 2022, confirmed the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA). Hugh Farrell, ICSA animal health and welfare chair, said the new regulations that had been due to come into effect on 28 January next year had been postponed due to pressure from farm organisations. “We have also succeeded in ensuring that the prescription shall be valid for one…

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.

Post-Brexit ban on importing seeds potatoes from Britain could affect Irish famers’ ability to grow potato crops, the Government has been warned. Traditionally, Irish farmers have sourced seed potatoes from the UK due to a lack of domestic seed potato industry. Conditions in Britain help the growth of disease-free seed potatoes. Following Brexit, seed potatoes can no loner be exported from Britain to the European Union as phytosanitary regulations are…

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is urging retailers promote Bord Bia Quality Assured Irish pig produce and support Irish farmers. IFA president Tim Cullinan said with Christmas approaching, it is essential that Quality Assured hams are available. Mr Cullinan urged retailers not to discount ham at a time when there is high demand among consumers.  He believes a substantial price increase from retailers should be passed back through processors to…

A new app to report badger activity has been launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, with the bovine TB Stakeholder Forum. Badgers are known to spread TB to cattle and the app, developed as part of the Government’s wildlife programme, will enable farmers to immediately report badger activity on their farms.  Farmers using the app will help the Department build its knowledge of the range and location of…

The Department of Agriculture and farmers are closely observing flocks following a confirmed outbreak of Avian Influenza H5N1 in turkeys last week. With a month to go until Christmas, this comes at a difficult time for turkey farmers as flocks are yet not ready for processing. Also known as “bird flu” the disease is not thought to be harmful to humans but is usually fatal to birds.  Poultry farmers have…

Since the pandemic more UK farmers are now renting out land for glamping to boost their income, new research has revealed. Diversification in the farming sector has become increasingly popular, according to Sykes Holiday Cottages, with the number of people looking to rent out glamping accommodations, including huts, pods, yurts and log cabins, rising by 56 per cent since 2019. Sykes reports a 45 per cent increase in glamping bookings…

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-JLMURT-1347835 The lands are laid out in one large neat division, all in permanent pasture, elevated to the south with a gradual gradient to a natural water supply and also benefits from mains water. These lands would benefit from reseeding however are of good heart and located in an area noted for its productive qualities. The holding has good road frontage, enjoys breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and is…

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-JLMURT-1369535 This is a unique opportunity to purchase the very best of agricultural lands with valuable sand and gravel deposits and a geophysical survey is available on request, along with a legal pack – both available from the solicitors with carriage of sale. The auction will take place on Friday 26th November at 3pm in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar & via LSL Auctions online To adhere to regulations, please…

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-CONNAU-1411782 Prime parcel of lands comprising c. 25.75 Acres with derelict cottage standing thereon set out in two lots. The property is located on the Mountbellew to Caltra road, in much sought after area. The property is being offered for sale as follows:Lot 1: c. 16.65 Acres of excellent quality lands fronting onto two roads with derelict cottage and pen/ crush standing thereonLot 2: c. 9.10 Acres of excellent quality…

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-ONEILL-1454437

https://www.lslauctions.com/LotDetail-MURTAGH-1425300 Conlonstown, Ballynacargy, N91 EF29, is a residential dry stock farm, c.1 km west of Ballynacargy Village. The propertyconsists of a spacious detached 4 bed residence and farm yard on c.81 acres of good quality farmland all in permanentpasture. The residence and farm yard would benefit from some improvement and the lands are all laid out in neat tidywell sheltered divisions. Directions:From Mullingar take the R393, continue through Ballynacargy Village…