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FARMING - AGRIBUSINESS and TECH

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis from the farming desk on the topic of Agribusiness and technology.

<p>Analysing silage quality is crucial to understanding its fibre, energy and protein content so you can effectively balance the diet to achieve optimum health and performance.</p>

farming

Improving feed utilisation in winter diets

Feed utilisation refers to how efficiently animals convert the feed they consume into productive outputs such as body weight gain

<p>Reports are that there is reasonable interest at the factories, and suppliers with larger numbers of quality lambs to offer are negotiating for 780c/kg, and in some deals up to 790c/kg or even a few cents per kilo more.</p>

farming

Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises

<p>There is some variation on the base prices being offered by the processors, who are giving no indication they are coming under pressure to source a higher intake of stock.</p>

farming

EU beef production drop key driver of beef prices

farming

44% of Irish food and agribusinesses are delaying investments

farming

Agriculture vs aviation: Who wins the battle for biofuel?

Butchers are cutting pork in the meat plant.

farming

Pig throughput rises to 65,770

Bumper crowd at tillage sector crisis meeting sends 'clear message' to minister

Speaking to the Irish Examiner at the National Ploughing Championships, Bobby Miller from the Irish Grain Growers Group said tillage farmers visiting the organisation's stand were in poor morale

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Aerial view of farm building with photovoltaic solar panels mounted on rooftop for producing clean ecological electricity. Produ

Planning exemption limits for slurry tanks and livestock sheds to increase

New exemptions were included in the Department of Agriculture’s submission to the public consultation on Exempted Developments

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

New digital platform launched for Department of Agriculture

MyAgFood.ie will replace agfood.ie as the new online platform for farmers to receive important updates from the department and apply for schemes in one place

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Female hands cutting a piece of ribs in a butchers shop

Factories slash beef prices another 10c/kg during ploughing week

The supply increased by 1,300 head last week to 28,914 head, which was 9,500 less than the same week last year, but for 2025, it was the highest weekly supply since the beginning of June

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

National Fertiliser Database opens for 2025

Farmers and other fertiliser users and operators can now declare the closing stock of fertiliser held on their farms and premises

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Head appointed for new vet medicine course

Dr Mary-Kate Burke will head up the new five-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree course at South East Technological University

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Farming requires hard work all year around

70% of dairy farmers view loss of derogation as a challenge to farm viability

A recent ‘Farmer Trends and Insights Survey’ has listed the loss of derogation and EU-funded farm schemes as a major source of worry for farmers

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Cork dairy farmer is first female winner of FBD Young Farmer of the Year

Blarney woman Aileen Sheehan is named the 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Ornua communications director appointed to the AHI board

Jeanne Kelly is joining the board of Animal Health Ireland having recently finished her term as director of AgriAware

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Smiling senior farmer with tablet shaking hands with man on farmland

Invest surplus cash in grass growth and infrastructure — not just machinery

Aiming for very high output usually entails much more built-in cost with higher risk and exposure, which can bite in a poor year

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Store lamb trade strong despite pressure on factory returns

Throughput at the factories year to date is down by more than 300,000 head, reflecting the decline in the breeding flock over recent years of poor returns

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Irish Examiner view: Threats to politicians affect us all

Simon Harris said a conversation was needed among all political parties at this 'moment of inflection'

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Mercosur to bring 99,000 tonnes of low-tariff beef into EU

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association president Denis Drennan said the commission's move to ratify Mercosur was 'a calculated betrayal'

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Pat Whelan: Cutting waste, keeping quality

The enterprising fifth generation butcher hopes to lead the craft of butchery into the future, balancing the serving of both people and the planet.

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Stephen Cadogan: Why Irish dairy has escaped the brunt of US tariffs

Some economists predict an inflation surge in the US of an additional 3%, and say the US itself would be one of the most negatively affected economies by Trump's tariifs

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Dairy apprenticeship aims to close skills gap

Only 5% of Irish farmers are under the age of 35. One in every three is over the age of 65. The 2024 National Farm Survey found that the average age of an Irish dairy farmer was 54

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Five Cork farming families among finalists for 2025 Quality Milk Awards

The annual NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards honour Ireland’s leading dairy producers who continue to work to enhance standards of excellence in dairy farming and milk production in Ireland

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

New slurry gas monitor shows promise after initial testing

The monitor, no bigger than an iPad, is a portable device designed to keep farmers safe from harmful gases and particles

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Why farmers are not rushing to clover: The barriers to a 'green' solution

UCC lecturer in sustainable agriculture Dr Deirdre Hennessey explored the barriers to implementing grass-white clover systems in a recent Teagasc podcast

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

July marks the beginning of milk price drop from Co-ops

Following the increasing global supply, Irish co-ops have begun to drop their milk prices for July

Wed, 20 Aug, 2025

Factories paying up to 820c/kg for lambs despite 'quiet' trade

Processors are maintaining the markets continue to be 'quiet enough', and currently do not justify higher prices to the suppliers

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

Weekly kill rises but remains below 2024 levels

There is more than a hint now of the factory bosses taking a more cautious approach and adjusting the cost structure and the processing operations

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Employees earning over €100,000 at Teagasc rises to 124

Four staff members at the agriculture and food development authority earning between €170,000 to €200,000

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

From one in four to one in 25: Ireland’s shrinking farming workforce

There are 108,450 working in 'agriculture, forestry, and fishing' in 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office's Labour Force Survey.

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

Corral of Grass fed beef cattle steers at the markets for sale

Cattle output price up 43.6% in June, according to CSO

In the CSO's latest release, it was revealed that cattle experienced the most significant increase in the Agricultural Output Index

Thu, 14 Aug, 2025

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FARMING - AGRIBUSINESS and TECH

Improving feed utilisation in winter diets

Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises

EU beef production drop key driver of beef prices

44% of Irish food and agribusinesses are delaying investments

Agriculture vs aviation: Who wins the battle for biofuel?

Pig throughput rises to 65,770

Bumper crowd at tillage sector crisis meeting sends 'clear message' to minister

Planning exemption limits for slurry tanks and livestock sheds to increase

New digital platform launched for Department of Agriculture

Factories slash beef prices another 10c/kg during ploughing week

National Fertiliser Database opens for 2025

Head appointed for new vet medicine course

70% of dairy farmers view loss of derogation as a challenge to farm viability

Cork dairy farmer is first female winner of FBD Young Farmer of the Year

Ornua communications director appointed to the AHI board

Invest surplus cash in grass growth and infrastructure — not just machinery

Store lamb trade strong despite pressure on factory returns

Irish Examiner view: Threats to politicians affect us all

Mercosur to bring 99,000 tonnes of low-tariff beef into EU

Pat Whelan: Cutting waste, keeping quality

Stephen Cadogan: Why Irish dairy has escaped the brunt of US tariffs

Dairy apprenticeship aims to close skills gap

Five Cork farming families among finalists for 2025 Quality Milk Awards

New slurry gas monitor shows promise after initial testing

Why farmers are not rushing to clover: The barriers to a 'green' solution

July marks the beginning of milk price drop from Co-ops

Factories paying up to 820c/kg for lambs despite 'quiet' trade

Weekly kill rises but remains below 2024 levels

Employees earning over €100,000 at Teagasc rises to 124

From one in four to one in 25: Ireland’s shrinking farming workforce

Cattle output price up 43.6% in June, according to CSO

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