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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>The department also takes samples of fertiliser products placed on the market to verify compliance with Irish and EU legislation on labelling of products and minimum nutrient requirements.</p>

farming

Department to probe 'out of tolerance' fertiliser tests

162 fertiliser samples had been taken. Of these, three (1.8%) have been provisionally found to be out of tolerance

<p>An Taoiseach Micheál Martin chats with stall holders at the National Dairy Show. Picture: Maria Kelly</p>

farming

Nitrates, milk prices and TB top of the agenda at this year’s National Dairy Show

<p>'Clarkson's Farm', with celebrity Jeremy Clarkson navigating the complexities of agriculture, has illustrated how a shift toward direct 'digital' storytelling is crucial.</p>

farming

Fighting 'Agri-bashing': Why direct storytelling is crucial for valuing farmers' wider contributions

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

farming

Tight supply keeps lamb returns steady around 780c/kg

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

farming

Processors under pressure as finished cattle numbers fall 25%

Shot of an unrecognisable woman using a digital tablet while working on a farm

farming

New NFS Farm Enterprise Data Dashboards launched

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Paul Hosford and Louise Burne break down what we are likely to see on Tuesday across each of 12 government departments

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Updated AgFood Portal unworkable, says IFA

Updated AgFood Portal unworkable, says IFA

IFA Rural Development Chair, John Curran, has called for a review of the updated Department of Agriculture AgFood Portal after influx of login complaints from farmers.

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

The feeder reads an animal’s ID tag to give each animal its allocated ration. Each time the animal steps into the feeder, it is weighed and the daily liveweight gain is recorded in software which the farmer can access from their phone

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Aerial view of a tractor in the moment of sowing

Soil fertility actions continue after fertiliser deadline

After the fertiliser deadline, potash can also still be spread

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Steady lamb prices with deals up to 800c/kg for regular suppliers

Expectations are that trade will remain stable in the immediate future

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Weekly cattle intake tops 30,000 head for first time since April

Improved weather during the second half of September helped finishers hold on to stock, as better ground conditions meant the expected surge in factory supply did not materialise

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Stephen Cadogan: How artificial intelligence is even challenging the sheepdog

Stephen Cadogan: How artificial intelligence is even challenging the sheepdog

The robot moves easily among trees and obstacles in the pasture, detecting the poultry. It returns to a dedicated charging station and notifies the farmer of task completion or alerts them in case of any issues. It also deters wild predators.

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

MTU and UL host recycling-derived fertiliser workshops

MTU and UL host recycling-derived fertiliser workshops

In October an interactive workshop will be held to propose the use of recycling-derived fertilisers as a sustainable alternative for farmers.

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Hurricane struck electricity poles in Steinhatchee, North Florida. Fallen tree and damaged power lines knock down the grass. Fo

New emergency framework aims to strengthen Ireland’s storm preparedness

Framework to ensure the lessons learned in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn are put into effect

Mon, 29 Sep, 2025

Leading scientist from Denmark to feature as keynote speaker at Teagasc pig conference

Leading scientist from Denmark to feature as keynote speaker at Teagasc pig conference

Dr Vivi Aarestrup Moustsen's research has focused on the development of systems for loose-housed farrowing and lactating sows

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

Cork firm wins start-up of the year at Enterprise Ireland innovation competition

Cork firm wins start-up of the year at Enterprise Ireland innovation competition

AI-driven tools to inform decisions on farms, a solar-powered feeding machine, and low-emission manure management systems were among the cutting-edge solutions which took centre stage in this year’s final

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Precious produce

Farm organisations criticise 'wholly disproportionate' milk price cuts which will wipe €1,500 off cheques

The ICMSA said: 'We’d like to draw attention to the very obvious discrepancy that has the co-ops telling farmers that they’re ‘locked-in’ to forward prices when farmers point to a rising market, while often the very same co-ops seem to be able to opt out very easily of the ‘forward price straitjacket’ in a falling market.'

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Meat industry. Fresh pork meat hanging in the butchery shop.

Pig prices fall by a further 8c/kg

Feed market dynamics are adding further pressure

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

A close-up of barley kernels, ready for malting and brewing

Barley growers warn of crisis as Boortmalt prices fall to five-year low

IFA grain chairman Kieran McEvoy said growers were 'desperately low in confidence' at the moment

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

2026 FTMTA Farm Machinery Show dates confirmed

2026 FTMTA Farm Machinery Show dates confirmed

FTMTA membership has grown by 15% over the past four years

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Cows Feeding in a Modern Barn

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

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Sheep pen

Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises

The return to stability in the trade has helped to instil a bit more confidence in producers for a more positive run of trade to the end of the year

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Meat industry,meats hanging in the cold store. Cattles cut and hanged on hook in a slaughterhouse. Halal cutting.

EU beef production drop key driver of beef prices

Beef producers visiting the Bord Bia stand at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore last week were very interested in the market prospects over the coming months

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

44% of Irish food and agribusinesses are delaying investments

44% of Irish food and agribusinesses are delaying investments

Irish agribusinesses reported that input costs were the number one challenge facing their business today followed by trade and tariffs and staffing availability.

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Home Heating Autumn

Agriculture vs aviation: Who wins the battle for biofuel?

In tests, fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil proved a practical alternative to reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

Butchers are cutting pork in the meat plant.

Pig throughput rises to 65,770

Average price for grade E carcasses in week 36 stood at €199.9/kg (excluding Vat)

Wed, 17 Sep, 2025

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

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

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

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Kieran Coughlan

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Farm Finance