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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>Becky Hynes cleans off a newly born Charolais bull calf. Picture: Andy Gibson</p>

farming

Paula Hynes: Traceability and a record-breaking DNA programme make Irish agri-food stand out

There is so much talk about food traceability at the moment, and Ireland really is a step ahead when it comes to the traceability of cattle, as we will most likely be the first country in the world to have a fully DNA-tested national herd

<p>Prices have been reduced by 10–20c/kg, to the grave disappointment of suppliers, and the pressure has extended to live sales at marts, with prices back by up to €12hd at sales early this week.</p>

farming

Hogget prices cut again as pressure mounts on sheep sector

<p>It is generally agreed that there is a little more on price being conceded by processors this week to secure stock, which is very welcome among suppliers and has opened the opportunity for more hard selling to achieve an extra return. File photo</p>

farming

More life in cattle trade, but processors remain cautious

A Day in the Life of a Farmer

farming

Teagasc to host research conference with focus on sustainability and land use

Healy-Rae welcomes first horticulture education chair

farming

Healy-Rae welcomes first horticulture education chair

Bovaer manufacturer to sell animal nutrition and health division

farming

Bovaer manufacturer to sell animal nutrition and health division

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra says Ireland’s reputation as a trusted, high-quality food producer depends on unity, transparency and respect throughout the sector

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers hear from farming organisation spokespersons and burn Bord Bia paperwork as they protest outside the Dáil.

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

manure robot inside farm full of spotted milk cows in holland

Brian Reidy: Why feed space, water, and cubicles matter for early lactation

As a rule of thumb, if cows spend more than a minute standing on a cubicle undisturbed without lying down, they are unhappy with the cubicle design, warns independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Cows in a fresh grassy field on a clear day

Kieran Coughlan: Cashflow pinch is on its way

With ground conditions currently saturated, the chances of getting cows out to grass early in lactation remain slim, writes dairy farmer and rural tax specialist Kieran Coughlan

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Martin Heydon defends Bord Bia chairman from Sinn Féin's motion to dismiss

Martin Heydon defends Bord Bia chairman from Sinn Féin's motion to dismiss

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon said that Sinn Féin had not sought a briefing from Bord Bia board members in advance of calling for Larry Murrin's removal

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Rachel Martin: Bord Bia row is no longer about beef — it’s about who agri policy is for

Rachel Martin: Bord Bia row is no longer about beef — it’s about who agri policy is for

At the risk of sounding like Shania Twain, little about the Bord Bia and Larry Murrin controversy has impressed me much this week. As things stand, Mr Murrin is due to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture in the coming days.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Aerial View of Tractor, Preparing the Potato Field For The New Season

Clear communication one of the most important factors for farm workers

Resulting from the recent FRS Co-Op survey found that clear communication was one of the most important factors for farm workers.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

man's hand holding the flower of an oilseed rape plant, spring time concept

New £2.5m oilseed rape project launched in the UK

A new three-year project will combine gene technology and on-farm trials to bring forward precision-bred oilseed rape resistant to the likes of light leaf spot to farms

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Euro banknote currency finance background

Are you taking advantage of the supports available to your farm?

While farmers have limited influence over the introduction of regulations, they have control over the advisory supports and incentives they choose to engage with, advises Siobhán Kavanagh

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Featuring in the CAP Network's 'Women in Agriculture' booklet, Carina Roseingrave, alongside her brother, has expanded their farm to a mixed enterprise.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Holstein Dairy Cow

Bird flu antibodies detected in cow in the Netherlands

Following the death of a cat on a farm in the Netherlands, a dairy cow was found to have bird flu antibodies in her milk, indicating a previous infection of the disease

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Fertilizer terminal

Fertiliser supply risks mount as EU import rules face scrutiny

Price uncertainty has reduced fertiliser imports, with many blaming EU delays in agreeing how the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism operates

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests have escalated in Dublin as farmers gain access and occupy the Bord Bia HQ in Dublin.

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Fluffy Woolly Sheep

Further factory cuts deepen pressure on hogget prices

Waning confidence in the sector has been further undermined by another reduction of 10c/kg for hoggets at processing plants

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware have announced extra dates to their Walk & Talk series, hosting secondary school students studying agricultural science on farms over the coming weeks

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

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

Limited extras offered as beef processors maintain price control

There is no indication tighter supplies relative to previous years’ intake, or ongoing producer demands for higher returns, are likely to have any major influence on prices in the short term

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

The harvester working in a forest.

Ireland's €2bn forestry industry is in fear of the bark beetle

The small insect that has killed hundreds of millions of trees across Europe over the past decade can be blown by the wind

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Industry leaders recently attended the Teagasc 'Meat Matters' event as part of the Food Innovation Gateways initiative to explore innovation and opportunities for fresh meat

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

New 'Rye Growers’ Guide' launched at tillage conference

New 'Rye Growers’ Guide' launched at tillage conference

Teagasc officially launched its newest 'Rye Grower's Guide' at the 2026 National Tillage Conference, providing detailed science-based information for farmers

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Cork's Munster Bovine becomes latest patron of Agri Aware

Cork's Munster Bovine becomes latest patron of Agri Aware

Artificial insemination and herd management firm Munster Bovine is the latest Agri Aware patron, joining 55 other patrons of the agri-food educational body

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Herding the Sheep

Celebrating women driving progress across Irish agriculture

Tickets now available for the third annual International Women's Day lunch hosted by Macra and the Agricultural Science Association

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Farming organisations have called for Mr Murrin's resignation following the revelation his company Dawn Foods had imported and utilised Brazilian beef

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Rachel Martin: Standards must come top down

Rachel Martin: Standards must come top down

I used to think it would be a bad job to be caught in a supermarket with a trolley full of produce that didn’t align with what I wrote about for a living.

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Hereford cattle

China suspends beef exports from Ireland following bluetongue outbreak

Under the protocol governing the beef trade between Ireland and China, the Irish Government is required to notify the authorities in China of an outbreak of certain notifiable diseases, including bluetongue

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Dairy farm cows indoor in the shed

No boost for dairy in EU-India deal

High Indian tariffs on cheese, milk powders and dairy-based nutritional products remain unchanged, while there has been no movement on sanitary, technical or product approval requirements

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

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Kieran Coughlan

Kieran Coughlan

Farm Finance