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FARMING - COLUMNS

A collection of the latest columns, analysis and opinion from the farming desk. Enjoy.

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

<p>Like two lads late for Mass, Denis and his fellow cattleman found a spot out back at Callanan’s in Cork City to listen to Cónal Creedon (above) and John Spillane. Picture: John Breen</p>

farming

Lighten up: Cork World Book Fest brings city and country together

Like a sow hearing the rattle of a bucket in a faraway yard, when our Denis Lehane heard about Cork World Book Fest, he just knew he had to be there

Paula Hynes: The lazy cow that eventually gave birth to Lucky

<p>Dylon feeds the cattle as his father Denis Hickey looks on at their dairy beef farm just outside Midleton in Co Cork. Picture Chani Anderson</p>

farming

Signpost: Counting stars at Denis Hickey's Midleton calf-rearing unit

Brian Reidy: Is it a good idea to cut costs by feeding calves less meal?

A peasant when silage smells a handful of grass

farming

Cutting corners on silage a false economy in high-cost year

Kieran Coughlan.png

Kieran Coughlan: Contractor eligibility is unclear under new fuel subsidy scheme

Paula Hynes: Turning a summer dream into a reality

Paula Hynes: Turning a summer dream into a reality

We laughed, got a little teary-eyed and what was such a simple moment was turned into the most magical of celebrations, writes Aherla dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Dancing crowd and lights at a music event

Lighten Up: From bullocks to Bolton — it's time to turn marts into nightclubs

Let the of sound of Michael Bolton and Gloria Estefan ring out, where normally the sound of the lonesome weanling bull can be heard, writes our our Auld Lehane

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Freshly processed milk

High TBC? Here’s how to track down the cause on your dairy farm

For many dairy farmers, TBC can be such a struggle to deal with, as any number of things can be behind the problem, writes independent farm adviser Brian Reidy

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Paula Hynes: Pride, perseverance and partnership — celebrating 25 years with a global win

Paula Hynes: Pride, perseverance and partnership — celebrating 25 years with a global win

Becky's success Down Under kicked off a perfect week capped by our 25th wedding anniversary

Sun, 19 Apr, 2026

Hand with electric plug on a background of electric tractor

Farm view: Electric tractors won’t fix a diesel crisis on farms

Hopes for electric farming took the Monarch Tractor start-up company in California to a valuation of $500m. Time magazine even named it one of 2023's best inventions, but the tractor was a total failure in real farming conditions

Wed, 15 Apr, 2026

Paula Hynes: Our farm's secret to fantastic maiden heifers

Paula Hynes: Our farm's secret to fantastic maiden heifers

Housing through summer with a consistent diet transformed their thrive, boosting future herd performance and AI success

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Concept of justice, law and legal system

Ask a solicitor: Disclaiming an inheritance — do I have to accept it?

Difficulties often arise where a beneficiary wishes to disclaim 'in favour of' a specific person, such as a child or other relative, writes solicitor Alex Krupa

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Adult male German Shepherd angry and barks

Ask a solicitor: Security dog attacks — what farmers need to know

Under Irish law, the owner of a dog is generally strictly liable for any injury caused by that dog, writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh.

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Man filling up the gas tank with gasoline

Kieran Coughlan: Higher prices for oil and other farm inputs — what to expect in 2026

The perceived risks of the lack of availability of oil and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are not actually major issues for Ireland

Mon, 16 Mar, 2026

Electric fence on farm land at sunset.

Kieran Coughlan: 12 low-cost and simple fixes for a smoother spring on the farm

Sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference, says rural accountant and dairy farmer Kieran Coughlan

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Young happy man working in orchard during autumn apple harvest.

Ask a solicitor: How can I become an Irish citizen?

A point-based system is in place. If you don’t meet the required points, you can still apply, but you must swear an affidavit explaining why you haven’t met the points, writes solicitor Angela O'Connor

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-AWARD-RED CARPET-ARRIVALS

Lighten Up: Why the Oscars needs to come to the Green Glens

The National Ploughing Championships changes venue every few years, and this always adds a fresh spark to the adventure... the Oscars could do the same by moving to Millstreet

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Beef Cows and Bulls grazing on grass

Brian Reidy: Planning for turnout — don't give up hope just yet

This year, there is added pressure to get stock out as there has been no opportunity to spread slurry since the opening of the spreading window, warns ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

After the occupation: what Bord Bia must learn from its worst governance crisis

After the occupation: what Bord Bia must learn from its worst governance crisis

Language and optics were key accelerants on the Bord Bia fire, with protests escalating each time farmers felt their concerns had been mocked or ignored.

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Paula Hynes: More than a sale ring — the mart is a rural engine

Paula Hynes: More than a sale ring — the mart is a rural engine

The workload is at its maximum now, writes Paula Hynes

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

For sale sign in yard of house

Ask a solicitor: Selling investment property — what owners need to know

The mechanics of ending a residential tenancy in Ireland are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (2004), and are closely monitored by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

Horse Racing

Lighten Up: Auld Lehane back in the saddle for Cheltenham

As you might expect, the elite in the horse racing world were soon beating a path to my door, the offers came in fast and furious

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

Curious cow looking to the camera at cattle farm.

Same cow, different year: Why early feeding still matters even when times are tight

It is never the cow’s fault if we get bad weather at the wrong time. She has no influence on input costs, nor does she set the milk price, warns independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

Paula Hynes: You win some, and lose some

Paula Hynes: You win some, and lose some

Aherla dairy farmer Paula Hynes shares her thoughts on resilience in the yard as she reflects on twelve years TB-free and a calf that defied the odds

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Working tools for cleaning snow in a snowfall. Shovels.

Lighten Up: It's a wrap (a silage wrap) for Brad Pitt in West Cork

So for the past year, or thereabouts, Brad Pitt has been with me here on the farm in Kilmichael, learning all the skills of the trade, writes Denis Lehane in this week's Lighten Up

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Signpost: Grazing redstart on Kay's organic farm

Signpost: Grazing redstart on Kay's organic farm

Kay has been feeding her weanlings a redstart crop — a hybrid brassica, essentially combining the rapid growth of forage rape with the hardiness of kale

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

Newborn calf

Brian Reidy: Act fast with any calving, cow and calf issues

Act quickly when one or two cases appear, as the issue is unlikely to resolve without intervention, writes independent ruminant nutritionist Brian Reidy

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Real estate agent giving the keys

Ask a solicitor: Joint tenancy vs tenancy in common for unmarried couples in Ireland

My partner and I plan to buy a property together and are unsure of the legal consequences if one of us was to die or if our relationship were to break down

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Signpost: From leased out land to a family farm — Denis's journey into dairy-beef

Signpost: From leased out land to a family farm — Denis's journey into dairy-beef

After leasing his farm out for over 30 years, Denis decided to use it himself to farm. A short period of contract rearing was followed by a year on the DairyBeef500 programme to help him on his venture as a beef farmer

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Bord Bia

Paula Hynes: There's no point in discrediting our national storyteller

If Brazilian farmers were anything like Ryanair, they would be thriving on the amount of coverage their beef is getting in Ireland, from the perspective that there is no such thing as bad news, writes Cork dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

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