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FARMING - DAIRY SECTOR

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

<p>File picture: Denis Minihane</p>

munster

Agriculture study to help form economic strategy for Cork County Council

The study will focus on the true value of agriculture, especially the dairy sector, to the region

<p>Agriculture minister Martin Heydon at the 2025 National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Co Offaly. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

farming

Martin Heydon not looking for 'a pat on the back' on his TB plan

<p>Back injuries (13%) were the most common injury type, followed by psychological (8%), ankle (6%), and wrist (6%) injuries.</p>

farming

Livestock leading cause of farm injury claims, new report shows

Nitrogen Fertilizer

farming

National Fertiliser Database opens for 2025

National dairy herd shows positive fertility trend

farming

National dairy herd shows positive fertility trend

Farming requires hard work all year around

farming

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

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Grazing Cows

Losing nitrates derogation could cost Irish dairy herds 27 cows each

Pat Deering was one of the Tirlán milk suppliers who revealed their concerns at a recent Farming for Water event

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Thanks to all the volunteers at Inniscarra

Thanks to all the volunteers at Inniscarra

Farming is like a merry-go-round, with baby calves on the farm again. Autumn breeding season is just around the corner, and it is hard to believe we will be breeding the show heifers soon, writes Aherla dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

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

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

Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions

Farmers react with caution to new TB eradication plan and 30 proposed actions

Irish farmers give mixed reaction to the new TB action plan, warning it risks unfairly burdening farmers without clear commitments from others

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Paula Hynes: Black pudding in Cork and Belgium

Paula Hynes: Black pudding in Cork and Belgium

Kasey’s dam calved with a lovely heifer calf by Vierra Sting. It’s our second Sting heifer calf this autumn, and we also had a Chocochip heifer calve with a Blondin Classic heifer calf

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Heydon’s TB action plan finally announced

Heydon’s TB action plan finally announced

The new action plan as part of the TB eradication scheme, involves several new key actions, including informed cattle purchases, mandatory blood testing and special cull cow sales.

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Precious produce

Losing derogation could force one in eight families out of dairying

The fallout would leave 29% of Ireland’s dairy processing capacity idle during what should be peak months of production

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Bovine TB crisis in Ireland: why cattle disease cases are at their highest in 15 years

Bovine TB crisis in Ireland: why cattle disease cases are at their highest in 15 years

With herd incidence at a 15-year high, bovine TB remains Irish farming’s most costly, persistent and emotionally draining disease

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025

Cow in Nature

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

Confident in Her Line of Work

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

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

Signpost: Rotations lengthening and good covers carry cows into autumn for Dermot

Signpost: Rotations lengthening and good covers carry cows into autumn for Dermot

Good grass supply, balanced diets and solid milk output have made 2025 one of the smoother years in dairying, writes Bandon dairy farmer Dermot Walsh

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Armagh and Wexford breeders jointly claim top title at ‘The Baileys’

Armagh and Wexford breeders jointly claim top title at ‘The Baileys’

A co-owned six-year-old Holstein Friesian was crowned 2025 Diageo Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Freshly processed milk

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

Paula Hynes: I'm on an Azores high amid this busy show season

Paula Hynes: I'm on an Azores high amid this busy show season

In the middle of a busy show schedule — including Cavan this week and Inniscarra later this month — Paula enjoyed a visit from farmers working in Portugal's Azores Islands

Wed, 20 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Back to basics with your replacement heifers

Signpost: Back to basics with your replacement heifers

Now is the time to act if you have underweight heifers in your herd, writes Ronan Mulligan, Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris, who outlines ways to address underperformance at farm level.

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Black and white cow, walking the cow path to be milked, udder, passing the pasture under a blue sky

Cow lameness costs farmers €8,750 a year, Teagasc study finds

It was found at Moorepark that the calving interval increases with the severity of lameness, which can reduce the conception rate by 20%

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

Closeup of beef looking at camera. In a stable are many beefs. Ordinary day at organic farm.

Herd tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

LAND ASSECHEE LOT ET GARONNE

Drought again beginning to bite in the South and East

The drought conditions are particularly serious on dairy farms where good grassland managers had been wrapping surplus grass which had gone too strong

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

Dairy cattle in a grassy field and blue sky

Kieran Coughlan: New uncertainty in nitrates derogation demands strategic thinking

For farmers currently in derogation, it would be worthwhile scenario-planning what actions to take if the derogation is lost or unavailable in their catchment, writes farmer and rural accountant Kieran Coughlan

Wed, 13 Aug, 2025

A spot of lunch.

Teagasc fodder survey reveals 90% of farms expect to have sufficient feed for winter

Given that the majority of farms have sufficient reserves in place for the winter months, the focus should now move to building up grass for the autumn, according to advisors

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Farmland

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Your weekly reminder of the things that should be at the top of your farm to-do list. Published every Monday on the Irish Examiner digital Farming hub

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Freshly processed milk

Domestic milk intake in June highest in 50 years at 1.08 billion litres

This June's milk figure is the highest one for June in the last 50 years, CSO data shows

Thu, 07 Aug, 2025

hand sowing seed

Signpost: A guide to successful re-seeding

The main advantage of reseeding grassland is that it increases both the quantity and quality of grass grown. Michael Donoghue, B&T Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, outlines the key steps to ensure a successful re-seed

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Farming

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Brian Reidy

Brian Reidy

Herd Management

Farming Crossword

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PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement. No cheating.

Paula Hynes

Paula Hynes

Hoofing it