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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>Blue tongue vaccines will be permitted in 2026. Picture: Nicolas Maeterlinck/Belgs Msg/AFP</p>

farming

Bluetongue vaccinations will be permitted in 2026

Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, has announced today that blue tongue vaccines will be permitted in Ireland in 2026 following a fourth confirmed outbreak in Northern Ireland

<p>The cases, which are suspected in two cattle, were detected as part of surveillance within the temporary control zone. File picture</p>

farming

Bluetongue cases suspected on fourth Northern Ireland farm

<p>AHI have launched it's new BVD Action Plan for 2026.</p>

farming

Animal Health Ireland announce the BVD action plan for 2026

Mouldy maize silage in close up on a dairy farm

farming

The hidden issue of mycotoxins — and what you can do about them

Budget calculation

farming

Budget concerns for non-Vat registered farmers

Milk in the Making

farming

Call to halt livestock imports as bluetongue threat grows

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Mayo man awarded the Plunkett Award for Co-operative Endeavour

Mayo man awarded the Plunkett Award for Co-operative Endeavour

Pádraig Gibbons from Westport, Co Mayo, received the highest national honour from ICOS

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Limerick native elected to Dairygold board of directors

Limerick native elected to Dairygold board of directors

Gerald Kirby from Ballyneety, Co Limerick, has been recently elected to the Dairygold board of directors and will assume the role in the new year

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president and son set off by tractor to Brussels for protest

IFA president, Francie Gorman and his son Tom set off this morning on a pilgrimage to Brussels to join a farmer protest on Thursday to coincide with an EU Council meeting.

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

Bluetongue outbreak

Animal health organisations launch cross-border BVD awareness campaign

BVD is of particularly high prevalence in counties Monaghan, Armagh, Tyrone and Fermanagh, according to the AHI and the AHWNI who have recently launched a cross-border campaign

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

What does the latest Nitrates Action Programme mean for farmers?

What does the latest Nitrates Action Programme mean for farmers?

Derogation farmers must begin to implement the NAP mandatory requirements; farmers in the Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Munster Blackwater catchment areas are subject to two extra requirements

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Agriculture minister says it's his 'ambition' to secure future derogation deals for Ireland

Agriculture minister says it's his 'ambition' to secure future derogation deals for Ireland

Martin Heydon said securing derogation deals for Ireland post 2028 was his 'ambition' for the future

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Cows in a farm. Dairy cows

Ireland's derogation extension provokes mixed reactions

Although most within the agricultural sector welcomed the news of the derogation extension, An Taisce called it 'shocking', and a 'bad day' for Irish water bodies

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

An aerial view of the rural landscape around Dublin Airport , Ireland, showing a patchwork of green fields divided by hedgerows

Key updates for ACRES participants revealed

The Department of Agriculture has issued several updates for ACRES participants surrounding NPIs, training courses, amendments and documentation submission deadlines

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Wexford farmer takes home top prize at EU Innovation Award

Wexford farmer takes home top prize at EU Innovation Award

Cheryl Poole, a dairy farmer from just outside of Gorey, Co Wexford, has won the coveted Innovation Award for Women Farmers for her work protecting local water systems

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Closeup of machine spreading fertilizer

Nitrates derogation extension for Ireland still far from a 'done deal'

A reduction in chemical nitrogen is one of the EU's conditions for proposed extension of Ireland's derogation

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Cork native appointed to the Dairygold board of directors

Cork native appointed to the Dairygold board of directors

Dónal O’Donovan, from Dunmanway, will fill the mid-Cork vacancy on the board

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Cows in a farm. Dairy cows

Bluetongue: 44 further suspected cases in Co Down

A further 44 cattle are suspected to have Bluetongue, the preliminary results of testing carried out by DAERA on a Co Down herd have revealed.

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Mourne Mountains wildfire

Bluetongue latest: 20 large herds to be tested for disease

The North's Department of Agriculture (DAERA) is to begin work testing 20 large herds within the 20km Bluetongue temporary control zone to determine the level of the disease within the region.

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Ireland continues talks to oppose Mercosur

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and agriculture minister Martin Heydon stressed talks were still ongoing with EU member states on the looming Mercosur deal

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Farmers fear being labelled as frauds if they make a mistake, says ICMSA

Farmers fear being labelled as frauds if they make a mistake, says ICMSA

ICMSA president Denis Drennan spoke directly to Taoiseach Micheál Martin and agriculture minister Martin Heydon, voicing the current concerns of the organisation's members

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

The factors crucial for sustaining milk production in late lactation

The factors crucial for sustaining milk production in late lactation

As cows progress into late lactation and weather conditions begin to change, it is crucial to prioritise maintaining sufficient dry matter intake, achieving milk quality standards, and meeting body condition score targets, writes Feidhlim Roche, Alltech InTouch feeding specialist for Southeast Ireland

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Milk prices expected to improve in first half of 2026

Milk prices expected to improve in first half of 2026

Farmers asked the panel at the ICMSA's AGM how the Irish family farm model is expected to survive until the market recovers

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Paula Hynes: The North's bluetongue scare has given us a dose of the Winter Fair blues

Paula Hynes: The North's bluetongue scare has given us a dose of the Winter Fair blues

Unfortunately, the bah-humbug of Christmas show spirit has come in the form of two suspected cases of Bluetongue in Northern Ireland, writes Aherla dairy farmer Paula Hynes

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

Detail of cow muzzle.

ieExplains: What is bluetongue and should farmers be worried?

Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats deer, llamas and alpacas.

Mon, 01 Dec, 2025

a close up of an animal against blurred background

Bluetongue suspected in Northern Ireland

Results from DAERA's active surveillance for Bluetongue have indicated the presence of the disease in two cows.

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

Micheál Martin: ‘Distance to go yet’ as EU signals support for derogation extension

Micheál Martin: ‘Distance to go yet’ as EU signals support for derogation extension

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed news that the European Commission will recommend Ireland’s nitrates derogation be extended, but warned there is still work to be done.

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Nitrates derogation could see an extension of three years

Nitrates derogation could see an extension of three years

Progress has been made to secure a nitrates derogation extension for Ireland. Pending approval from member states, an extension of three years has been proposed

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Farmers facing higher costs with new antiparasitic rules, says ICSA

Farmers facing higher costs with new antiparasitic rules, says ICSA

The ICSA have warned that farmers are already seeing antiparasitics increase in prices with the looming rule change in December

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

The Greenland Ice Sheet, Facing Global Warming, Is Melting

John Gibbons: A big freeze could turn the Irish into climate refugees

We should reflect on 'get-tough' proposals on immigration: If the Amoc currents that moderate Ireland’s climate fail, temperatures will plunge, making grass-based agriculture impossible

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Animal Health Ireland announce details of next series of CalfCare Roadshow

Animal Health Ireland announce details of next series of CalfCare Roadshow

The roadshows will run from December 8, 2025, to January 22, 2026

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

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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