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A collection of our latest farming news, views and analysis on rural and farming life in Ireland.

<p>Trust in farmers has been consistent between 65% and 68% in the last five years. File picture</p>

farming

Farmers remain the most trusted people in the food chain

Only 45% to 48% of consumers put their trust in food system authorities, and only 48% to 53% said they trusted restaurants and caterers, over the past five years

<p> 17-year-old Aaleasha Sweeney from Co Sligo competing in the Under-40 horse category with her grandfather Colman Cogan. While the competition is still at the heart of the National Ploughing Championships, Anna May McHugh's vision was always for a bigger event. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

spotlight

Anna May McHugh on how the National Ploughing Championships grew into a €14m rural showcase

<p>Philip Crowe: 'I always went too fast on the quad anyway.' Photo: NI Limousin Cattle Club/Facebook</p>

farming

'I wasn’t trained on how to ride the bloody thing': Surviving a quad crash and living to tell the tale

Sarah Harte Writer head shot.png

Sarah Harte: Is the urban/rural divide as straightforward as we think?

Solar panels on barn roof

farming

Farmers and stakeholders asked for views on TAMS

Irish Ploughing team sees success on the global stage

farming

Irish Ploughing team sees success on the global stage

Brian Reidy

Denis Lehane, Lighten Up

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Normandian cows with pleasure eating fresh grenn grass

Fodder remains a challenge despite grass growth

Stockkeepers have been urged to assess winter feed stocks and address shortages early, as significant regional disparities remain following the summer drought

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026

Paula Hynes: Cashel Blue on the menu at Dualla show

Paula Hynes: Cashel Blue on the menu at Dualla show

A first visit to Dualla Show in Tipp was memorable for Paula as Jersey cow Cash won two championship sashes

Mon, 07 Sep, 2026

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Bluetongue case confirmed in Wexford

Ireland’s first bluetongue case of the 2026-27 season has been detected in an unvaccinated heifer in Co Wexford.

Fri, 04 Sep, 2026

Farmer standing in wheat field

Generational Renewal Week to showcase opportunities and supports for Irish farming

Teagasc to host a variety of webinars, farm walks, in person engagements, and videos to promote and showcase opportunities for Irish farmers for generational renewal week.

Fri, 04 Sep, 2026

Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan to help schoolchildren celebrate World School Milk Day

Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan to help schoolchildren celebrate World School Milk Day

The National Dairy Council's live webinar will be held for classes across the country to tune in and hear about the importance of dairy in the diet from a range of speakers, including double Olympic rowing champion Paul O’Donovan

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Irish riders called to saddle up for My Lovely Horse animal rescue fundraiser

Irish riders called to saddle up for My Lovely Horse animal rescue fundraiser

Horse riders across the country are being encouraged to sign up for the Agria Horse Ride 2026 in aide of My Lovely Horse

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Teagasc appoints new chief operations officer

Teagasc appoints new chief operations officer

Valerie Farrell will succeed Alan Phelan who retires later this year

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Talking Timber event guides forest owners on how to enhance their woodlands

Talking Timber event guides forest owners on how to enhance their woodlands

Celebrating 15 years of the event, forest owners were informed that the best financial outcomes from a forest begins well before the harvest at the Talking Timber 2026 event

Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

Animal Health Ireland launches events to help farmers prevent cattle lameness

Animal Health Ireland launches events to help farmers prevent cattle lameness

AHI will host two on-farm events highlighting the importance of hoof health and help minimise the €145m cost of lameness in the national dairy herd

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

Agri-Food Regulator expands with new legal and research unit

Agri-Food Regulator expands with new legal and research unit

Agri-Food Regulator expands to include a new legal and research unit, appointing Ciara O'Gorman as head of legal and research and Anne Hayden as policy and research officer

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

Succession: Older farmers need an exit and young farmers need a chance

Succession: Older farmers need an exit and young farmers need a chance

Succession and generational renewal have become major points of contention in Irish agriculture, but with an ageing farming population and plenty of young farmers looking to enter the sector, what is holding them back?

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

Farmer-led group for organic beef and lamb launched

Farmer-led group for organic beef and lamb launched

New organic farmer-led organisation aims to secure premiums for farmers supplying organic products and not let it get lost in a disjointed supply and processing chain

Wed, 02 Sep, 2026

€7.9m project to restore Kerry’s underwater meadows

€7.9m project to restore Kerry’s underwater meadows

Project, led by UCC and based in Tralee Bay Nature Reserve, will benefit wider coastal habitats in Co Kerry, including the adjacent Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara Ciarraí — Ireland’s first National Marine Park

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Ireland's first on-farm biorefining and anaerobic digestion plant opens in Cork

Ireland's first on-farm biorefining and anaerobic digestion plant opens in Cork

Ireland's first on-farm biorefinery and anerobic digestion plant has officially opened on Shinagh Estates Farm in Cork and is one of the largest of its kind in the world

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

The sunshine meter was topped up for Iniscarra Show

The sunshine meter was topped up for Iniscarra Show

Between awards, agricultural shows and the welcome return of rain, there has been plenty to celebrate as another busy autumn-calving season approaches.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Sliced grilled steak roastbeef and rosemary

Bord Bia launches Quality Assured beef campaign in Ireland

The campaign will promote beef to young Irish shoppers as a suitable and affordable protein option for weekly meals

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Soil in senior Women's hands.

Study finds regenerative farming cuts drought yield losses

An independently verified field study across 1,262 farms in France from 2021 to 2024 has shown how regenerative farming strengthens drought resilience.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

harvest of carrots is holding a organic food

Current carrot price unsustainable as growers call for 6c per carrot increase

With climate events, costs and inflation putting pressure on carrot growers, the Irish Carrot Growers Group is calling for a 6c per carrot increase to try and offset costs

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Flooded fields

Farm ponds could reduce flood peaks by up to 38%

The findings provide a framework for mainstreaming nature-based solutions into Irish flood risk management

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Farmland with cattle and sheep

Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group to host farm walk

The Organic Beef and Lamb Innovation Group will host a organics farm walk for beef and sheep farmers already in organics or interested in the sector

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Fruit and Vegetables stock images

Retailers commit to supporting Irish growers and local produce

Aldi, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, SuperValu/Centra, and Tesco have committed to the five new Horticulture Grower-Retail Charter principles

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Freshly processed milk

Co-ops announce increased July milk prices

Co-ops have announced an increase in July milk prices and Tirlán confirms its autumn calving and seasonality payments

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Co-ops offer weather supports for suppliers

Co-ops offer weather supports for suppliers

Due to the continued dry weather, co-ops are offering suppliers feed support in an effort to offset fodder costs due to poor grass growth.

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Panoramic of Dairy Cows

Why every grazing system needs a plan B

Flexibility should be the foundation of every resilient dairy system, writes Adam Hanratty from Alltech Ireland.

Wed, 26 Aug, 2026

Fodder transport subsidy proposed as farmers face severe shortages

Fodder transport subsidy proposed as farmers face severe shortages

ICMSA has called for a fodder transport subsidy to lessen the cost of transporting fodder across the country as fuel costs rise again and grass growth windows begin to shorten

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

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