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RURAL LIFE

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

<p>A range of landscape actions within the ACRES schemes are designed to deal with issues such as invasive species, encroaching scrub management in species-rich grassland.</p>

farming

Second application window for ACRES landscape actions now open

The second application window is now open for the ACRES landscape actions and are planned to deal with issues like invasive species and encroaching scrub management

<p>The 269 new organic farmers were announced this week.</p>

farming

Organic farming scheme attracts 269 more farmers

<p>Dairy farmers face a €1.3bn income hit as milk prices fall, with Cork and other major producing counties hardest hit, ICMSA says. Picture: Andy Gibson</p>

farming

Dairy farmers could suffer €1.3bn financial shock due to milk price collapse

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

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

farming

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

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Confident in Her Line of Work

Calls for entries for the International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador

Department is searching for its Irish farming ambassador and hosting a photo competition

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

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

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

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

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

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

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

'Tag. Bag. Test. Remove' has become Animal Health Ireland's motto this spring to move Ireland towards bovine viral diarrhoea eradication

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

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

Domesticated bantam chickens seen in a large, rural garden during springtime.

Ireland now officially free from bird flu

The World Organisation for Animal Health has published Ireland's self-declaration of HPAI-free status

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

EU funding shake-up puts flagship Irish nature projects at risk

EU funding shake-up puts flagship Irish nature projects at risk

Since 1992, Ireland has secured more than 100 LIFE projects, with total investment exceeding €200m

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Tipperary family wins Dairygold Malting Barley competition

Tipperary family wins Dairygold Malting Barley competition

Oliver and Margaret Keating from Co Tipperary were crowned the overall winners of Dairygold's Malting Barley competition at this year's Tillage Conference

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

Grass and daisy covered rural lane, lined on either side by hedgerows

Proposed changes to Eco Scheme a 'meaningless measure'

Farming organisations have pushed back against the proposed changes to the Eco Scheme, saying the removal of previously approved actions within the scheme 'dilute' farmers' efforts

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Bluetongue outbreak confirmed in Wexford

Following a confirmed outbreak of bluetongue on a farm in Wexford, agriculture minister Martin Heydon reminds farmers vaccines for the virus are now available

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Beef Cattle Open Range on Large Ranch

Farmers can now change their SCEP yearly reference number for 2026

Any changes made to the 2026 yearly reference number, either increases or decreases, will have an associated impact on the requirements or actions to be carried out by the farmer and on the maximum payment that the participant will be eligible to draw down later in 2026

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Agri Aware event discusses water quality and a ‘Mercosur 2.0’

Agri Aware event discusses water quality and a ‘Mercosur 2.0’

Topics such as Ireland's water quality, the potential of a Mercosur 2.0 with the EU, and Australia were discussed at the inaugural Food for Thought Agri Aware event

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Healthy food for vitality and energy with super foods high in protein and carbs

Agri-Food Regulator supplier survey now open

Following last year's results, with 14% of suppliers reporting unfair trading practices, the Agri-Food Regulator has launched its 2026 supplier survey

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Retired man looking at cattle grazing in a field

Two in five farmers have no formal successor as ageing demographics fuel looming succession crisis

The newest Ifac Farm Report has revealed that two in five farmers have no formal successor despite the ageing population, succession planning proving to be a ongoing challenge

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Macra demands immediate action on young farmer supports

Macra demands immediate action on young farmer supports

Macra president Josephine O'Neill said urgent action was required to support young farmers and warned delaying until CAP 2028 would be 'simply too late'

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

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