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FARMING - AGRIBUSINESS and TECH

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

<p>The Department of Agriculture is currently not considering the use of vaccines to combat bird flu in Ireland.</p>

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Bird owners encouraged to house their birds immediately

Bird owners have been encouraged to house their birds if facilities allow, ahead of the compulsory housing order due to current outbreaks of bird flu.

<p>(Left to right) Dr Norah O'Shea, senior research officer Food Chemistry and Technology Department Teagasc, professor Mark Fenelon, Teagasc Head of Food Research Programme, Timmy Dooley, minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Liam Herlihy, Teagasc chairman and Dr Siobhán Jordan, Teagasc head of technology transfer and commercialisation arriving at the 'Smarter Food: How artificial intelligence is shaping the future of Irelands' food industry' event in Teagasc's Moorepark Food Research Centre in Fermoy, Co. Cork. Picture: O'Gorman Photography</p>

farming

Smarter food: How AI is shaping the future of Ireland’s food industry

<p>Macra president Josephine O’Neill told the IFA meeting in Corrin Mart in Fermoy that failing to renew derogation for farmers will force land prices up. Picture: Finbarr O'Rourke</p>

farming

Losing derogation will be catastrophic, IFA meeting told

Grazing Cows

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Irish farms produce enough protein for 30 million people

Water pollution

farming

Every small action counts: How ASSAP helps farmers protect water

Man holding a calculator calculating land sales tax and document management of land purchases. The concept for residential const

farming

Flat-rate VAT payment decrease to cost farmers €61.5m in 2026

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Aerial view of Island Magee, County Antrim

Agricultural land sales dropped by almost 9% in 2024

A total of 57,212 acres of agricultural land was sold in 2024, a drop on 2023 figures, but 2024 experienced a median increase of 10.3% in price per acre

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Solar panels. Power station. Blue solar panels. Alternative source of electricity. Solar farm. The source of ecological renewabl

John Gibbons: Saying nuclear power is better for the environment than solar is ludicrous

The idea that intensive dairy farming is some kind of pastoral idyll with no impact on the environment has been allowed to take hold to the point that serious people are now suggesting nuclear reactors instead of solar

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Irish tillage farming

New Nitrates Action Plan proposes to drop shallow cultivation for tillage farms

IFA grain chair Kieran McEvoy said tillage farmers would welcome the proposals to drop shallow cultivation

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Beef processors tighten control on price rises

There’s still a very positive tone to the trade overall, writes Martin Ryan

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

No deal yet when it comes to derogation - Heydon

No deal yet when it comes to derogation - Heydon

Minister Heydon was met with a 1,000 plus crowd at the IFA's Nitrates Derogation national meeting at Corrin Mart, Fermoy.

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Minister Dooley leads agri-food trade mission to China

Minister Dooley leads agri-food trade mission to China

The trade mission will include government-to-government meetings, a series of trade events, seminars and several customer meetings

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

Mallow Co-Op Superstores shortlisted for Retail Excellence Awards

Mallow Co-Op Superstores shortlisted for Retail Excellence Awards

It is one of 30 finalists in the awards

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

The meat processing plant. carcasses of beef hang on hooks.

Tight cattle supplies drives factory competition

Price disparencies can add up to in excess of €3,000 on the return to the supplier for a typical load of cattle, indicating how demand and competition for stock are driving the trade

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025

University workshop aims to spread awareness of recycled fertilisers

University workshop aims to spread awareness of recycled fertilisers

A recent interactive workshop held by the University of Limerick showcased recycling-derived fertilisers as a viable option for Irish farmers and agricultural stakeholders

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

Tipperary woman appointed as Bord Bia's new China manager

Tipperary woman appointed as Bord Bia's new China manager

Sinéad Kennedy from Cahir has been appointed as Bord Bia's new China manager, advocating for Irish food and drink there

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

Roast Leg of Lamb

Irish lamb launched into US market at New York event

Irish lamb was served for the first time this month in the US following Ireland's granted access to export lamb into the US in 2022

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

Corral of Grass fed beef cattle steers at the markets for sale

New Zealand farmer-shareholders in favour of Dawn Meats partnership

Following a vote, farmer-shareholders of the Alliance Group in New Zealand have had a majority vote in favour of a strategic partnership with Dawn Meats

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Dairy cow waiting to be milked

Genetic gain in dairy cows has increased rapidly in recent years, report shows

The average EBI has increased by €188 in the last 20 years, with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation reporting this translates to an additional €376 per lactation for dairy farmers

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Precious produce

Tirlán and Dairygold apply the largest reductions to milk price

They cited a decline in butter and cheese prices as a major factor in the decreased September milk price

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Last straws after harvest and tractor plowing the stubble field

Why the carbon tax gives Irish grain a built-in higher cost base

The main changes which will affect farmers are the drop in the flat rate percentage from 5.1% to 4.5% for 2026. This is set to cost farmers €61m over a calendar year

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Tractor miniature with coins on fertile soil land

Cattle up 53.8% in agricultural price index for August 2025

The latest Agricultural Price Index reports the biggest output price going to cattle and the highest input price being fertilisers in the 12 months to August 2025.

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Nitrogen Fertilizer

Department to probe 'out of tolerance' fertiliser tests

162 fertiliser samples had been taken. Of these, three (1.8%) have been provisionally found to be out of tolerance

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Nitrates, milk prices and TB top of the agenda at this year’s National Dairy Show

Nitrates, milk prices and TB top of the agenda at this year’s National Dairy Show

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told dairy farmers that his government will continue to press the European Commission on the future of Ireland’s nitrates derogation as one of its “key priorities.

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Fighting 'Agri-bashing': Why direct storytelling is crucial for valuing farmers' wider contributions

Fighting 'Agri-bashing': Why direct storytelling is crucial for valuing farmers' wider contributions

The surprising ways Irish agriculture is using social media to show its value to society

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Tight supply keeps lamb returns steady around 780c/kg

Supply relative to demand at the processors remains tight, and those with larger numbers to offer are reported to be securing deals at the factories for a return of 785–790c/kg this week

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Processors under pressure as finished cattle numbers fall 25%

Balancing supply and demand at the least cost, always a primary objective for the processors, is becoming the most challenging in years due to the fall-off in supply

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Shot of an unrecognisable woman using a digital tablet while working on a farm

New NFS Farm Enterprise Data Dashboards launched

Teagasc has launched their new NFS Farm Enterprise Data Dashboard along with the finalised publication of the 2024 National Farm Survey

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Budget 2026: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Paul Hosford and Louise Burne break down what we are likely to see on Tuesday across each of 12 government departments

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Updated AgFood Portal unworkable, says IFA

Updated AgFood Portal unworkable, says IFA

IFA Rural Development Chair, John Curran, has called for a review of the updated Department of Agriculture AgFood Portal after influx of login complaints from farmers.

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

The feeder reads an animal’s ID tag to give each animal its allocated ration. Each time the animal steps into the feeder, it is weighed and the daily liveweight gain is recorded in software which the farmer can access from their phone

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

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Kieran Coughlan

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