Farming - Rural Life

Sign in

Farming

Forecast

WEATHER

Grass

GRASS

RURAL LIFE

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

<p>46% of Ireland's rivers are classified as 'moderate, poor or bad' quality. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

farming

New EPA report finds 54% of monitored rivers in acceptable biological condition

Three water bodies in Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary are classified as being in 'bad' condition

<p>Up to 54% of consumers have reported buying fewer groceries, with 38% reporting feeling less financially secure. File picture</p>

farming

Food sector uncertainty around the world accelerates in 2026

<p>From left: Lisa Hughes, co-founder and chief operations officer, Gigi Supplements; Jim Woulfe, chairman, Enterprise Ireland; minister of state at the Department of Enterprise Alan Dillon; Andy Mulloy, managing director, Connemara Seafoods; and Ellen Ní Cléirigh, Enterprise Ireland, at the Enterprise Ireland Food Innovation Summit at Croke Park. Picture: Orla Murray/Coalesce</p>

farming

Food, drink, nutrition and climate tech exports made €16.98bn in 2025

Bord Bia governance review did not address central issue of controversy, say farming bodies

farming

Bord Bia governance review did not address central issue of controversy, say farming bodies

Freshly processed milk

farming

April milk price experiences drop of more than 23%

Funding worth €5m for urban nature-based solutions announced

farming

Funding worth €5m for urban nature-based solutions announced

Brian Reidy

Denis Lehane, Lighten Up

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

‘Wrap it Pink’ for the Irish Cancer Society

‘Wrap it Pink’ for the Irish Cancer Society

The 'Wrap it Pink' campaign by Dairygold supporting the Irish Cancer Society enters its 12th year with farmers encouraged to buy pink silage bale wrap to donate to the society

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Comeraghs Wild launches programme for July festival

Comeraghs Wild launches programme for July festival

The Comeraghs Wild Festival, which returns in July, has launched its full programme of events from sheep shearing to storytelling and live music, to take place in the Comeragh region.

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Plan your journey: Cork Summer Show improves traffic measures

Plan your journey: Cork Summer Show improves traffic measures

An extended bus route and free shuttle bus services will run over June 20 and 21 to help ease traffic burdens in and around Curraheen Stadium for the Cork Summer Show

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Satellite-powered grass measurement tech launched by new partnership

Satellite-powered grass measurement tech launched by new partnership

Proveye and Grassland Agro have announced a new partnership which will utilise satellite imagery and AI interpretation to deliver continuous grass growth data and measurements

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Truly Irish launches ‘made without nitrates’ rashers

Truly Irish launches ‘made without nitrates’ rashers

Farmer-owned pork brand, Truly Irish, has partnered with a Cork-based producer to bring their 'made without nitrates' rashers range nationwide.

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Female veterinarian at work

Animal Health Ireland programme offers 26,000 free vet consultations for farmers

The Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Health will open for registration from 11am on June 17

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Independent Bord Bia review did not find 'any significant concerns'

Independent Bord Bia review did not find 'any significant concerns'

The independent review of the Bord Bia Board has found no governenance failures but has issued 22 recommendations to strengthen the organisation following protests earlier this year.

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Connecting consumers with farming: Agri Aware at Cork Summer Show

Connecting consumers with farming: Agri Aware at Cork Summer Show

Agri Aware hopes to connect Cork Summer Show visitors with agriculture to highlight its crucial role in Ireland with live demos and panel discussions.

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

Alltech expands EU applications lab in Meath

Alltech's European headquarters has expanded its EU Applications Laboratory, which will focus on nutrient efficiency, environmental impact and renewable energy

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Farmer Receiving A Delivery Of Nitrogen Sulphur Fertiliser To A Sustainable Farm.

MEP calls for support package following 71% fertiliser price hike

The EU Commission have dipped into CAP crisis reserves to pad the fertiliser support fund for EU farmers to €500m following a price hike of 71% in April 2026 compared to 2024 figures

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

landscape of ireland seen from the sky, wild nature

Department announces two BISS correction opportunities

Farmers are being advised that there will be two opportunities to correct Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and other area-based scheme applications without penalty over the coming weeks

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Digitising dairy: How Ireland’s first sheep cheese producer kept up with the modern world

Digitising dairy: How Ireland’s first sheep cheese producer kept up with the modern world

Sean Fitzgerald, a pioneer in sheep cheese production in Ireland, has become a recent digital convert in order to keep up with the times and imrpove his artisan cheese business

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Summit analyses future of breeding for Irish dairy industry

Summit analyses future of breeding for Irish dairy industry

Vistamilk hosted the Dairy Breeding Summit, which had over 100 stakeholders in attendance, questioning what the future of Irish dairy breeding might look like.

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

EPA report finds 43% of farms were non-compliant with water quality regulations in 2025

EPA report finds 43% of farms were non-compliant with water quality regulations in 2025

The report published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the predominant issues are the control of soiled water, discharges with potential to impact water quality, management of farmyard manure and slurry collection and storage

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Doctor examine senior man patient at home.

GP shortages threaten rural healthcare

The national shortage of GPs in Ireland has become a real problem in rural areas and has been compounded by the 30% emigration rate of newly qualified GPs

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

From CAP to veterinary schools: How is Government delivering on its rural commitments?

From CAP to veterinary schools: How is Government delivering on its rural commitments?

From nitrates and CAP payments to veterinary schools and rural social schemes, the Government says it is making progress on its promises to rural Ireland. But what has actually been delivered so far?

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Agricultural discharge confirmed as cause of fish kill

Agricultural discharge confirmed as cause of fish kill

Approximately 20,000 fish have been killed in a recent fish kill incident as a result of agricultural discharge into a river in Co Louth.

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

TU Dublin students win Future Timber Design Awards

TU Dublin students win Future Timber Design Awards

The Future Timber Design Awards were developed to encourage sustainable and innovative timber design and construction

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Irish adults want a healthy, balanced diet, but convenience still influences choice, survey finds

Irish adults want a healthy, balanced diet, but convenience still influences choice, survey finds

The National Dairy Council published the results of a survey of Irish adults' attitudes to breakfast following the announcement of a three-year partnership between the NDC and Sport Ireland Institute

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Strategies to ensure competitiveness in Irish agriculture needed, farming body says

Strategies to ensure competitiveness in Irish agriculture needed, farming body says

ICOS has called for strategic collaboration to ensure Irish agriculture remains competitive within the global market

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Fruit and Vegetables stock images

GIY calls for help to expand 'Grow at school' to help push back against ultra-processed foods

Grow It Yourself wants the Government to pledge €3m to expand the education programme to help improve food literacy for health and wellbeing

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Hereford cattle

Fall in beef supply makes price drop impossible to explain, ICSA

Despite beef cattle numbers declining in Ireland, factory prices continue to drop, with prices falling by 80c/kg or more since January, incurring heavy losses for farmers

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

RDAI 2026

GAIN Equine Nutrition continues support for horse riding charity RDA Ireland

Riding for the Disabled Ireland (RDA Ireland) provides weekly therapeutic horse riding and carriage driving sessions to over 400 children and adults with disabilities

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

'50 times the size of Croke Park': Illegal fire destroys habitats in Wicklow Mountains

'50 times the size of Croke Park': Illegal fire destroys habitats in Wicklow Mountains

A wildfire has destroyed 66ha of Wicklow Mountains National Park with devastating repercussions on wildlife in the area with nests and habitats destroyed in the blaze

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Irish farm accountancy body becomes founding member of global agri-food network

Irish farm accountancy body becomes founding member of global agri-food network

Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative Society has joined forces with other farm accounting firms in the USA, South Africa, and Australia as founding members of a new advisory firms network

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Farming

Newsletter

Stay ahead of the season. Sign up for insights, expert advice and stories shaping Irish agriculture.

Farming Crossword

Play Today

PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

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