Farming - Beef and Sheep

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FARMING - BEEF & SHEEP

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

<p>Ireland’s BVD eradication programme is now in the 'home straight', with the number of herds with infected animals falling to about 100 nationally, Animal Health Ireland has said</p>

farming

BVD: One infected calf became 17, Oireachtas hears

A major public meeting on how BVD is being tackled on an all-island basis will take place on Tuesday, May 26

<p>Brazilian imports, including beef, will be banned from entering the EU from September 3.</p>

farming

Brazilian exports to be banned from the EU

<p>The scheme will allow farmers to purchase fencing materials for fencing off badger setts to exclude cattle from the area around the opening of setts, as well as purchase eligible water troughs and feed troughs, which impede badger access from eligible participating co-operatives and agri-retail merchants. File picture</p>

farming

Department launches €6m badger biosecurity scheme to tackle Bovine TB

Tractor spraying crops

farming

Herd Tasks: Your weekly farming checklist

Sheep pen

farming

Spring lambs making over €10/kg as demand continues

Beef cattle and calves in a field in Scotland

farming

Lungworm vigilance needed after mild winter, says Teagasc

Brian Reidy

Denis Lehane, Lighten Up

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Headed off the feed the livestock

HSA warns farmers have an elevated risk of skin cancer

Farmers are among the workers most at risk of developing skin cancer, with more than 11,000 new cases a year, as the Health and Safety Authority launches a sun protection campaign

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Storage of manure

Co-op body urges Government to restore full TAMS support for nutrient storage

ICOS has written to agriculture minister Martin Heydon to encourage continued investment in nutrient storage as a 'national investment' under TAMS

Mon, 11 May, 2026

Denis Lehane: Hats off to my Angus as he heads for the mart ring

Denis Lehane: Hats off to my Angus as he heads for the mart ring

It's time to bid farewell to my hat-wearing bullock and no doubt he will use his hat to shield a tear, as I will myself, when I tell him the sad news, writes our Auld Lehane

Mon, 11 May, 2026

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Vets urge farmers to vaccinate herds against bluetongue as high-risk summer for spread of virus nears

Cork vet says 'general consensus' from vets across Ireland was to vaccinate herds

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Close-up of Young Farmer Refueling a Tractor With a Gas Pump in the Countryside During Daytime

Fuel income support scheme now open for farmers, agricultural, and forestry contractors

The fuel income support scheme is now open for applicants and will close later this month – successful applicants are anticipated to receive 20cpl on marked gas oil based on 2025 fuel usage

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Factory Packing

Beef finishers reel from mounting losses as factory prices hold steady

The base quote for steers at the processing plants continues at 660c/kg. A year ago it was 792c/kg for R=3= steers inclusive of bonus/penalties as applicable

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Munster’s largest agricultural show open for competition entries

Munster’s largest agricultural show open for competition entries

Cork Summer Show is now open for competition entries across 800-plus classes — from livestock to baking and traditional craftsmanship

Tue, 05 May, 2026

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

Monitoring system to be used for late meadow bonus payment under ACRES

The Department of Agriculture is advising farmers the Area Monitoring System will be used to ascertain eligibility for late meadow bonuses under ACRES

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Close up of calves on animal farm eating food. Meat industry concept.

Department of Agriculture announces €37.5m funding for agri-food, forest and bioeconomy research

Feed additives in beef systems, AI disease surveillance and sustainable biorefinery approaches among 30 projects to receive funding

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Less silage, more grazing: Rethink is driving efficiency on Michael's Galway sheep farm

Less silage, more grazing: Rethink is driving efficiency on Michael's Galway sheep farm

'Grazed grass is by far the cheapest and best feed we have on our farm,' says Michael Forde

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Fertilizer agriculture

Teagasc reissue nutrient and fertiliser fact sheets

The fact sheets cover soil testing, lime application, organic manures, clover, Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) fertiliser advice and protected urea

Mon, 04 May, 2026

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

More clarity needed on Nature Restoration regulations

Farming organisations have called for more clarity on regulation funding and suggested that state bodies should lead by example ahead of private landowners

Mon, 04 May, 2026

Farm plastics group agrees to waste scheme changes

Farm plastics group agrees to waste scheme changes

The IFFPG, which operates the national farm plastics recycling scheme, has agreed to implement changes to improve transparency, promote competition and improve farmers' choice

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

Cattle market

ICOS raises 'discriminatory' VAT anomaly affecting marts and farmers

The decision to cut the flat-rate farmers VAT top-up from 5.1% to 4.5% came into effect at the start of this year

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

Bluetongue outbreak

Case of bluetongue confirmed in Cork

Farmers were informed an unvaccinated cow in the Bandon area was confirmed to have bluetongue

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

landscape of ireland seen from the sky, wild nature

Deadlines approaching for BISS and ACRES applications

Both BISS and the Co-operation Approach of the ACRES applications have deadlines in May.

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

AMINAM HEALTH BLUETONGUE DISEASE SHEEP

Farmers warned about seasonal risk of bluetongue infection

BTV is spread via midges, and temperatures need to be greater than 12℃ for a sustained period for the virus to replicate within the midge and spread

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Tractor spraying pesticides on wheat field with sprayer

A total of 69 pesticide breaches in public water supplies recorded countrywide

There were 69 cases of pesticide levels exceeding statutory limits within drinking water regulations across 24 public water supplies in 2025

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Refuelling The Agricultural Tractor on His Farm

Application window for €100m fuel scheme supports will open in May

Farmers can apply for the fuel support scheme as early as next week, with payments currently scheduled to be distributed by the end of June

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Cows Feeding

Finishers hit by losses as break-even beef price reaches €8.22/kg

The variable costs and the fixed costs associated with calf-to-beef systems, where the plan is to kill these animals at two years old, is currently around €1,400

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

EU flag in front of Berlaymont building facade

CAP 'is collapsing under contradictions', says ICMSA

ICMSA says 'substantially reduced budget' contradicts commission's pledge to ensure sustainable future for EU agriculture

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Fuel and agriculture machines.

Ifac urges farmers to start preparing now for fuel support scheme

The measures include a new €100m Agricultural Fuel Subsidy Scheme, alongside temporary excise reductions and the deferral of the planned carbon tax increase

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Cattle carcass weights increasing in Newford demonstration farm, report finds

Cattle carcass weights increasing in Newford demonstration farm, report finds

Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm has credited steady carcass weight increases in its cattle thanks to genetic and grass management and overall efficiency

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

workplace food industry - factory butchery for the production of sausages - butcher cuts meat

Factory returns fall by up to €200/head since January

The beef price pattern year-to-date has shattered the predictions of a strong price being delivered on the back of tighter supply

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Sheep in pens at Winslow Primestock Show, Buckinghamshire

Spring lamb trade hits €10/kg as hogget doubts emerge

Hoggets continue to supply by far the greater share of factory requirements, which has sustained the price

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

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