Agriculture

Thai poultry audit sparks call for robust import controls

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has called for import standards to be upheld after concerns were raised about poultry controls in Thailand. The comments follow the findings of a recent European Commission audit into Thailand’s poultry export system. The audit,

Agriland1h ago

More than 800,000 bees stolen across far north Queensland in ‘sophisticated’ operation

Apiarists will lose not just the insects but the value of pollination contracts, which can be worth thousands of dollars Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An estimated 800,000 be

The Guardian9h ago

Fire crew in England rescues ram from concrete pipe

A fire crew in the South West of England had to “think outside the box” to rescue a ram that got stuck in a concrete pipe. The incident – involving a 100kg ram named ‘Rambo’ – occurred in the area of Keinton Mandeville in Somerset. A fire crew from nearby Some

Agriland16h ago

Pneumonia detected in calves without symptoms via lung scans

Lung scanning can detect respiratory disease in visibly healthy calves, new research from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) has shown. A study by researchers at AFBI Hillsborough, funded by Feed For Growth (Volac Milk Replacers Ltd), used thoracic

Agriland17h ago

Soil Health Week set to feature farm walks and workshops

Teagasc will host Soil Health Week from tomorrow (Monday, September 21) to Friday, September 25, to highlight the importance of healthy soils for sustainable agriculture, food production and the wider environment. Soil Health Week will bring together farmers,

Agriland19h ago

Bringing Tipperary fields to the Applefest table

Showcasing local beef, barley, apples, and forests, Clonmel Applefest – which will take place from September 24-27 – is aiming to put farmers, food production and our relationship with the land firmly on the menu. From beef reared just outside Clonmel to barle

Glenamaddy to re-attempt breaking ploughing Guinness World Record

The Glenamaddy and District Ploughing and Agricultural Show 2026 is set to return on Sunday, October 4. This year’s event will take place in the Equestrian Centre in Glenamaddy, Co. Galway. The programme of events was unveiled at the launch of this year’s show

When is the optimal time to harvest forage maize?

This year’s forage maize harvest could well be one of the earliest on record. In contrast to cereals, maize is a deep rooting crop. It is well capable of finding moisture at lower levels within a soil profile. And, of course, heat is that all-important driver

Winter feed options and their nutritional advantages

It is no secret that both fodder and cash flow are going to be tight on dairy farms across the country this year. Therefore farms must be smart about feeding the herd, ensuring they are achieving the best performance possible in a cost-effective manner. Teagas

Beef kill: Weekly factory cattle supplies dip slightly

Weekly factory cattle supplies dipped slightly in the week ending Sunday, September 13, to just over 32,500 head, according to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures. However, weekly factory cattle kill numbers remain well above figures

European milk price rise continues into July as butter market improves

The average price for European milk continued to rise in July for the third consecutive month with a €0.10 (+0.3%) increase, though the overall picture among European milk processors remains mixed. According to Dutch analysts ZuivelNL, the European average bas

Autonomous tractors: Which brands are pushing the boundaries?

Fendt has claimed it can achieve level 4 autonomous driving with its PTx retrofit kit, OutRun. Level 4 requires an automated driving system (ADS) to complete an entire driving task with a sustained operational design domain (ODD)-specific performance without a

Farmers leading in fibre broadband adaption rates

Farmers are leading in the take-up rates for high-speed fibre broadband, with almost 60,000 farms now able to access the service. The take-up rate among farms stands at 44%, “significantly higher” than the national average of 36%, according to National Broadba

Organisations of veg growers still no match for large retailers

Although EU funding is helping them to become more competitive, fruit and vegetable producer organisations are losing ground, according to a new report. The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has said this week that uneven national support, complex EU rules, and

New EU resources aim to curb bird flu risk

A range of resources to help farmers prevent the spread of avian influenza have been published. This comes as Europe prepares for the autumn bird migration season. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission have released the practica

FSAI issues recall of various branded prepared meals

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued a recall of various branded prepared meals. This is due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale, the FSAI said. The below batches have been rec

‘The man’s a psychopath when it comes to hedgerows’: Derek vs Derek, the unexpectedly heartwarming doc about farmers at war

One Devon farmer, called Derek, is committed to rewilding his land. His neighbour, also a Derek, tends cattle and crops. What happened when a film-maker decided to follow the bickering pair? Derek Gow and Derek Banbury should hate each other. Gow is an outspok

The Guardian3d ago

US wheat farmers navigate uncertainty amid drought and geopolitical chaos

Some experts worry factors affecting wheat exports could push global food prices even higher than they are now Wheat prices are at their highest level in three years, which means farmer Merrill Nielsen should be getting more for his crops out of his 2,500-acre

The Guardian3d ago

Wexford and Donegal ploughmen take top honours at 2026 senior test matches

The 2026 National Ploughing Championships culminated on a high yesterday (Thursday, September 17) for Wexford and Donegal. At the end of two days’ very challenging competition, ploughmen from both counties took top honours at the event. Wexford’s John Whelan,

High pressure set to build with drier weather expected

A spell of drier and more settled weather is forecasted for early next week as high pressure is set to build, though there will still be showers at times, according to Met Éireann. It will be mostly cloudy today (Friday, September 18) and will become breezy, w

No room for complacency when it comes to IBR this winter

The National Ploughing Championships often acts as a marker for the end of the season, with the nights closing in and winter housing quickly approaching. However, there is no room for complacency at this stage of the season, especially considering the directio

Leinster Aberdeen Angus club open day and herd competition winners

Leinster Aberdeen Angus Club farm open day at Country Crest, Rathmooney, Lusk, Co. Dublin was described as “long anticipated”. The Country Crest farm is home for the award-winning Rathmooney Herd of Angus cows. The farm operation also boasts cattle fattening f

World’s best sheepdogs take to the field in Scotland for 2026 trials

Four days of competition began this morning (September 17) at the Sheepdog World Trial 2026 in Scotland, with over 300 handlers and their dogs from 34 nations competing. Competitors have travelled to the site at at Huntington Farm, near Lauder, in the Scottish

Reliability ‘really important’ as machinery trends evolve at Ploughing

The National Ploughing Championships is celebrated as a “gathering of everybody that is involved in rural Ireland”. That was the view of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) executive director Michael Farrelly. Speaking to Agriland, Michael

‘It bloody works’: why the world’s oldest cheddar-maker uses a ‘milk-source’ heat pump

Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers can draw enough heat from cows’ fresh milk to bring water close to the boil, slashing carbon emissions In many ways, the world’s oldest cheddar-maker hews to tradition. Since 1833, Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers has operated fr

The Guardian4d ago

UK govt warned ‘food security is national security’ amid rising agri-costs

Sustained inflation across key agricultural inputs since the start of the fuel crisis is placing renewed pressure on farming viability, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned. According to the union, this is “exposing the vulnerability” of domestic food pr

Horse ploughing takes centre stage on Day 2 at Screggan

Horse ploughing took centre stage on Day 2 of the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan in Co Offaly. Twelve pairs of these truly prestige animals took part in a range of competition classes scheduled for one of the most picturesque locations in Ireland

How this Limerick farmer built a calf-rearing system around a full-time job

Steven Normoyle farms between Croom and Adare in Co. Limerick, running a calf-to-beef operation, purchasing 95 calves each spring for rearing. He also works full-time off the farm, making spring an especially busy period. He said: “I work full-time off farm, I

Ploughing – Day 3: All the news and action

The National Ploughing Championships are back yet again in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly for 2026. Stay up to date with all the action on our live blog below. Some key points of information: The post Ploughing – Day 3: All the news and action appeared first

Dial Before You Dig: An essential first step to take before breaking ground

Taking the time to ‘Dial Before You Dig’ will make your farm not just safer, but more efficient in the long run, according to Gas Networks Ireland. Farm work is fast-paced, with tight deadlines, seasonal pressures and plenty of competing priorities. In that en

McConnel launches new control systems for ‘important’ Irish market

McConnel sees the National Ploughing Championships as the “perfect opportunity” to support the Irish market. Known for its iconic yellow hedge-cutters, McConnel’s history in Ireland goes back decades, and as a result, the brand has built a solid reputation her

€179m in ANC payments sent to farmers

Payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme have commenced issuing to farmers. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon today (September 16) said: “I am pleased to announce that advance payments totalling €179 million have

Feed wheat markets continue to disappoint

Prices for feed wheat fell by 1.3% in the latest round of trading, according to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB). UK November 2026 feed wheat future fell by £2.75/t (1.3%) to £209.75 for the trading period that ended on Friday, Septe

‘No answers on low pay and high pressure’ facing vet nurses

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has been criticised for his approach to what was referred to as “the growing crisis” in veterinary nursing and rural vet services by an Offaly TD. Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan said the mi