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RURAL LIFE

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

<p>Sika deer are known to pose a threat to forestry and agriculture and have also been blamed for road traffic collisions by landing on car bonnets and causing drivers to swerve. File picture: Dan Linehan</p>

farming

EU consider classifying sika deer as an invasive species

The species was introduced to Ireland by Lord Powerscourt in 1860

<p>One of the resident adult white-tailed eagle pair on the search for food on Lough Lein in Killarney National Park. File picture: Valerie O'Sullivan</p>

farming

Suspected poisoning of white-tailed eagle prompts call for public vigilance

<p>(Left to right) Minister of state with responsibility for food promotion, new markets, research and development, Noel Grealish; Bridget Lynch, senior research officer at Teagasc; Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Suzanne Rowe, principal scientist at AgResearch New Zealand; minister for agriculture, food and the marine Martin Heydon at the ‘Agriculture and Climate Change: Science into Action’ conference at Dublin Castle. Picture: Maxwells</p>

farming

Beyond Methane: How a new feed additive is revolutionising Irish farming

Tirlán and Aware launch ‘Grow Yellow’ campaign to promote mental health awareness

farming

Tirlán and Aware launch ‘Grow Yellow’ campaign to promote mental health awareness

Sheep and rams in the mountains of Connemara, IRL

farming

Call for advance notice for farm inspections to minimise disruption

Teagasc launches 'This is Dairying' photo competition 2025

farming

Teagasc launches 'This is Dairying' photo competition 2025

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Karen Walsh, Law of the Land

Trained espalier peach fruit tree as a living edible fence in the countryside for higher productivity and using in limited space

New hedge must be planted before old one removed, farmers told

A hedge is defined by the Department as a line of shrubs and/or trees, maintained to form a barrier for controlling animals or marking land boundaries

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Tractor spreading agricultural lime in a field seen from above

Lime use key to improving water quality, says Teagasc director

The effort in Munster has a head start, compared to the national picture from Environmental Protection Agency monitoring, which indicates only 54% of Irish water bodies are deemed to have good or high ecological status

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Tree planting

Enough hedgerow to reach from Cork to Kiev planted under ACRES

Ireland still faces biodiversity crisis, with many species and habitats under threat, Dáil told

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

The ‘Stay Safe with Jessy’ competition brings farm safety to the classroom

The ‘Stay Safe with Jessy’ competition brings farm safety to the classroom

The competition invites all primary school-going children across Ireland to participate in creating pieces of art that highlight the importance of safety practices in agriculture and on Irish farms.

Sun, 01 Jun, 2025

Tree nursery in the forest, plastic tubes protecting seedlings. Plantation of Newly Planted Trees Supported by Wooden Stakes and

Heydon: Forestry on peat is complex and must be science-led

Forestry on peat soils is being investigated in a €2.7m research programme

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Think farm safety this summer, minister warns

Think farm safety this summer, minister warns

Farm safety minister Michael Healy-Rae has asked farmers and everyone visiting the countryside to take extra care this summer

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Nine in ten EU farmers dissatisfied with political response to protests, survey shows

Nine in ten EU farmers dissatisfied with political response to protests, survey shows

Only 25% of Irish farmers in the survey said they participated in last year’s protests, the lowest proportion of the nine countries surveyed

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Hands of Senior Man Texting on Mobile Phone Outdoors in NYC USA

Community alerts embrace 'innovation while staying true to core mission' after 40 years

Operated with the support of An Garda Síochána, the scheme issues text alerts and advice about crime prevention and community safety to rural residents

Sun, 25 May, 2025

The JCB driver who turned 'men’s work' into her passion

The JCB driver who turned 'men’s work' into her passion

Driving some of the most iconic diggers in the world in front of tens of thousands of people might sound like a dream come true for many little boys.

Thu, 22 May, 2025

Agriculture minister praises West Cork village for 'great work' in improving water quality

Agriculture minister praises West Cork village for 'great work' in improving water quality

Senator Noel O’Donovan said the reduction to derogation stocking rate affected areas of his Cork South-West constituency

Tue, 13 May, 2025

FOCUS ON: The Effects Of The Withdrawal Of USAID On Projects In Kenya

Donald Trump’s cuts to USAID expose world’s hungriest to famine

The disappearance of FEWS has left humanitarian relief organisations short of guidance on when, where and how to deploy aid.

Wed, 07 May, 2025

Latest WaterMARKE project report published

WaterMARKE project report identifies drivers and barriers for farmers to protect water quality

WaterMARKE also found that although farmers are generally motivated to improve water quality, they need support in terms of knowledge and resources

Wed, 07 May, 2025

Farmer in his Tractor

Farmers urged to review structures as Revenue tightens rules on CAT relief

Missing out on the agricultural relief can be very costly, because the relief reduces agricultural asset value by 90%, for CAT calculation purposes

Tue, 06 May, 2025

SunSmart – efforts to promote skin cancer awareness among farmers

SunSmart – efforts to promote skin cancer awareness among farmers

Farmers will receive SunSmart for Farmers leaflets from their Bord Bia auditors from May to August to help inform them about how to protect themselves from the sun

Thu, 01 May, 2025

Holstein cow looking over.

Stakeholder summit announced as TB cases continue to rise

With bovine TB herd incidence at 6.04% at the end of 2024, a revamp to the TB programme is on the cards as Minister Heydon spearheads a call to action.

Thu, 01 May, 2025

Share farming and succession pathways open day taking place

Share farming and succession pathways open day taking place

Share farming, one of many collaborative farming arrangements, involves the landowner and the share farmer entering into an agreement whereby they operate two separate businesses on the same block of land

Thu, 01 May, 2025

Search is on for the 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year

Search is on for the 2025 FBD Young Farmer of the Year

The FBD Young Farmer of the Year Awards, in association with Macra, are sponsored annually by FBD and run by Macra in partnerships with the IFA and Macra Agricultural Skillnet

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

A open farm gate in rural Wales

Farmland prices to rise 6% on the back of better milk prices and strong competition

'Dairy farms are projected to have a robust 2025 and will continue to significantly influence the demand for both owned and leased land,' according to SCSI rural agency committee chair Frank Harrington

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

National push to protect rivers and secure nitrates derogation

National push to protect rivers and secure nitrates derogation

The Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign focuses on eight actions for change

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Farmer Putting Out Feed for the Sheep

New initiative aims to make sheep farming more attractive to young people

Young Sheep Farmer Forum, made up of 15 young farmers, will share knowledge, network with industry leaders, and co-create a roadmap for the future of sheep farming in Ireland

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

A old farmer at work on a farm.

€2.5m for farmer safety, health, and wellbeing projects

Government has launched an open call for farm safety and wellbeing projects this April

Wed, 23 Apr, 2025

Alltech ruminant manager appointed president of UK animal science society

Alltech ruminant manager appointed president of UK animal science society

Dr Helen Warren was appointed president of the British Society of Animal Science at its annual conference in Galway this month

Thu, 17 Apr, 2025

Senator calls for Defence Forces to tackle wildfires

Senator calls for Defence Forces to tackle wildfires

Discarding a cigarette or dumping barbeque coals in national parks and nature reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks can have devastating impact

Fri, 11 Apr, 2025

Bullish on beef: Michael O’Leary’s views on expansion, star ratings, and Trump

Bullish on beef: Michael O’Leary’s views on expansion, star ratings, and Trump

Known for his no-nonsense approach to aviation, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has ambitious expansion plans for his agricultural venture.

Thu, 10 Apr, 2025

Aerial view of blue photovoltaic solar panels mounted on farm building roof for producing clean ecological electricity. Producti

Study finds on-farm solar can pay for itself in three years

In Ireland, non-household electricity prices are currently the highest in the EU, according to the EU statistical agency Eurostat. This is driving a move towards renewable energy

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

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