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RURAL LIFE

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

<p>Mr Heydon said the previous programme for government included a commitment to fully explore fibre crops such as hemp and consider whether these crops have a viable market.</p>

farming

Malcolm Noonan: Department ignoring hemp’s 'huge potential'

Some farmers are growing it in trial crops, and there have been certain attempts through Teagasc in Oak Park to grow it

<p>The remaining sit-in protesters in Bord Bia Dublin HQ, dubbed 'The Bord Bia 5'.</p>

farming

Forget 'Big Brother', everyone is tuning into the ‘Bord Bia five’

<p>Farmer-owned land, which is zoned residential, will be liable for a 3% tax of market value.</p>

farming

Farmers must act on residential zoned land tax by April 1

New collaboration to advance rapid silage and pasture analysis

farming

New collaboration to advance rapid silage and pasture analysis

Close up of a a fine mixed herd of cows and bullocks in a summer pasture, alert and looking to the right. North Yorkshire, UK.

farming

Farmer TB attitudes 'obvious for decades', says ICMSA

Bord Bia

farming

Bord Bia stakeholder meeting returns mixed reactions

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Rotational heather burn

Senators call on ministers to unblock burn permits to farmers

Senator Eileen Lynch, Cork North-West, said controlled burning, when carried out responsibly and at the correct time of year, is a well-established land management practice

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Precision gluten-free oat production secures Grain Grower of the Year title

Precision gluten-free oat production secures Grain Grower of the Year title

Bobby and Denise Miller scooped up the Tirlán Grain Grower of the Year 2025 award thanks to their attention to detail when it came to their award-winning gluten-free oats

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Male farmer with short brown hair,walking in the direction to his tractor,standing next to his agricultural field in the evening

Farmers pessimistic about TB eradication in 10 years' time, survey says

Research conducted by the ESRI also found that a farmer’s beliefs about the effectiveness of biosecurity measures are the strongest indicator of whether they partake in TB prevention actions and behaviour

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Construction begins on Moorepark's new sustainable agriculture centre

Construction begins on Moorepark's new sustainable agriculture centre

Following a €6m contribution from FBD and Farmer Business Developments, which was matched by the Department of Agriculture, construction in Moorepark is under way

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Storage of manure

Farmers' concerns mount over slurry storage as wet weather continues

With the prolonged bad weather, farmers' concerns surrounding slurry storage are beginning to increase as the 2026 spring calving season gets underway.

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Summer in the Cotswolds

Second application window for ACRES landscape actions now open

The second application window is now open for the ACRES landscape actions and are planned to deal with issues like invasive species and encroaching scrub management

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

Rural Landscape With Pastures In Ireland

Organic farming scheme attracts 269 more farmers

The new participants will join the latest tranche of the Organic Farming Scheme, subject to them meeting all scheme requirements

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Dairy farmers could suffer €1.3bn financial shock due to milk price collapse

Dairy farmers could suffer €1.3bn financial shock due to milk price collapse

ICMSA warns milk price volatility could slash farm incomes and trigger billions in wider economic losses across rural counties

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

A Day in the Life of a Farmer

Teagasc to host research conference with focus on sustainability and land use

The Agriculture and Land-use in Ireland conference will take place in May

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

Healy-Rae welcomes first horticulture education chair

Healy-Rae welcomes first horticulture education chair

Horticulture minister Michael Healy-Rae welcomes the appointment of Dr Owen Doyle as the first chairperson of the Horticulture Education Leadership Group

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra calls for Heydon to intervene and protect Ireland’s food reputation

Macra says Ireland’s reputation as a trusted, high-quality food producer depends on unity, transparency and respect throughout the sector

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Confident in Her Line of Work

Calls for entries for the International Year of the Woman Farmer ambassador

Department is searching for its Irish farming ambassador and hosting a photo competition

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers protest outside the Dáil as Bord Bia chair defends his position

Farmers hear from farming organisation spokespersons and burn Bord Bia paperwork as they protest outside the Dáil.

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Aerial View of Tractor, Preparing the Potato Field For The New Season

Clear communication one of the most important factors for farm workers

Resulting from the recent FRS Co-Op survey found that clear communication was one of the most important factors for farm workers.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

man's hand holding the flower of an oilseed rape plant, spring time concept

New £2.5m oilseed rape project launched in the UK

A new three-year project will combine gene technology and on-farm trials to bring forward precision-bred oilseed rape resistant to the likes of light leaf spot to farms

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Burren farm blending tradition and a modern vision has plans to develop

Featuring in the CAP Network's 'Women in Agriculture' booklet, Carina Roseingrave, alongside her brother, has expanded their farm to a mixed enterprise.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Holstein Dairy Cow

Bird flu antibodies detected in cow in the Netherlands

Following the death of a cat on a farm in the Netherlands, a dairy cow was found to have bird flu antibodies in her milk, indicating a previous infection of the disease

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests continue at Bord Bia over chairman's Brazilian beef imports

Protests have escalated in Dublin as farmers gain access and occupy the Bord Bia HQ in Dublin.

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware’s farm Walk & Talk returns with additional dates

Agri Aware have announced extra dates to their Walk & Talk series, hosting secondary school students studying agricultural science on farms over the coming weeks

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Teagasc hosts ‘Meat Matters’ food innovation event

Industry leaders recently attended the Teagasc 'Meat Matters' event as part of the Food Innovation Gateways initiative to explore innovation and opportunities for fresh meat

Tue, 03 Feb, 2026

New 'Rye Growers’ Guide' launched at tillage conference

New 'Rye Growers’ Guide' launched at tillage conference

Teagasc officially launched its newest 'Rye Grower's Guide' at the 2026 National Tillage Conference, providing detailed science-based information for farmers

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

AHI urges farmers to act fast on BVD this spring

'Tag. Bag. Test. Remove' has become Animal Health Ireland's motto this spring to move Ireland towards bovine viral diarrhoea eradication

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Cork's Munster Bovine becomes latest patron of Agri Aware

Cork's Munster Bovine becomes latest patron of Agri Aware

Artificial insemination and herd management firm Munster Bovine is the latest Agri Aware patron, joining 55 other patrons of the agri-food educational body

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Herding the Sheep

Celebrating women driving progress across Irish agriculture

Tickets now available for the third annual International Women's Day lunch hosted by Macra and the Agricultural Science Association

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Bord Bia chair Larry Murrin has Heydon’s 'full confidence' after Brazilian beef import

Farming organisations have called for Mr Murrin's resignation following the revelation his company Dawn Foods had imported and utilised Brazilian beef

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

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