Gillian Dufficy

Up to 45c/kg knocked off spring lamb quotes in two weeks
Up to 45c/kg knocked off spring lamb quotes in two weeks

Some factories have dropped spring lamb quotes by another 25c/kg this week; meaning that factories have slashed lamb prices by...

Cattle marts: Sale sizes continue to increase
Cattle marts: Sale sizes continue to increase

Larger entries of cattle were reported in a number of marts across the country in recent days. One venue, in...

€926/ha gross margin difference between best and worst beef finishers
€926/ha gross margin difference between best and worst beef finishers

The gross margins generated on the top 33% of beef finishing farms and the bottom 33% differed by €956/ha in...

Video: 4,000ac Murragh Farm hitting yields of 4.5t/ac
Video: 4,000ac Murragh Farm hitting yields of 4.5t/ac

The harvesting of winter barley was coming to an end on Murragh Farm in Oldtown, Co. Dublin earlier this week. The...

Winter barley – a tale of rotation in the south-east
Winter barley – a tale of rotation in the south-east

Harvesting is well underway in the south-east and the focus has turned to combining winter oats in recent days. Speaking...

Few winter barley crops hit 4t/ac in the midlands and south
Few winter barley crops hit 4t/ac in the midlands and south

Combines have been rolling for the last number of weeks, with quite a bit of the country’s winter barley crop...

Investment can add up to €825/ha onto the cost of leasing land
Investment can add up to €825/ha onto the cost of leasing land

The first thing usually mentioned when discussing land rental is the cost of the rent; it’s actually not the most...

Video: Winter barley harvest wraps up in north Co. Dublin
Video: Winter barley harvest wraps up in north Co. Dublin

Just 20km north of the capital, Derek Keeling and his father Derek senior farm 350ha in Oldtown, Co. Dublin. Derek...

Sheep marts: Factory lamb prices down €3-8/head
Sheep marts: Factory lamb prices down €3-8/head

A tougher trade for factory lambs has been seen at the marts in recent days, with prices back €3-8/head in some...

Factories act to knock another 20c/kg off spring lamb quotes
Factories act to knock another 20c/kg off spring lamb quotes

Spring lamb quotes have dropped again this week and some factories have acted to knock another 20c/kg off prices. Last...

Beef price tug of war continues for another week
Beef price tug of war continues for another week

The weekend marked the beginning of the business end of the hurling championship, as hurlers from the counties of Waterford,...

Cattle marts: Weanling bulls in demand from farmers and exporters
Cattle marts: Weanling bulls in demand from farmers and exporters

Quality continental cattle continued to remain in demand in a number of marts around the country in recent days. Noticeable...

Have you considered contract heifer rearing?
Have you considered contract heifer rearing?

Low stocking rate is one of the main reasons why output is so low on Irish beef farms. Suckler farmers had...

‘Feed barley price of €160/t needed’
‘Feed barley price of €160/t needed’

Feed barley needs to be at a base price of €160/t and wheat €15-18/t above that, according to the Irish Grain Growers...

Winter barley yields lower than expected
Winter barley yields lower than expected

Harvest 2017 is well underway in some parts of the country, with crops ripening up to a week earlier than...

Sheep Marts: Factory lambs prices ease, but store lambs remain in demand
Sheep Marts: Factory lambs prices ease, but store lambs remain in demand

Store lamb prices have eased by €2-3/head in some locations, with large entries reported. However, in the east of the...

‘Best year ever for straw’ as harvest 2017 ramps up
‘Best year ever for straw’ as harvest 2017 ramps up

With harvest 2017 well under way, so too is the buying and selling of straw. Merchants around the country are...

Cattle marts: Factory agents make their presence felt at the ringside
Cattle marts: Factory agents make their presence felt at the ringside

Factory buyers have made their presence felt at the ringside in recent days and have been travelling to marts to...