Bernie Commins

Bernie Commins Profile Picture

Senior News Journalist

Bernie Commins has an honours degree in journalism from Dublin Institute of Technology. She previously worked in the world of agri media as editor of several industry publications and as a journalist she has covered a variety of topics from farm safety to rural-life matters. She also has a background in regional newspaper reporting. From south Tipperary originally, she spent her formative years on her uncle’s dairy farm.

Substantial pig-price increases justified and urgently needed – IFA

Pig/Poultry

Substantial pig-price increases justified and urgently needed – IFA

A substantial price increase is “justified immediately to help offset continuing increases in the cost of pig production”, according to...
EU food safety authority seeks improved welfare of pigs

Pig/Poultry

EU food safety authority seeks improved welfare of pigs

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has called for improvements to be made to the welfare of pigs as part...
Plan published to protect Ireland’s unique lesser horseshoe bats

Agri-Business

Plan published to protect Ireland’s unique lesser horseshoe bats

An action plan that will protect Ireland’s lesser horseshoe bats has been published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service...
Lakeland Dairies announces July milk price

Agri-Business

Lakeland Dairies announces July milk price

Lakeland Dairies is the first processor to announce a July milk price, and has increased payments to all suppliers in...
North East Forestry Group launches fourth KT programme

Agri-Business

North East Forestry Group launches fourth KT programme

The North East Forestry Group (NEFG) has announced the launch of its fourth knowledge transfer group (KTG) programme. Funded by...
Carbery: Milk recording and protected urea part of €6m sustainability fund criteria

Dairy

Carbery: Milk recording and protected urea part of €6m sustainability fund criteria

Milk recording and using protected urea are some of the criteria that must be met as part of a new...
‘Wild wheat’ and its powerful pest-proof mechanisms

Agri-Business

‘Wild wheat’ and its powerful pest-proof mechanisms

The need to explore natural plant-defence mechanisms and traits, which could be bred back into cultivated wheat to protect against...
‘Significant gender pay gap’ uncovered in Irish veterinary retention study

Veterinary

‘Significant gender pay gap’ uncovered in Irish veterinary retention study

Research into the veterinary profession in Ireland that set out to look at the factors affecting veterinary retention found that...
RePeat project: 200-year-old maps helping to direct our climate-change path

biodiversity

RePeat project: 200-year-old maps helping to direct our climate-change path

Hand-drawn maps of Irish peatlands, dating from the early 1800s, are being used to identify agricultural areas that may be...
€1.3m investment for agri-tech start-up aimed at reduced fertiliser use

Agri-Business

€1.3m investment for agri-tech start-up aimed at reduced fertiliser use

An agri-tech start-up that seeks to accelerate its use of microbes to treat crop seeds to produce healthier plants and...
24% Phoenix Park deer population ‘constantly begging for food’ – UCD study

biodiversity

24% Phoenix Park deer population ‘constantly begging for food’ – UCD study

The growing trend of people feeding wild animals poses a serious risk to the well-being of humans and wildlife. New...
Sheep farmers losing more than €1m per week – ICSA

Sheep

Sheep farmers losing more than €1m per week – ICSA

Meat factories remain under fire this week as lamb prices continue to fall, spurring the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers...
‘An exciting time for organic tillage-production systems’ says new Teagasc appointee

Agri-Business

‘An exciting time for organic tillage-production systems’ says new Teagasc appointee

A new organic cropping and integrated systems specialist has been appointed by Teagasc as it grows its organic-farming advisory service....
Commission approves €110m to support Austrian agri-producers

Agri-Business

Commission approves €110m to support Austrian agri-producers

A €110 million support scheme has been approved by the European Commission to support Austrian primary agricultural producers. The financial...
Agri-business owner leads charity ultra cycle aiming to raise €50k

Agri-Business

Agri-business owner leads charity ultra cycle aiming to raise €50k

Part-time farmer and agri-business owner, Alan Heaney, is on a two-wheeled mission this month to help raise €50,000 for worthy...
June’s green diesel excise clearances down 15% over 12 months

Agri-Business

June’s green diesel excise clearances down 15% over 12 months

Clearances of marked gas oil, or green diesel, in June 2022 were 15% lower than in June 2021, according to...
FSAI recalls duck eggs due to possible salmonella presence

Agri-Business

FSAI recalls duck eggs due to possible salmonella presence

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has recalled batches of free-range duck eggs due to the possible presence of...
Plant-based alternatives reduce emissions but threaten agri-workforce – research

Agri-Business

Plant-based alternatives reduce emissions but threaten agri-workforce – research

New economic models show that the growth in popularity of plant-based alternatives to beef could disrupt the agricultural workforce and...