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.

Factories under fire for ‘further unjustified’ lamb price cuts

Sheep

Factories under fire for ‘further unjustified’ lamb price cuts

Factories are coming under fire from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) for what the farming organisation has described as “further...
Knackery meat by-products fed to dogs pose bacteria risk – study

Agri-Business

Knackery meat by-products fed to dogs pose bacteria risk – study

Meat by-products (MBP) from fallen animals “contain high levels of zoonotic and antimicrobial resistant (AMR)-harbouring bacteria that pose a transmission...
Jessy the sheepdog rounds up farm-safety comp winners

Farm Safety

Jessy the sheepdog rounds up farm-safety comp winners

Teagasc’s farm-safety mascot, Jessy the sheepdog, has rounded up the four lucky and deserved winners of a recent farm-safety art...
Fixed-price farmers engage solicitor to send negotiation request to Glanbia

Agri-Business

Fixed-price farmers engage solicitor to send negotiation request to Glanbia

A solicitor representing a group of fixed-price dairy farmers who supply Glanbia, is to issue a letter to management requesting...
EU increases agri-food exports to South Africa

Agri-Business

EU increases agri-food exports to South Africa

The latest EU agri-food trade figures released recently show that the total value of EU agri-food trade reached €31.4 billion in April...
‘Unacceptable cut’ imposed to cover surge in National Reserve demand – IFA

Agri-Business

‘Unacceptable cut’ imposed to cover surge in National Reserve demand – IFA

Approximately 1,600 applications have been made to the National Reserve for 2022, which is a significant increase compared to the...
Beef herd: Up to 13% emissions cut achieved through improved genetics

Agri-Business

Beef herd: Up to 13% emissions cut achieved through improved genetics

Results from a collaborative research project between ABP, Teagasc, and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) show that significant reductions...
Cappamore Show-stopper: Back with a bang to celebrate 66 years

Rural Life

Cappamore Show-stopper: Back with a bang to celebrate 66 years

Uncertainty has been replaced with relief, and relief has been replaced with great anticipation as the countdown commences to the...
Nitrates amendment targets water quality and wild-bird protection

Agri-Business

Nitrates amendment targets water quality and wild-bird protection

An amendment has been approved, to Ireland’s fifth nitrates action programme, that will serve to protect water quality as well...
Domestic milk intake down 0.6% in June

Agri-Business

Domestic milk intake down 0.6% in June

The domestic milk intake for June 2022 was down 0.6% compared to the same month in 2021, according to the...
Kerry Group reports half-year revenues of over €4bn

Agri-Business

Kerry Group reports half-year revenues of over €4bn

Kerry Group has reported revenues of more than €4 billion, despite inflationary challenges, in its half-year interim results published today...
Potato-blight warning issued for parts of Ireland

Agri-Business

Potato-blight warning issued for parts of Ireland

Met Éireann has issued a three-day potato-blight warning for parts of the country, that will span the entire weekend. The...
EU data on use of pesticides ‘needs harmonisation to be useful’ – researchers

Environment

EU data on use of pesticides ‘needs harmonisation to be useful’ – researchers

A study published by an Irish research consortium has found that EU data on how pesticides are used is very...
Arla’s August milk-price increase breaks 50p/L

Dairy

Arla’s August milk-price increase breaks 50p/L

Arla Foods has confirmed a milk-price increase for August 2022, increasing the on-account price by €1.0c/kg for both conventional and...
Reducing dairy herd ‘doesn’t suit big dairy farmers’ – RIO

Agri-Business

Reducing dairy herd ‘doesn’t suit big dairy farmers’ – RIO

“If reductions are not made on big meat and dairy producers, and agri-food corporations, then harsh measures will be forced...
Don’t be so hard on your hearing – top tips to avoid hearing loss on the farm

Other

Don’t be so hard on your hearing – top tips to avoid hearing loss on the farm

Did you know that 25% of farmers aged 30, and 50% of farmers aged 50 have some form of hearing...
Gardaí appeal to agri-drivers and other road users to be patient and alert

Rural Life

Gardaí appeal to agri-drivers and other road users to be patient and alert

The gardaí are calling on drivers of agricultural vehicles to ensure that they are complying with all road-traffic legislation when...
Rewilding Europe receives funding boost of €4.9 million

biodiversity

Rewilding Europe receives funding boost of €4.9 million

Rewilding Europe has received a grant of $5 million – €4,927,000 – to advance European rewilding in three main areas,...