Sylvester Phelan

Sylvester Phelan Profile Picture

News Journalist

Sylvester Phelan holds a Masters of Science degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from UCD as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history (also from UCD), and the Green Cert. He is from a dairy farm in Co. Laois, where he works on the weekends.

€500m rooftop potential: ‘Impending energy crisis should not be wasted’

Environment

€500m rooftop potential: ‘Impending energy crisis should not be wasted’

The government needs to act now to “empower the farming and business sectors” to help tackle the challenges associated with...
Making hay for horses, rhinos and hippos…in Kildare

Rural Life

Making hay for horses, rhinos and hippos…in Kildare

Hay and haylage products that are used in places as distant as the Middle East and Asia – and fed...
Dairy analysis: Butter and SMP see big gains as markets trend higher

Dairy

Dairy analysis: Butter and SMP see big gains as markets trend higher

Dairy commodity markets continued to trend higher in recent weeks with both butter and SMP prices seeing big gains, according...
3 cows killed in road incident in Tipperary

Rural Life

3 cows killed in road incident in Tipperary

Investigations are ongoing after three cows were killed in a road traffic incident in Tipperary, according to An Garda Síochána....
Warm weekend in store with cloud and rain approaching

Environment

Warm weekend in store with cloud and rain approaching

A warm, humid weekend is expected, with mixed weather to give way to showers and rain over the coming days,...
Carton Bros CEO announces decision to step down

Pig/Poultry

Carton Bros CEO announces decision to step down

The CEO of Carton Bros – Ado Carton – is to step down from his role at the chicken processor...
DeLaval ramps up milking robot production due to ‘surge in demand’

Dairy

DeLaval ramps up milking robot production due to ‘surge in demand’

Sales of milking robots are up 20% with DeLaval having to increase production to match, the dairy machinery firm has...
119 prosecutions initiated for fisheries offences in 2020

Rural Life

119 prosecutions initiated for fisheries offences in 2020

A spike in illegal fishing and fisheries offences was detected during Covid-19 – with some 119 prosecutions initiated by Inland...
‘Elephant in the room’ voiced in licenced merchant debate

Agri-Business

‘Elephant in the room’ voiced in licenced merchant debate

The “elephant in the room” in the licenced merchants debate comes down the the regulatory body, the Irish Cattle and...
Department conducts review of non-EEA work permit scheme

Agri-Business

Department conducts review of non-EEA work permit scheme

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently reviewing the occupations lists of a work permit pilot scheme to...
Bioenergy CAP supports sought to help decarbonise farming

Agri-Business

Bioenergy CAP supports sought to help decarbonise farming

Bioenergy has a “considerable role to play” in the future decarbonisation of farming – with measures under the next Common...
Minister urged to take action on ‘anti-suckler narrative’

Beef

Minister urged to take action on ‘anti-suckler narrative’

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has been urged by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association...
ICSA talks coping with Covid – and coming back stronger

Agri Politics

ICSA talks coping with Covid – and coming back stronger

Covid-19 – and its subsequent lockdowns – have been a “disaster for farming organisations”. However, they have allowed the Irish...
Motorists urged to be mindful during hedge-cutting season

Rural Life

Motorists urged to be mindful during hedge-cutting season

Motorists travelling on rural Irish roads have been urged by An Garda Síochána to be mindful of hedge-cutting taking place...
Glanbia announces grain prices for Harvest 2021

Tillage

Glanbia announces grain prices for Harvest 2021

Glanbia has announced its grain prices for Harvest 2021 – revealing that it will pay its members €210/t for green...
200 truckloads of peat imported from Latvia ‘a travesty’

Agri Politics

200 truckloads of peat imported from Latvia ‘a travesty’

The ongoing situation regarding peat usage – which saw a significant amount of peat imported into the country from Latvia...
Driver hospitalised after tractor overturns

Rural Life

Driver hospitalised after tractor overturns

The driver of a tractor which overturned over the weekend was taken to hospital after being extricated from the vehicle...
Lift in latest GDT auction marks third consecutive rise

Dairy

Lift in latest GDT auction marks third consecutive rise

The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) index has recorded a third consecutive lift in index in its latest auction this week....