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.

Kerrygold in from the cold with retail giants

Agri-Business

Kerrygold in from the cold with retail giants

Kerrygold butter has made a return to the shelves of Dunnes Stores and Tesco following a brief exile due to...
BBC Newsnight: Creed urges May to ‘articulate a way forward’ on border issue

Agri-Business

BBC Newsnight: Creed urges May to ‘articulate a way forward’ on border issue

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed, appeared on British television last night to clarify the Irish government’s...
‘If we don’t have farmers, we don’t have food’: Reaction to CAP 2020 proposals

Agri-Business

‘If we don’t have farmers, we don’t have food’: Reaction to CAP 2020 proposals

The Irish farming organisations have given their reactions to today’s announcement from the European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan on...
Bord Bia awards ceremony sees dairy ‘industry champion’ scoop prestigious prize

Agri-Business

Bord Bia awards ceremony sees dairy ‘industry champion’ scoop prestigious prize

Three agricultural companies that are familiar names to farmers won big at today’s Bord Bia Food and Drink Industry Awards...
Almost €100 million issues to farmers in GLAS and AEOS

CAP / Schemes

Almost €100 million issues to farmers in GLAS and AEOS

The 2017 advance payments for the two main agri-environment schemes are commencing this week, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and...
CAP reform post-2020 moves one step closer in Brussels

Agri-Business

CAP reform post-2020 moves one step closer in Brussels

The vision for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020 moved one step closer this morning, with the publication of the EU’s...
Farm groups outline priorities for CAP 2020 proposals today

Agri-Business

Farm groups outline priorities for CAP 2020 proposals today

Two of the countries leading farming organisations outlined their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform priorities ahead of the publication of...
Drunk tractor driver fined and disqualified for ‘crushing’ parked car

Rural Life

Drunk tractor driver fined and disqualified for ‘crushing’ parked car

A 22-year-old farmer who drove his tractor onto the roof of a parked car in Kilkelly, Co. Mayo, has been...
EPA: Private water supplies poorly monitored, while agri emissions surge ahead

Environment

EPA: Private water supplies poorly monitored, while agri emissions surge ahead

Nationwide monitoring of private water supplies “is poor” and may be putting “people’s health at risk”, an Environmental Protection Agency...
6 finalists for Young Farmer of the Year 2017 revealed

Rural Life

6 finalists for Young Farmer of the Year 2017 revealed

Macra na Feirme’s 2017 Young Farmer of the Year will be announced this evening (Tuesday, November 28) at the Breaffy...
National ‘fodder crisis’ rally on this weekend

Agri Politics

National ‘fodder crisis’ rally on this weekend

A national rally is being organised by the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) “to highlight the need for...
Germinal appoints Tribesman to ‘improve farm profitability’

Grass

Germinal appoints Tribesman to ‘improve farm profitability’

Germinal Ireland recently appointed Galway man Nicky Byrne to the position of technical sales manager. Formerly of Teagasc’s Animal and...
‘Proactive approach’ called for in flooding prevention

Rural Life

‘Proactive approach’ called for in flooding prevention

Severe flooding in recent years highlights the need to take a proactive approach and initiate works to protect against future...
4X4 towing cattle trailer involved in motorway crash

Rural Life

4X4 towing cattle trailer involved in motorway crash

An incident took place this evening (Monday, November 27) at 6:30pm, on the M1 motorway in Co. Louth, involving a...
Tonight’s TV: Teagasc researcher sheds light on threat of superbugs

Rural Life

Tonight’s TV: Teagasc researcher sheds light on threat of superbugs

Teagasc researcher Dr. Laura Boyle, based in Moorepark, is exploring ways to improve animal welfare and reduce antibiotic use on...
Glyphosate gets the green light for licence renewal

Tillage

Glyphosate gets the green light for licence renewal

The long drawn-out glyphosate debate has drawn to a conclusion, with the herbicide given a new five-year licence earlier today....
Mercosur to seek larger beef import quota in EU talks

Agri-Business

Mercosur to seek larger beef import quota in EU talks

Mercosur is reportedly prepared to offer the EU a streamlined rate of cutting import tariffs – but will look for...
Government top brass to pay tribute at funeral of Donal Creed today

Rural Life

Government top brass to pay tribute at funeral of Donal Creed today

Senior cabinet ministers, led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, are expected to be in attendance to pay tribute to the late...