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.

Trailer and property marking event on in the west today

Rural Life

Trailer and property marking event on in the west today

A property marking event is set to be held in Sligo later today – with farmers and rural dwellers encouraged...
Biochar: How can it help to tackle Irish agri challenges?

Environment

Biochar: How can it help to tackle Irish agri challenges?

Biochar is an emerging opportunity that “needs to be embraced for its full benefit to be realised” in addressing challenges...
Investigation launched after 600 bales go up in smoke in UK

Rural Life

Investigation launched after 600 bales go up in smoke in UK

An investigation has been launched by local authorities after some 600 bales of straw were destroyed in a fire in...
36 stolen calves returned to owner…after a month missing

Rural Life

36 stolen calves returned to owner…after a month missing

A group of 36 calves which had been reported stolen a month ago were returned to their owner this week....
Glanbia set to update suppliers on peak reserve allocations

Dairy

Glanbia set to update suppliers on peak reserve allocations

Glanbia is to update its milk suppliers on individual allocations of peak milk supply reserves under its peak milk supply...
Forestry: DAFM ‘strangling sector it should be fostering’

Forestry

Forestry: DAFM ‘strangling sector it should be fostering’

Recently published forestry figures portray a department that is “strangling a forestry sector it should be fostering”, Sinn Féin spokesperson...
Processors called on to pay milk price ‘that reflects Ornua returns’

Dairy

Processors called on to pay milk price ‘that reflects Ornua returns’

Milk processors can and must pay more for August milk, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has said. Calling on co-ops...
Agri firms urged to prepare for further Brexit changes from October

Agri-Business

Agri firms urged to prepare for further Brexit changes from October

Food business operators have been urged to prepare for the UK’s introduction of import controls on certain food and agricultural...
Dairygold looks stateside to tap into US ‘naturally sourced’ dairy demand

Dairy

Dairygold looks stateside to tap into US ‘naturally sourced’ dairy demand

Dairygold is set to look stateside to export a premium range of cheese under its Pastureland brand – focusing, as...
Quads on the road ‘subject to same rules’ as other vehicles

Rural Life

Quads on the road ‘subject to same rules’ as other vehicles

Quad users have been issued a warning from An Garda Siochána that, when used on a public road, quads are...
Connecting on CAP: Farmers ‘need negotiation – not just consultation’

Agri Politics

Connecting on CAP: Farmers ‘need negotiation – not just consultation’

The government has been called on to negotiate with farmers on key sticking points identified in the national Common Agricultural...
Duggan to step down as Macra na Feirme CEO

Rural Life

Duggan to step down as Macra na Feirme CEO

Denis Duggan is to step down as CEO of Macra na Feirme later this year, it has been confirmed. Macra...
Ornua PPI ‘down marginally’ amid weaker butter returns

Dairy

Ornua PPI ‘down marginally’ amid weaker butter returns

The Ornua PPI (Purchase Price Index) is “down marginally” for the month of August, as a result of “weaker butter...
70,000 pigs backing up on UK farms amid worker shortage

Agri-Business

70,000 pigs backing up on UK farms amid worker shortage

Healthy pigs will end up being destroyed and wasted – with an estimated 70,000 pigs backing up on farms –...
1,000 lots go under virtual hammer at timed machinery auction

Machinery

1,000 lots go under virtual hammer at timed machinery auction

Farmers and those looking for a potential bargain in the agricultural machinery world will be taking note – as an...
GLAS: €1bn paid to farmers to date with 50,000 contracts active

Agri-Business

GLAS: €1bn paid to farmers to date with 50,000 contracts active

Payments to date under the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) have now exceeded the €1 billion mark, Minister for...
Road-users urged to ‘share the space’ amid rural road wrangle

Agri-Business

Road-users urged to ‘share the space’ amid rural road wrangle

Road-users – including tractor drivers, cyclists, those working with animals and other motorists – have been urged to “share the...
‘Mindless barbaric violence’: Owner of killed sheep speaks out

Rural Life

‘Mindless barbaric violence’: Owner of killed sheep speaks out

A Tipperary farmer has appealed for information in relation to a barbaric attack on his sheep which left one animal...