The three big-ticket uncontrollables affecting farmers of late remain Brexit, CAP and Covid. In comparison to other parts of the economy, farming has been less affected by the lockdowns imposed this year. The most noticeable impact has been felt at marts. For now mart ringsides will be empty because of […]
Farming with Tommy Moyles
After the washout in August, the weather in September was a bit more pleasant, giving tillage farmers an opportunity to get back into fields and salvage any crops they weren’t able to harvest earlier. That said estimated losses are in the region of 15 to 20 per cent. While the […]
Where do I start on the goings on of the last month? Rain, storms, golf, Covid clusters in meat plants, rotating agriculture ministers: There was a time when the media used to refer to late summer as the silly season with worthwhile news hard to find. 2020 feels like it’s […]
I don’t know if it’s just me but it’s hard to believe it’s August already. What is proving to be one of the strangest years of our lifetime seems to be progressing at speed. At home, the majority of the silage is cut at this stage and the breeding season is coming […]
Well that was an unexpected few months. With a global pandemic, a version of martial law in parts of Western Europe for a while and a lift in Irish spirit sales, it was a bit like the early 1920s all over. If you were told at Christmas that farm organisation […]
At least it’s only February. I’ve said this phrase countless times over the last few weeks to console myself when there appears to be no let-up in the wind and rain. I’d much rather it now than in April, that’s for sure. With little respite from the incessant rain and gales, […]
