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Farmer Writes

The Farmers Journal team of farmer writes journalists from Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and beyond are dedicated to providing local farming news, comment and opinion across the dairy, beef & tillage sectors.

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Farmer writes: modern day meitheal in the snow

Karen McCabe takes stock of the winter so far and looks forward to the bring ahead.

15 January 2025
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Farmer writes: the road less travelled

Gerald Potterton muses the impact Google Maps has had on traversing the country and whether or not we would be better off without the technology.

15 January 2025
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Rain driving on grass growth in New Zealand

Zac Elkin from Craigantlet in Co Down, is currently managing a dairy farm in Canterbury, New Zealand.

15 January 2025 NORTHERN IRELAND
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Midwinter check on performance

John Egerton used the festive period to assess animal growth rates this winter.

15 January 2025 NORTHERN IRELAND

Farmer Writes: Not everything puts on weight over Christmas

Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and all of a sudden there’s no one there to do the work or feed the stock. People can be left in an awful situation overnight, James Strain writes.

13 January 2025
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Farmer Writes: TB breakdown after three clear years

Since we are a closed herd, I can’t buy in, so I just have to wait for the heifers to calve into the system.

12 January 2025
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Year in review and planning for 2025

Castlederg dairy farmer Jessica Pollock, looks back on 2024 and what lies ahead in 2025

8 January 2025 NORTHERN IRELAND
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Farmer Writes: Hot markets the backdrop to cold snap

Much of west Cork has escaped the worst extremes of this cold spell but strong market performances will help get the year off to a good start.

8 January 2025
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Farmer Writes: The snow caused a change in our plans

We were due to vaccinate for IBR and Rotavirus this week, but didn’t get around to it yet because of the snow and ice around the yard, writes Padraig Callanan.

8 January 2025
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