Darren
E: dcarty@farmersjournal.ie
T: 01 419 9535
Darren Carty is a sheep and schemes editor in the Irish Farmers Journal, specialising in the sheep and beef sectors. Areas focused on include technical features, grassland management, herd health, breeding and domestic and global market analysis. Darren is a committee member of the Irish Grassland Association and also sits on the management team of the Teagasc / Irish Farmers Journal BETTER Farm and the Dairy Calf to Beef programme. He holds an honours degree in animal science from University College Dublin. Previous to joining the Irish Farmers Journal, he worked as a Teagasc adviser in Galway. He hails from a suckler and sheep farm in Co Galway. Aside from farming, he has a keen interest in sports.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
2025 a critical year for next CAP budget
The multi-annual financial framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2032 will be decided in 2025, with funding for CAP coming under pressure from a number of competing commitments.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
Roadside trees - who is responsible for them and do I need approval to cut them?
With ash dieback weakening ash trees and increasing the risk of falling branches and trees there is a growing concern among farmers regarding safety risks posed to road users.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
Sheep Trends: lamb price hits €9/kg before year end
Farmers delivering significant numbers of lambs for Christmas week have received slightly higher prices, with the general run of lambs trading from €8.80/kg to €8.90/kg.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
New Nitrates livestock rules coming in to place in 2025
The rules apply to all farmers and include changes to slurry spreading regulations, chemical fertiliser restrictions and lower crude protein levels in concentrates fed during the grazing season.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
Sheep management: nitrates rules, culling ewes and hill ram DNA samples
From 1 January 2025 farms in Ireland with a grassland stocking rate in excess of 100kg/ha organic nitrogen cannot avail of reduced storage capacity via outwintering sheep.
Darren Carty on 23 Dec 2024
€21.9m paid to 5,143 more ACRES participants
The payment brings total funds paid to 39,836 tranche one and tranche two participants to €172m, with approximately 14,700 farmers yet to receive payment.
Darren Carty on 20 Dec 2024
Schemes update: NPI applicants reminded to use correct specifications
The Department ACRES unit contacted advisers to stress that ACRES participants who have received approval must adhere to revised specifications when completing investments.
Darren Carty on 18 Dec 2024
Sheep quotes up 20c/kg
Throughput in recent weeks has faltered badly, now running over 350,000 head lower than in 2023.
Darren Carty on 18 Dec 2024
Sheep mart watch: sales drawing to close on strong note
Mart throughput in recent weeks has benefitted from a vibrant live trade encouraging producers struggling to negotiate higher prices with factories to sell live.
Darren Carty on 18 Dec 2024
Sheep Trends: prices lift by 20c/kg to 30c/kg
Opening prices for quality assured (QA) lambs are in the region of €8.70/kg in most plants, with agents keen to try to maximise throughput over the Christmas processing schedule.
Darren Carty on 18 Dec 2024
Don’t put housing on the long finger
While there may be a perception that ewes are in good condition Teagasc are finding that some flocks have significant numbers of ewes requiring preferential treatment.
Darren Carty on 18 Dec 2024
Sheep Management: straw requirements, feeding space and catch crops
Doing a straw budget now will allow decisions to be made, such as retaining a portion of sheep outdoors to conserve supplies.