Declan
E: dobrien@farmersjournal.ie
T:
Declan O’Brien is a senior news correspondent with the Irish Farmers Journal. The Limerick man has more than 25 years’ experience as an agricultural journalist. O’Brien recently completed a PhD at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick on the growth of the Irish beef processing industry, and its impact on Irish agricultural policy. This work was supported by the Irish Research Council. His MA thesis on the demise and closure of the Dublin Cattle Market is being published this month by Four Courts Press.
Declan O’Brien on 08 Nov 2024
Government must 'pony up' science on fertiliser cuts
A clampdown on fertiliser use on lower-stocked farms has been slated by the INHFA and ICSA.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Extensive farms face fertiliser clampdown
A Department of Housing consultation paper on the Nitrates Action Programme has proposed restrictions on nitrogen usage on lowly stocked holdings.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Two-thirds of farmers back restrictions on land sales
An Irish Farmers Journal survey found that 63% of respondents would be in favour of more regulation on the sale of agricultural land.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Cull cow mart trade buoyant this week
High prices for cull cows is also helping underpin in-calf heifer values.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Comment: survey highlights contradiction in farmer views
Farmers want controls on land purchases by the super-rich and investors but those controls cannot impinge on their land ownership rights.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Farmers split on land ownership controls
Thirty-five percent of farmers were either uncomfortable or very uncomfortable with the idea of tighter controls around land ownership.
Declan O’Brien on 06 Nov 2024
Early fertiliser sales stall as farmers stand back
There are fears that fertiliser shipments from the Middle East could be impacted, should clashes involving Israel and Iran escalate.
Declan O’Brien on 05 Nov 2024
Stringent fertiliser and slurry controls up for discussion
Nitrogen, urea and slurry usage are all in the firing line as part of the nitrates review.
Declan O’Brien on 01 Nov 2024
Average inheritance charge in England will be £240,000
The inheritance changes are targeted at private and institutional investors that used land as a vehicle to minimise their tax exposure.
Declan O’Brien on 04 Nov 2024
Calls for a national land ownership strategy
The tax code has a role to play in supporting policy objectives, but a national strategy on land ownership is required.
Declan O’Brien on 30 Oct 2024
Fodder deficit remains a factor on farms
The reduction in grass growth this year is equivalent to the total dry-cow feed need for most dairy herds.
Declan O’Brien on 30 Oct 2024
Urea ban proposal sparks farmer push-back
The farm organisations have called for concerns regarding protected urea to be addressed, before sales of straight urea are prohibited.