Declan O’Brien

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.

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Surge in Irish milk production costs

Rabobank estimates that Irish milk production costs have increased by 30-40% since 2019, compared to 10-20% for the US and 25% for New Zealand.

29 January 2025 NEWS

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Storm Éowyn highlights need for battery grants – MREF

Battery systems remain expensive and Government grants are needed to support their adoption.

29 January 2025 NEWS

Animal proteins on the rise - Bord Bia

Tackling fatigue is the latest dietary trend to give sales of animal proteins a boost.

26 January 2025 NEWS

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ICMSA calls for appeals system on drainage

The INHFA has lodged an official objection to the proposed GAEC 2 standard.

22 January 2025 NEWS

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More young farmers opt for pre-nups

Solicitor Aisling Meehan said the younger generation doesnot want to be the one that puts the farm in peril.

22 January 2025 NEWS

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Farmers urged to keep land in milk to maintain income

Austin Finn of the Land Mobility Service said dairy farmers risked decimating their income by using drystock production as a step-down to retirement.

22 January 2025 NEWS

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History and Charles Haughey's infamous TB eradication call

In 1965 Charlie Haughey announced that Ireland had beaten bovine TB - six decades later the farm sector is still grappling with the disease. We look at the history of the eradication scheme.

22 January 2025 NEWS