Francess McDonnell

Ireland, Uttar Pradesh

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Deputy News Editor at AgriLand

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Articles

Report: Fertiliser prices are 'trending upwards'

1 day ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Fertiliser prices are showing an “upward trend for 2025” which will squeeze farmers’ buying power, according to a new report. The Rabobank report warns that the global fertiliser market is expected to face “another challenging year in 2025” – particularly for nitrogen and phosphate-based fertilisers. The report also details that over the past 18 months the global urea market has been “highly reactive” to the Indian market’s movement in purchasing fertilisers.
Plant hire company and windfarm prosecuted for pollution of Leitrim river

1 day ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has today (Wednesday, April 23) confirmed two separate prosecutions against a wind farm and a plant hire company for the pollution of a river in Co. Leitrim. The IFI said both pollution incidents occurred within the Bonet River and Belhavel Lough catchment in Co. Leitrim. According to the IFI the specific location of the incidents was at Lisnagowan. One of the incidents involved Tullynamoyle Windfarm 5 Ltd in January 2024.
IFI prosecutes farming firm for 'polluting' Co. Mayo river

2 days ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

A farming firm has been prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for the pollution of a river in Co. Mayo. IFI said today (Tuesday, April 22) that it welcomed the ruling delivered at Ballina District Court that Gilvarry Farming Limited had caused silage effluent to flow into a tributary of the Cloonaghmore River.
What's the secret of Kerrygold's success in the US?

3 days ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

It is not every CEO that ventures out of the boardroom to go to a supermarket and stand beside a chilled display cabinet to find out what consumers really think of a product – but when comes down to Kerrygold, normal rules tend not to apply. Last year more than 12 million retail packs of Kerrygold butter and cheese were sold every week in 2024 throughout the world and according to latest figures the brand also reached “a record number of US households” last year.
ALDI to spend 'further €700,000' on Easter lamb lines this year

6 days ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Supermarket group ALDI has said that it will spend “a further almost €700,000 on Irish Bord Bia Assured Easter lamb lines” this year. According to the retailer its “100% Bord Bia quality assured lamb products” are popular with customers all year round but at Easter it typically sees increased demand. A spokesperson for ALDI said: “All of ALDI’s lamb is supplied locally from Irish suppliers and we’re pleased to see positive growth in our lamb products this year.
Climate Plan 2025: 'Actions' for land use include ACRES, manure and drained soils

1 week ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The government’s Climate Action Plan 2025 sets out the current state of play in relation to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) starkly warning that the “sector will continue to be a source of emissions out to 2030”. “The LULUCF sector has been a net source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all years from 1990 to 2022,” the plan outlines.
DAFM 'currently identifying' farmers who will move to 220kg N/ha stocking rate

1 week ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is “currently in the process” of identifying farmers who will have to move to the lower nitrates derogation stocking rate of 220kg livestock manure nitrogen (N) per hectare from December. In a statement to Agriland DAFM said this is to “facilitate” the department to issue individualised letters to “potentially impacted nitrates derogation applicants of their whole farm organic nitrogen limit for 2025”.
Kerrygold owner continuing to ship product to the US 'as normal' - Ornua CEO

1 week ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The Kerrygold brand has been a “victim of its own success” in the US as demand for the product continues to “consume” stock supplies in the market, according to Conor Galvin, the chief executive of Ornua, which owns the brand. Ornua today (Wednesday, April 16) published its 2024 annual report in which it highlighted that Kerrygold ended 2024 as the number two block butter brand in the US and the “fastest-growing brand in the category”.
Ornua: Operating profit up in 2024 despite modest dip in turnover to €3.4bn

1 week ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products and owner of the Kerrygold brand, today (Wednesday, April 16) reported a slight dip in group turnover for 2024 to €3.4 billion but an 11.8% jump in operating profit. Group turnover slipped back year on year by 0.2% while operating profit grew to €130.5 million. Ornua’s group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) also increased by 10.5% to €165.5 million.
What will the Climate Action Plan 2025 mean for farmers?

1 week ago | agriland.ie | Francess McDonnell

The Government today (Wednesday, April 15) approved the Climate Action Plan 2025 but what will this mean for farmers? It is 10 years since the original Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act was signed into law in 2015 and this latest plan “focuses on climate mitigation”. The Climate Action Plan 2025 acknowledges that in 2023 agricultural emissions decreased by 4.6% compared to 2022 but also warns that “this needs to continue and accelerate to meet the target of a 25% reduction by 2030”.