Margaret Donnelly

Dublin

Farming Editor at Irish Independent

Farming Editor @ https://t.co/TMTS5TM3WE #andacyclist. All views my own etc

Articles

Hauliers call for tractor ban on motorways

1 week ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

Hauliers call for tractor ban on motorwaysAssociation raises safety concerns due to other vehicles trying to passIFA president Francie Gorman has said IFA will oppose any move to drive tractors off the motorwaysTractors should be banned from using motorways, the president of the Irish Road Hauliers Association has said.
Raise the roof: West Sligo rallies to save historic Beltra Hall

1 week ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

Raise the roof: West Sligo rallies to save historic Beltra HallBeltra Hall, Co Sligo, which is in urgent need of a roof replacement. Photo: James ConnollyLocals in west Sligo are quite literally trying to raise the roof for one of rural Ireland’s most iconic and quaint community halls — Beltra Hall. Built in 1905 by the local Crichton family, who were connected to the Jameson whiskey dynasty, the red corrugated iron hall has fallen into disrepair.
Irish foresters break new ground exporting saw logs after Storm Éowyn

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

Irish foresters break new ground exporting saw logs after Storm ÉowynLee Johnston Jr of LJR Forestry and Derek McCabe, chair of the Irish Forestry Owners. Photos: Rory GearyTwo and a half thousand tonnes of saw log from trees that fell during Storm Éowyn was shipped in recent weeks to Belgium, with another boat load due to sail to Sweden in the coming days.
Revealed: New proposals on the table at today’s crunch TB meeting

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly |Catherina Cunnane

Revealed: New proposals on the table at today’s crunch TB meetingThe meeting of stakeholders will take place today with the Minister and Department officials. Margaret Donnelly and Catherina CunnaneToday at 11:05Updated measures to reduce TB incidence rates will be tabled by the Minister for Agriculture today at a stakeholder meeting.
Fear of dairy herd ‘collapse’ as replacement numbers drop 12pc

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

Fear of dairy herd ‘collapse’ as replacement numbers drop 12pcDairy female calf registrations are down by over 45,000 compared to the same period in 2024. Photo: Roger JonesThe number of dairy replacements will not be enough to maintain the current dairy herd, farm organisations have warned. Figures from the ICBF show that as of May 15, the number of calves registered from the dairy herd is over 28,000 lower than at the same time last year — a decline of around 2pc.
Eye in the sky to monitor more ACRES actions

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

Eye in the sky to monitor more ACRES actionsDepartment of Agriculture to use satellite imagery to check five further ACRES activities for eligibilityAMS will check for mowing events during the restricted period. Photo: Stock imageMore actions under ACRES will be monitored by satellite through the Department of Agriculture’s AMS system to ensure they meet their eligibility requirements.
€15,909 difference between the top and bottom paying milk prices paid by processors

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

The IFA Milk Price Analysis for 2024 is according to IFA Dairy Chair Martin McElearney a barometer for farmers to measure their dairy co-op performance. The analysis is comprehensive including all annual top-ups paid on 2024 milk supply and all prices have been verified by each processor. “It is a key commitment of the IFA Dairy Committee to provide our members with the transparency our co-ops seem reluctant to provide in terms of milk price,” McElearney said.
Thousands of farm families face ‘ticking Fair Deal time bomb’

1 month ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

More than 13,000 people who have land under long-term leases could potentially face nursing home bills in excess of €120,000 per yearThousands of Irish farm families are facing a potential financial ‘ticking time bomb’ under the Fair Deal scheme to cover nursing home fees – which can cost over €120,000 a year.
What is the Fair Deal Scheme?

1 month ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

What is the Fair Deal Scheme? Everything you need to know about the nursing home scheme'Anyone who needs long-term nursing home care can apply to the Fair Deal scheme, which has an annual budget of €1.25bn'. Stock image: GettyThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme, commonly known as the Fair Deal scheme, is managed by the HSE and was introduced to cover the cost of long-term nursing home care in Ireland.
Agri-food body set up to help sector communicate ‘more effectively’

1 month ago | independent.ie | Margaret Donnelly

With a core aim to “educate and inform public using evidence-based facts, share compelling stories, and foster deeper engagement,” the body is currently recruiting an executive director. “The overarching goal is to maintain Irish agriculture’s licence to operate by building greater public understanding, trust, and support for the sector,” Bord Bia said when asked a series of questions from the Farming Independent about the new body.