Martin Merrick

Crossmolina, Ireland

Buildings and Labour Efficiency Reporter at Irish Farmers Journal

Featured in: Favicon

farmersjournal.ie Favicon

theirishfield.ie

Articles

Grass+ Beef: rainfall shores up growth rates

1 week ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

They say never ask for rain in this country, as when it starts it generally forgets when to stop, but for the majority of people, rain was very much needed. The majority of farms were in an ok position, with no supplementation having to go in to stock, but had it continued on much longer, grass supply and quality was going to be an issue. As it stands, there are plenty of paddocks across farms that are less than ideal quality wise.
Planning permission for farm building: when is it required?

1 week ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

A good deal of building work has been completed on farms since the launch of TAMS aid back in 2015. As part of this grant, all building structures required planning permission or a letter of exemption from a county council to qualify for TAMS. Planning permission with farm buildings is a bit of a contentious issue.
The Grass Week: rainfall hopefully to hold grass growth

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

While the rainfall has been sporadic so far, more rain is set to return over the course of the weekend, with the highest levels seen in the west and north west, while the south east, which arguably needs it most, will see the lowest levels. It’s a case of every little helps at the minute, and there is always the hope that drizzle would turn in to heavier showers to wet the parched soil. Grass growth stood remarkably well against a relatively testing time with the lack of rainfall.
Camera at the Mart: warm weather keeps trade heated in Ballymote

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

Ballymote Mart’s sale on Thursday last echoed a similar message to other marts around the country – numbers in sales are failing to meet demand. Smaller numbers are starting to hit mart gates at the minute, with larger throughput in March and April – combined with the usual slowdown of marts for the summer – seeing low cattle numbers while demand still remains high. Mart manager David Faughnan noted: “The cattle trade is still very good, with farmers in particular being anxious for cattle.
Prepping animal housing for health

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

Power-washing sheds after turnout is generally one of those jobs that is put on the long finger; I don’t know many people that actively enjoy it. However, it is very much a necessary evil and should be completed in the early summer months, as opposed to just before cattle head back indoors in the winter.
Grass+ Beef: rainfall hopefully arriving just in time

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

Grass growth stood remarkably well against a relatively testing time with the lack of rainfall, but we are now hopefully going to see significant rainfall occur across the country over the weekend. Soil temperatures are about 6°C , so this combined with rainfall should see grass growth kick forward. Many farmers would have stopped spreading fertiliser for the most part over the last two weeks, and would be anxious to get going with some again.
Tunnelling through in Frenchpark

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

Underpasses are becoming much more in vogue of late, with the TAMS aid for them being one of the contributing factors. From a safety point of view, there is nothing to compare to them, which was one of the real deciding factors for Tommie Sr and Tommie Jr Devine from Frenchpark, Co Roscommon when choosing to install one in spring of this year. The father-son duo converted from drystock to dairying in 2020, with 70 crossbred heifers initially purchased.
The Grass Week: dry spell set to take its toll on growth

3 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

While the warm, dry weather has cattle in very contented form and relatively easily fed with high dry matter grass going into them, the persistent lack of rainfall is set to take its toll on growth over the next week. There is no forecasted rainfall in many of the weather models, so, by all means, expect grass growth to fall. One farmer I talked to this week has seen growth halve in the last two weeks.
Camera at the Mart: keen demand from grass buyers and agents in Ballina

3 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

Trade remained sharp in Ballina Mart this week, with the general cattle sale seeing similar stock numbers to normal for the time of year combined with some sharp prices on offer. Finished cattle were in tighter supply, with the majority of factory-fit stock being made up of cull cows.
My Farming Week: Seán Kelly, Kilruane, Co Tipperary

3 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Martin Merrick

I farm: “Alongside my mother and father, Patrick and Margaret, we are milking 108 spring calving black and white cows. The herd is based off high EBI genetics, with the herd sitting at an average EBI of €252. I completed the Leaving Cert in 2010, and from there we slowly built numbers from 60 to where we are now, improving infrastructure as we went along.” This week: “We are approaching three weeks into our breeding season and look set to hit over 90% submission rate in the cows.