Francess McDonnell

DAERA selects Tyrone GAA football star as NI’s new chief vet
DAERA selects Tyrone GAA football star as NI’s new chief vet

Northern Ireland’s new chief vet has been confirmed as Brian Dooher, he is also the joint manager of Tyrone GAA’s...

NFU president: Politicians must ‘put a plan in place’ for home-grown food
NFU president: Politicians must ‘put a plan in place’ for home-grown food

The new president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned that it is a “challenging time” for agriculture in...

French prime minister unveils new law to support farmers
French prime minister unveils new law to support farmers

The French Prime Minister has told French farmers that their “heartfelt cry” has been heard as he unveiled details of...

Lely boosts annual turnover to €888m as demand for robotics grows
Lely boosts annual turnover to €888m as demand for robotics grows

The Dutch dairy equipment group, Lely, grew its turnover by 25% to €888 million last year, according to a new...

New NI minister warned that agri-sector ‘under extreme financial pressure’
New NI minister warned that agri-sector ‘under extreme financial pressure’

Northern Ireland’s new Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs minister, Andrew Muir, may only be three days in the job but...

What does the new DUP-backed deal mean for Northern Ireland?
What does the new DUP-backed deal mean for Northern Ireland?

A new package of proposals which will guarantee “unfettered access to the UK’s internal market” and reduce post-Brexit checks and...

UK Govt launches new plan to boost ‘nature recovery’
UK Govt launches new plan to boost ‘nature recovery’

The UK Government has published new plans to boost “nature recovery” on land and at sea. The new plans –...

Agri-food sector must be ‘priority’ for Northern Ireland politicians – UFU
Agri-food sector must be ‘priority’ for Northern Ireland politicians – UFU

The absence of a Northern Ireland Executive over the last two years has resulted in “much needed decisions” for the...

UFU: Farmers in NI hit by ‘widening gap’ in milk prices
UFU: Farmers in NI hit by ‘widening gap’ in milk prices

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said the gap in the base milk price in Northern Ireland compared to other...

PSNI: Cattle trailer stolen from farmyard in Co. Tyrone
PSNI: Cattle trailer stolen from farmyard in Co. Tyrone

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is currently investigating the reported theft of a cattle trailer from a farmyard in Co....

Co-op’s new sustainability pilot aims to ‘reward’ beef farmers
Co-op’s new sustainability pilot aims to ‘reward’ beef farmers

The UK mutually-owned supermarket, the Co-op, is partnering with Dunbia, a division of Dawn Meats, to launch a new pilot...

Well-known NI bakery settles age discrimination case for £75,000
Well-known NI bakery settles age discrimination case for £75,000

A bakery in Northern Ireland, which has been in business since 1912, has settled an age discrimination case with a...

£3.3m project aims to ‘eliminate dependence’ on nitrogen fertilisers
£3.3m project aims to ‘eliminate dependence’ on nitrogen fertilisers

A new £3.3 million, UK government backed, research project has been launched to test a new approach to grassland farming...

Vet prices and treatments ‘must be fair’  – Sugden
Vet prices and treatments ‘must be fair’ – Sugden

Vet prices are rising faster than inflation but a review by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) should help...

Poor management of slurry a ‘significant threat’ to water quality – CAFRE
Poor management of slurry a ‘significant threat’ to water quality – CAFRE

Slurry can be a “valuable source of nutrients” but poor management of slurry is a “significant threat” to water quality...

UFU: 2023 was a ‘turbulent year’ for farmers
UFU: 2023 was a ‘turbulent year’ for farmers

The last 12 months have been “one of the most turbulent, weather-related years on record” for farmers, according to the...

Dairy nutrition company Volac to close facility in Ireland
Dairy nutrition company Volac to close facility in Ireland

The dairy nutrition company Volac is to close its purpose-built finishing and packing facility near Kells, in Ireland. The company,...

3 further cases of bluetongue in cattle identified in UK
3 further cases of bluetongue in cattle identified in UK

A further three cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the Sandwich Bay area of Kent, the UK...