Francess McDonnell

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...

Report: ‘Efficiency gains’ in dairy farming can help reduce GHG emissions
Report: ‘Efficiency gains’ in dairy farming can help reduce GHG emissions

Significant reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can be achieved through improvement of management practices in dairy farming, a new...

Environment secretary announces £45m for farming innovation
Environment secretary announces £45m for farming innovation

The UK Government will “always back British farmers”, the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has...

UK agency confirms human case of flu virus detected in pigs
UK agency confirms human case of flu virus detected in pigs

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a human case of a flu virus which is currently circulating in...