Richard Halleron

Richard Halleron

News Correspondent

Richard Halleron is an agricultural chemist by background. He is a past chairman of the Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science and has also served as Chairman of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland.

Future funding model for LMC to be discussed

N.Ireland

Future funding model for LMC to be discussed

Northern Ireland’s Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) wants to further develop the range of services it offers the beef and...
Potato harvest starts in NI with digging of ‘Comber Earlies’

Arable

Potato harvest starts in NI with digging of ‘Comber Earlies’

Digging ‘Comber Earlies’, the traditional start of the potato harvesting season in Northern Ireland, is now underway in Co. Down....
More success for Crawford Brothers at Saintfield Show 2026

N.Ireland

More success for Crawford Brothers at Saintfield Show 2026

Crawford Brothers from Co. Fermanagh had another another day out to remember at last Saturday’s Saintfield Show 2026 (June 20)....
Production environment for grains improving – USDA

Arable

Production environment for grains improving – USDA

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pointing to an enhanced production environment for grains. These sentiments are featured...
ABP to further develop NI integrated dairy calf-to-beef system

Beef

ABP to further develop NI integrated dairy calf-to-beef system

ABP is confirming the company’s continuing commitment to an integrated dairy calf-to-beef system in Northern Ireland. Significantly, the project is...
Food business revenue continues to grow for M&S

Beef

Food business revenue continues to grow for M&S

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has just recorded a third consecutive year of growth with turnover for 2025/2026 totalling £13.9 billion....
NI dairy farmers recognise breeding ‘is about the future’ – specialist

Dairy

NI dairy farmers recognise breeding ‘is about the future’ – specialist

Despite a recent downturn in world milk markets, dairy farmers in Northern Ireland continue to invest in the future of...
Dairy Council NI chief stresses perks of artificial intelligence for sector

N.Ireland

Dairy Council NI chief stresses perks of artificial intelligence for sector

There is a growing acknowledgement among dairy stakeholders that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used as a power for good...
‘Tremendous’ turnout of young handlers at Armagh Show 2026

N.Ireland

‘Tremendous’ turnout of young handlers at Armagh Show 2026

One positive feature of this year’s Armagh Show was the turn-out of young handlers across all the competition sections of...
NI Assembly hears calls for greater all-island cooperation on poultry litter

N.Ireland

NI Assembly hears calls for greater all-island cooperation on poultry litter

Poultry litter is, possibly, the most effective source of organic manure available to Irish grassland and tillage farmers. It contains...
Broadleaf weeds reportedly a challenge for NI grasslands in 2026

Grass

Broadleaf weeds reportedly a challenge for NI grasslands in 2026

Agricultural contractors in Northern Ireland are confirming that broadleaf weeds in grassland are becoming a major challenge in 2026. These...
Beef farmers ‘can’t be green if they are in the red’ – CAFRE senior manager

N.Ireland

Beef farmers ‘can’t be green if they are in the red’ – CAFRE senior manager

Beef producers in Northern Ireland must be allowed to achieve realistic levels of economic sustainability on an ongoing basis, a...
Mixed outlook for GB crops as barley area falls

Arable

Mixed outlook for GB crops as barley area falls

There was a sharp (12%) year-on-year fall in the area of barley for harvest 2026 in Great Britain (GB), according...
Rising use of obesity medications ‘good news’ for red meat sector – LMC

Beef

Rising use of obesity medications ‘good news’ for red meat sector – LMC

The increased use of appetite-suppressing, obesity medications can be developed into a good news story for the red meat industries,...
Ballymoney Show 2026 enjoys record sheep turnout

N.Ireland

Ballymoney Show 2026 enjoys record sheep turnout

Ballymoney Show 2026 enjoyed a record turnout of sheep at this year’s event. The young handlers’ competitions particularly exemplified this...
New generation of fungicide leads identified by researchers

Arable

New generation of fungicide leads identified by researchers

A new study from Rothamsted Research has helped to identify microbial compounds with the potential to become future fungicide leads....
ADAS launches new crop rotation planning tool

Arable

ADAS launches new crop rotation planning tool

ADAS has launched a new crop rotation planning tool, aimed at helping growers assess the benefits and trade-offs before making...
How are combinable crops faring across the UK?

Arable

How are combinable crops faring across the UK?

The Agricultural and Horticultural and Development Board (AHDB) has confirmed a general decline in the condition of combinable crops in...