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.

Co. Tyrone river is ‘strewn’ with farm litter – water sports group

N.Ireland

Co. Tyrone river is ‘strewn’ with farm litter – water sports group

Farm “litter”, including empty chemical drums, blue piping and plastic, is adding significantly to the pollution burden on the River...

CAFRE reflects on NI spring planting opportunities

N.Ireland

CAFRE reflects on NI spring planting opportunities

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (CAFRE) has just published a crops update for Northern Ireland. It relates...

Research reveals potential impact of ban on glyphosate

N.Ireland

Research reveals potential impact of ban on glyphosate

A ban on glyphosate could lead to an increase in weed abundance and a decrease in the yields of some...

Banks in NI stand ready to support weather-hit farmers

N.Ireland

Banks in NI stand ready to support weather-hit farmers

Banks in NI are confirming that they recognise the impact of the continuing bad weather on farm cash flows. Ulster...

‘60% of targeted winter cereal planting achieved in NI’ – agronomist

N.Ireland

‘60% of targeted winter cereal planting achieved in NI’ – agronomist

Agronomist, Richard Owens, has confirmed that continuing wet conditions are hampering cereal growers form getting on with critically important field...

Latest AHDB crop update reveals troubling figures

N.Ireland

Latest AHDB crop update reveals troubling figures

The latest UK crop update from the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) paints a very downbeat perspective regarding the...

Opinion: Hogget pieces for sale at £24/kg in Bristol

N.Ireland

Opinion: Hogget pieces for sale at £24/kg in Bristol

Hogget pieces for sale in a butcher’s shop at £24/kg is not fantasy. In fact, it’s exactly what shoppers in...

Biosecurity ‘critically important’ at agricultural shows

N.Ireland

Biosecurity ‘critically important’ at agricultural shows

Newry Show chairman, Brian Lockhart, has confirmed that maintaining the highest levels of biosecurity is an absolute priority when it comes...

Potato industry entering new era of blight management

Arable

Potato industry entering new era of blight management

The Irish potato industry looks set to enter a new era of blight management as it approaches the 2024 growing...

Research: Azole fungicides less effective against some disease

Arable

Research: Azole fungicides less effective against some disease

Azole fungicides are becoming less effective in the fight against phoma leaf spot and stem canker in crops of oilseed...

Concern over availability of spring barley seed

N.Ireland

Concern over availability of spring barley seed

According to College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprises (CAFRE) crops advisors, spring barley seed may be in short supply...

Little winter crop sown on farms – CAFRE

N.Ireland

Little winter crop sown on farms – CAFRE

Little to no winter crop has been sown out on farms, according to College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise...

Demand for dairy semen remains strong in Northern Ireland

N.Ireland

Demand for dairy semen remains strong in Northern Ireland

The latest sales figures are confirming a continuing and strong demand for quality, sexed dairy semen in Northern Ireland. According...

Project to fast-track impact of potato breeding programmes

Arable

Project to fast-track impact of potato breeding programmes

Gene editing, under the auspices of a new research project, looks set to fast-track the impact of potato breeding programmes....

Research: Red clover can act to deliver improved silage quality

N.Ireland

Research: Red clover can act to deliver improved silage quality

A recent webinar hosted by AgriSearch has confirmed the role for red clover in improving the quality of grass silages....

New algorithm to predict vining pea yields at harvest

N.Ireland

New algorithm to predict vining pea yields at harvest

Satellite imagery will be an integral part of a bespoke algorithm, developed to predict vining pea yields at harvest. ‘PeaSat’...

Weed control crucial in managing red clover swards – AFBI

N.Ireland

Weed control crucial in managing red clover swards – AFBI

Red clover has the potential to fix up to 250kg of nitrogen (N)/ha from the air on an annual basis....

How best to establish red clover swards

N.Ireland

How best to establish red clover swards

The recent ZeroNSile webinar, hosted by AgriSearch, provided an overview of how best to establish productive red clover swards. But,...