Opinion
Opinion: Will sexed semen revolutionise dairy breeding?
The point was made to me recently that the use of sexed semen will not deliver real benefits under Irish...
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: Words can’t describe how important child farm safety is
This week has been marked by the launch of the 2024 ‘Child farm Safety Calendar’. It is themed ‘Avoid harm...
Opinion
Opinion: Is robotic milking the future of farming?
I had the opportunity of visiting two robotic dairy units of late, where the difference in milking speeds has been...
N.Ireland
Opinion: Growing crops is a world of opportunity for Irish farmers
In my opinion, the recent AgriCare tillage conference helped to reset the ‘optimism’ button for farmers committed to growing crops...
Opinion
Opinion: Farmers are fast-losing control over their destiny
It’s becoming very obvious to me that farmers are fast-losing control over their own destiny. So what do I mean...
N.Ireland
Opinion: New board at LMC is significant
The appointment of a new board at the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) is crucial for agriculture as a whole...
N.Ireland
Opinion: Agriculture is fast becoming a very exact science
Positive change is impacting on agriculture at an exponential rate. As a consequence, farming is fast-becoming a very exact science....
Opinion
Opinion: Keeping our children safe must always be a priority
The coming weeks will see large numbers of children exploring every nook and cranny of the farms they live on....
N.Ireland
Opinion: Moving Balmoral Show was a stroke of genius
Moving Balmoral Show to its current location on the outskirts of Lisburn was a stroke of genius on the part...
Opinion
Opinion: Chequered flag dropped on 2023 silage season
I have been speaking to a number of farmers and contractors off and on over the past few days, all...
N.Ireland
Opinion: These are heady times for the RUAS
This week marks the official launch of Balmoral Show 2023; it is the flagship event of the Royal Ulster Agricultural...
N.Ireland
Opinion: Gene editing and the law of unintended consequences
Rothamsted Research was very quick out of the blocks in welcoming the enactment of the UK’s legislation regarding gene editing,...
N.Ireland
Opinion: Is it time to take vets out of the bTB testing process?
So here’s a question – can we come up with an alternative plan to have herds effectively tested for bovine...
N.Ireland
Opinion: What is your favourite Christmas poem?
Everyone has a favourite Christmas song – or in my case a Christmas poem. I was never a great fan...
N.Ireland
Hail the humble brussels sprout
The humble brussels sprout is a ‘take it or leave it’ Christmas vegetable for many people. Personally, I love them....
N.Ireland
Opinion: The story of Christmas on a farm
The Christmas narrative, with its focus on the birth of Jesus in a stable, speaks volumes of the traditional role...
N.Ireland
Opinion: When does journey to carbon ‘net zero’ actually start?
Congratulations to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) for hosting a tremendously successful ‘carbon and beyond’ conference during the past...
Opinion
Opinion: Going ‘green’ about to take on real meaning for Irish dairy
Arla is about to introduce what it regards as a ‘green’, farmgate pricing system. And you may well ask –...
