Country Living: November 2016

Nov 30, 2016

‘Irish Water: If we want your land we’ll take it for the Shannon-Dublin pipeline’

In September this year, one farmer in north Kildare was told that the proposed Shannon-Dublin water pipeline would be running through his farm.

Earlier this month, Irish Water published its final options appraisal report on plans to build a pipeline – which could affect some 500 landowners – to supply Dublin and its hinterland with water from the River Shannon.

The farmer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has said that farmers are not being given enough time to make a case for their land not to be used.

“Irish Water is saying to us if we want your land we will take it for pipeline.

“We object to pipeline going through land as we are only a small farm and the land they plan to use is required for our livestock and it is also a flood plain.”

Reality struck when he saw the planned proposed route for the River Shannon cutting his farm in half.

“I just find it surreal to think that a Government organisation can do this without backing from a land owner.

The detail in these plans has gone on without the knowledge of any farmer, I just find it shocking to think that a company like Irish Water could draw up such plans.

“Irish Water has done all of its plans and surveys from GIS and from the air, they __have not walked the land where they would see that the land they plan to use is in fact a floodplain.”

Alternative routes

Meanwhile, the farmer also said that a preliminary appraisal report showed an alternative route on the Irish Water website back in November 2015.

“They are bypassing a shorter route that has well known private college and also a well known hotel and golf course on it.

“They also had an international stud farm on the original 2km corridor but again moved away from this.

It looks like they __have meandered around locations that carry notoriety and not due to historical or cultural reasons.

“What I would like to know is why were certain areas around north Kildare receive preferential treatment and yet have bulldozed their plans through other peoples land.”

The farmer said that his farm is very important to him and his family, that they have looked after it for years and it is upsetting to see Irish Water thinking they can come in and do what they like with the land.

“We will still be farming here but the next few years will be difficult if the pipeline goes ahead.

“Why did they not use the route alongside the Canal that already runs from the upper course of the Shannon?

“Irish Water will not listen. They have top down approach whereby they are saying to us that if they want that land we can get it and that it is not negotiation.”

10 safety tips to ensure children stay safe on your farm this winter

Mia Warnock (6), RTE Sports Broadcaster and Mother of two, Evanne Ní Chuilinn and Eamon Delaney (4) today launched a new mobile game developed by AgriKids to empower children to become farm safety ambassadors

Rural families were today warned about the heightened risk on farms due to poor visibility and hazardous weather conditions over the winter period.

The warning was issued at the launch of a new mobile game designed to empower children to become farm safety ambassadors.

The game, which was developed by the multi-award winning farm safety education platform, AgriKids, was launched by RTE Sports Broadcaster and Mother of two, Evanne Ní Chuilinn.

Agrikid’s 10 farm safety tips for children this winter:

Children should never travel alone to the farm.
When children visit the farm, farmers and parents should always explain the dangers.
Hi-visibility clothing and accessories are essential in the darkened evenings and early mornings.
After dark there should be proper lighting in the areas where people are working or visiting.
Farm yards should be kept tidy and free from any hazards that may cause trips and falls.
Extra clothing layers should be tucked in and jackets closed with no hanging strings to ensure they don’t get snagged or entangled in machinery.
Farmers should only give children jobs that are suitable for their age e.g. feeding hens, stacking buckets.
Farmyards are not playgrounds. Farmers should set up a suitable play area away from the yard.
Farmers should lead by example and show children how to prevent farm accidents.
Farmers should __have a farm safety action plan and always __have a first aid kit stocked and accessible

The new mobile game was developed on behalf of AgriKids by Dublin based app development studio, Fierce Fun.

RTE Sports Broadcaster and Mother of 2, Evanne Ní Chuilinn and her daughter Peigí (15 months) today launched a new mobile game developed by AgriKids to empower children to become farm safety ambassadors.

The game, which is available to download for free on Google Play or App Store., is ideal for children from the age of six upwards.

Donegal based illustrator, Martin Beckett, who is the artist behind the AgriKids series of children’s books also designed the app’s graphics and imagery while composer, Jamie Wilson, another Donegal resident has created the app’s distinct sound with an original score.

Founder of AgriKids, Alma Jordan said, there tends to be a lot of focus on farm safety during spring and summer which are the busiest time on our farms, but winter brings with it much poorer weather conditions making many farmyards and roads treacherous.

“For many farmers, the daily workload remains the same with animals needing to be fed and cows milked but the work is being carried out with a significant decrease in visibility as a result of shorter, darker days.

“Many children are off school for at least two weeks at Christmas and may visit or find themselves out on the farm more often so safety needs to be front of mind,” she said.

Managing herd health on a 1,200 head finishing unit

Glen South Farm finishes 1,200 cattle on an annual basis and since its formation herd health has played a key role in the business.

The farm, which is owned by Frank Murphy and managed by Aine Sweeney, specialises in quick turn-around stores.

The majority of the cattle finished are Angus and Hereford heifers, which are bought in at 450kg and sent to slaughter approximately 70 days later weighing 550kg.

Yesterday, the specialised finishing unit welcomed farmers to see the Lely Vector Feeding System in operation, while local vet Tom Vaughan discussed the health measures taken to ensure the animals reach their full potential.

Tom Vaughan speaking at Thursday’s open day

Cattle sourced from 40-50 different herds

The finishing shed on Glen South Farm can handle close on 360 cattle, Vaughan said, and given the nature of the operation, these cattle can come from 40-50 different herds.

As a result, Vaughan said special care is needed when it comes to the management of bought in stock, with all purchased stock held in a separate shed for three days prior to being introduced to the main finishing unit.

Following this three-day spell, the cattle are vaccinated and also receive a pour-on treatment for parasites such as liver fluke and lice.

Live-IBR vaccination used on farm

The Kanturk-based vet added that all of the cattle are vaccinated for IBR before entering the main finishing unit – a live-IBR vaccination programme is used on the farm.

The IBR vaccine provides the animals with six months protection from the virus, he said.

A vaccination programme for Blackleg has also been introduced, with Covexin-10 being the product of choice when it comes to protecting animals from costly clostridial diseases.

Dosing and withdrawal period

Given the short finishing period on farm, special care is taken when it comes to the withdrawal periods of doses.

Currently, the farm is using Closamectin pour-on, he said, which treats a number of parasitic infections including hoose, stomach worms, lice and liver fluke to name a few.

However, the product only kills fluke older then six weeks and this leaves a little to be desired, he said, but the product’s short withdrawal period (28 days) is a major benefit.

Vigilance key for herd health

The finishing unit on Glen South Farm is made of 10 different pens capable of holding 36 animals in each.

Vaughan stressed that vigilance is key when it comes to managing the health of the finishing herd, with each lame or sick animal treated on an individual basis.

However, he said the incidence of lameness, cattle suffering from acidosis or scours is quite low on the farm, and in cases where an animal is found to be sick immediate action is taken to resolve the issue.

Lame or sick stock can be easily treated in the farm’s centrally located handling facility

New proposals for water charges make rural dwellers “lesser citizens”

Farm families and rural communities using their own wells or privately funded group water schemes can now be regarded as “lesser citizens” compared with their urban counterparts, according to ICMSA president John Comer.

Comer said that the Expert Commission on Water’s recommendations to the effect that the provision of water be paid by means of general taxation meant that those people already paying for their own water would now actually be paying “on the double”.

“Meanwhile, those who had never paid for their own water usage, and who may not be contributing through any form of direct taxation, escape any effective charge whatsoever.”

Comer accepted that the issue of water charges was hugely problematic.

But he said that farmers and rural communities could not help but notice that the issue of paying for water only became a crisis when people living in the cities, towns and suburbs were asked to pay for their water usage.

He said it was quite astonishing to note how few commentators seemed to object to the reality that would see rural dwellers and farmers with their own wells – purchased and maintained privately – now having to pay increased taxation to fund the provision of water for the general population .

“The line of reasoning implicit in the Expert Commission’s recommendations was so manifestly unfair to those people already paying for their own water provision – in many cases for decades – that when finalising its position on water charges the Government will __have to make financial provision for rural dwellers who are now, and __have been for decades, paying for water.

“Such a provision will have to go beyond a grant to upgrade an individual well.

“The discrimination against rural dwellers that has been so readily apparent in the discussion of this matter since it was first raised must be addressed in fair and equitable fashion.”

19-years-old and breeding one of the best Texel pedigree flocks in the country

Darragh Cunniffe is just 19-years-old and is already breeding one of the best pedigree Texel flocks in the country.

Cunniffe, who is from Horseleap, Tuam Co. Galway, bought the first of his pedigree Texel ewes in 2012 when he had just turned 16.

Fast forward to 2016 and Cunniffe’s Horseleap Texel flock of 20 ewes has been crowned the ‘West of Ireland Flock of the Year’, putting it in the top six flocks in the country.

At the beginning of the year, the young farmer decided to make a real effort to attend as many local shows as possible, while the ‘Flock of the Year’ competition was always at the back of his mind.

“Anytime we made an effort to go out we nearly always came back with a rosette. The name of the flock has got out there more this year for sure.

19-year-old sheep farmer Darragh Cunniffe and rosettes his flock won this year — 19-year-old sheep farmer Darragh Cunniffe with rosettes his flock won this year

It was a surprise to get the award, but we were aiming for it. We said if we were going showing we were going to go hard or go home.

“We’re definitely going to keep going with the showing, we’re going to try and retain the title if we can but I’d say it will be hard done, there’s always a lot of good sheep coming through,” he said.

Following the recent success of the Horseleap Texel flock, he believes the competition will help him to grow and build the reputation of his flock.

Starting Up His Pedigree Texel Flock

Having switched from a dairy to suckler operation on their farm which has close to 60ac, he wanted to begin a pedigree sheep flock, something his parents fully supported.

Buying his first ewe lambs from a Texel breeder in Dysart, Co. Roscommon, Cunniffe started off small before building his numbers up gradually.

“I went down with the intention of buying one or two, but we had to __have five to be a registered pedigree flock.

So when we were down we decided to go for it and I bought five then and that’s where it all started.

As a budding sheep farmer, he found the more technical aspects of flock management the most difficult to learn.

“There is a good bit of computer work in it, there is a lot of records and notes you __have to keep and eye on, like birth weights and you have to weigh them at certain dates, that was definitely the most difficult part starting off.”

Some of the Horseleap Texel flock which been running with the ram since — Some of the Horseleap Texel flock which have been running with the ram since early September

The young sheep farmer was adamant that he was going to take his time in the beginning so as to minimise any mistakes.

“We’re small at the minute, but I’m trying to focus more on quality rather than quantity. I kept three ewe lambs after the first year, they came through as hoggets and we put them in lamb.

“We decided to keep 10 ewe lambs and they’re making up the bulk of the flock at the minute.

“We buy in a handful of in-lamb ewes then in December as well just to have different bloodlines coming through,” he said.

This year he decided to use a mixture of a stock ram, which cost over €1,200 last year, and AI services to put his flock in lamb.

Cunniffe alongside his stock ram which he bought at the Premier Sale in Blessington, Co. Kildare.

Despite retention levels being quite low, he believes that AI is an important tool in ensuring a variety of blood lines in your flock.

“I think it’s the way to go as you’ll have good genetics coming through, you can sort of pick and choose what you’re looking for.

“Otherwise you could just go and give big money for a ram and let him out, after that what you get is what you get,” he said.

Plans for the Future

Expansion ideas are clearly on Cunniffe’s mind as he aims to grow his pedigree flock over the next few years.

“I think the average size flock is between 50 to 60 for most breeders I know, but there are some breeders with over 100 sheep, so I’d be small enough compared to the rest of them.

I’ll probably stay going up in the numbers if I can, I’d like to get as big as possible.

“We’ll try to keep to quality more so than quantity, that’s we’ve been trying to do from the beginning and we seem to be getting on well so far.

“I’d like to get the numbers up to maybe 40 or 50 in the next few years and we’ll see how we can manage that, if that goes well I’d like to keep building on it,” he said.

Looking to future, he also hopes to be in a position to put up a new sheep shed to accommodate the growing numbers.

The 19-year-old, who is currently doing the Green Cert course in Mountbellew Agricultural College, could not speak highly enough of the Texel breed.

“We tried Suffolk as well, but the Texels are a way better sheep. The Texel lamb would come out and be up in a second whereas we found the Suffolk to be lifeless, there would be no go to them at all.

“I find Texels are the best all around sheep, they’re quiet, they’re clean and they’re easy to keep.”

Nov 25, 2016

Video: A robotic feeding system with a difference in Co. Cork

Glen South Farm finishes close on 1,200 cattle on an annual basis on the outskirts of Banteer, Co. Cork.

Since 2012, the Banteer-based business has under-gone major change, including a total rebuild of the housing and animal handling facilities and the introduction of a Lely Vector Robotic Feeding System – the Lely Mixing and Feeding Robot.

The farm, which is owned by Frank Murphy and managed by Aine Sweeney, was the first beef farm in the world to introduce the Lely automated feeding system.

And since its installation, Glen South has been used as the standard bearer when it comes to robotic feeding systems throughout the world.

The farm hosted a Lely Robotic Feeding open day on Thursday, where farmers were given the opportunity to see the Lely Vector system in operation.

Achieving high-growth rates with the Vector system

Glen South Farm is a specialised finishing unit, focused on finishing mainly Angus and Hereford heifers in a 70 day finishing window.

Heifers, weighing 450kg, are bought in from a number of sources and are finished to weights of 550kg liveweight or 270-280kg deadweight on diets mixed in the Lely Vector feeder.

The farm has housing facilities for 360 store cattle, which are divided into 10 pens of 36 during their stay on the unit.

Video: Robotic feeders in operation on Glen South Farm

Dairygold Nutritionist Coleman Purcell, who formulates the diets on the farm, discussed the diets being offered to the animals at Thursday’s open day.

Purcell said that the cattle are gaining approximately 1.3kg a day on the diets fed through the robotic system, almost 0.4kg/day more would be expected from similar diets on conventional farms.

“The higher than usual weight gains seen can come from two things. The energy density of the diet, which isn’t the case or higher intakes gained from the constant feeding action of the Vector system.

“This is what we suspect is the case here,” he said.

Fresh weight diet ingredients:

Maize silage: 14kg
Whole-crop silage: 5kg
Concentrate: 3kg
Sugar beet: 6kg

Presently, the heifers on the farm are being offered a diet consisting of maize silage (50%), whole-crop silage (17.9%), concentrates (10.7%) and sugar beet (21.4%).

He added that the concentrate component of the diet is added to balance both the energy and protein available in the diet.

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“The concentrate input is added to complement the rest of the diet. The diet is high in starch and sugar so the concentrates balance the diet for protein.

“The 3kg of concentrates contain soya bean and rapeseed meal, which provide the animals with rumen degradable protein,” he said.

In total, the diet offered to the cattle has a protein content of 12% and a Dry Matter Content of 37-38%, while vitamins and minerals are included in the concentrate to make up for the low levels seen in beet.

How does the Lely Vector Feeder work?

Lely’s Mitchelstown-based Service Manager, Padraig Kelly gave a run down of the Mixing and Feeding Robot to the farmers in attendance.

Kelly explained that the robot follows four routes on the farm and concrete yards are critical for the machine to be fully utilised as it is mounted on three wheels and uses ultrasonic sensors to track its route.

The system installed on the Glen South Farm, he said, was designed with a kitchen area and crane to maximise the machines performance.

The Mixing and Feeding Robot is fully automated, which ensures optimal flexibility for farmers using the system.

On the farm, the feed is stored in the feed kitchen, an open area without any obstacles, in which the maize silage, whole crop silage and chopped sugar beet are stored.

The grab used to fill the Lely Vector feeding system

A grab moves over the feed kitchen to select the feed and loads it in onto the mixing and feeding robot. After filling, the robot mixes the contents for five minutes before distributing it out to the animals in the yard.

The robot also knows how much feed there is in front of the animals at all times and it determines when and where feed is required, without any intervention from the farmer being needed.

Experience of the robotic feeding system

The farm manager, Aine Sweeney spoke about the robotic feeder and the benefits she has seen from the robotic feeding system.

Sweeney said the robot gives detailed information on the amount of feed given to each group of animals on the farm, while also ensuring that the animals are never short of feed.

“The Vector feeding system is wonderful because it feeds small amounts all day long, so it feeds on demand.

Even when they are asleep, the Vector still goes out. I __have it set every 58 minutes, it will scan the pens, push in the feed so if there is a pen that needs to be feed it will go back in and fill for that pen.

“It goes all day long. Basically, sports people eat all day long, these [the vector system] kind of do the same.

“It is not one big meal morning and evening, its constant feeding all day,” she said.

‘Many more boats required to deal with increase in cattle numbers in 2017’

With live exporters seeking cattle to ship to Libya at the moment, ICSA Beef Chairman Edmond Phelan has said that many more boats will be required to deal with the substantial increase in cattle forecast for 2017.

He said that the Libyans are looking for bulls, with a wide range of weights, ranging from 400-700kg liveweight.

“While they __have a preference for beef breeds, they are also looking at Friesian cattle. A good market for heavier bulls is very desirable.

“However, according to Bord Bia forecasts at the Beef Roundtable there is potentially an extra 200,000 cattle for slaughter in 2017 compared to 2015.”

Phelan said that the country is sleepwalking into trouble with these figures unless we get a huge upturn in live shipping.

“We can see the disastrous effect an extra 65,000 cattle throughput this year has had, this is going to be multiplied by three next year.

“Already we __have seen how the average weekly kill this back-end has been some 4,000 cattle a week higher than the equivalent weekly kill in 2015.”

To put it in context, we would need a boat, carrying 4,000 head, going out every single week in 2017 to bring markets back into balance.

Phelan also said that we have to question what the strategy is to deal with all the extra dairy calves, mostly Holstein but with increasing Jersey and Kiwi Cross genetics that are coming onto the market.

“Either we export them as veal or find some other way of getting out of them but there is no doubt that they are a disaster for the livestock trade and for the viability of beef farming in this country,” he said.

Check out the latest hay and forage equipment from Massey Ferguson

Massey Ferguson recently introduced a full-line up of grassland machinery at the EIMA machinery show in Italy, including mowers, tedders and rakes.

The line of hay and forage equipment is designed to meet the precise requirements of grassland farmers and contractors harvesting a range of crops in different conditions.

Designed and built in AGCO’s facility in Germany, the range of equipment is already for sale in other European countries, as well as Australia, New Zealand and North America.

Massey Ferguson DM Series Mowers

The new line of DM series mowers and mower conditioners included light, mounted disc models, front and rear-mounted mowers and centre-drawbar machines.

The range will also include trailed mower conditioners and ‘Butterfly’ folding combinations with ISObus control.

Massey Ferguson DM Series mowers are designed to cut and condition crops with care while offering a vast choice of mowers for farmers of all sizes and agricultural contractors.

These mowers include a variety of features to increase efficiency and lower operating costs, while working widths vary from 2m up to a 9.3m front and rear combination.

Many of the mowers are equipped with the award-winning driveGuard overload system. This protects the driveline with simple and easy to fit ‘tabs’ rather than shear bolts or pins.

Meanwhile, centre-drawbar mower conditioners in the range provide the benefit of being able to operate to the left and right, improving productivity and reducing the amount of time wasted.

Massey Ferguson DM Series Mowers and Mower conditioners:

Five mounted disc mowers from 2.06-4m working widths.
Two 3m and 4m wide semi-mounted mower conditioners.
Heavy-duty 3m trailed mower conditioner.
Three centre-drawbar, trailed mower conditioners.
8.3-9.3m wide Butterfly-folding mowers.

TD Series Tedders Offers Working Widths from 5.2-12.7m

The TD Series Tedder range encompasses six models to suit a wide range of crop types and applications, with working widths ranging from 5.2-12.7m.

Spreading angles can be adjusted on these tedders to match all crop conditions, while the mounted tedders are available in a choice four, six or eight rotors depending on working width.

Meanwhile, two, eight or 10 rotor-trailed models are fitted to a highly manoeuvrable chassis which uses a system that double folds the machine lengthways, retaining an overall transport length of just 5.7m.

The individual rotors are driven by individual strong, hexagonal shafts through robust universal joints, to provide smooth power transmission free from back-lash.

Massey Ferguson TD Series Tedders:

Six models offering working widths from 5.2-12.7m.
Four mounted machines with four, six or eight rotors.
Two trailed models with eight or 10 rotors.

Mounted Or Trailed Rakes Included in the RK Series

A choice of mounted or trailed models are available in Massey Ferguson’s RK Series of rakes, which include an array of single, two and four-rotor rakes.

Delivering the swath to the right-hand side, the four single rotor rakes that are mounted on the linkage offer working widths of 3.6-4.5m.

The four different two-rotor, semi-mounted or trailed chassis, rakes with a working width up to 10m are equipped with the patented steerGUARD automatic steering system, which ensures the rake accurately follows the tractor’s wheels.

Built for contractors and large-scale farmers, the four-rotor rake provides adjustable working widths up to 12.5m, which allows operators to make the optimum swath size for the following harvester or baler.

The robust semi-mounted, trailed chassis machine is designed for transport speeds up to 50km/hr.

A headland management system automatically lifts and lowers the rear rotors on the headland, ensuring the swath ends are left neat and tidy.

Massey Ferguson RK Series Rakes:

Four single rotor, linkage mounted rakes, with working widths of 3.6-4.5m.
Four, two-rotor, semi-mounted, trailed chassis rakes offer working widths up to 10m.
Flagship four-rotor rake provides adjustable working widths up to 12.5m.

Canada to be short over 110,000 agriculture workers by 2025 – would you go?

The Canadian agriculture workforce could be short workers for 114,000 jobs by 2025, as the gap between labour demand and the domestic workforce continues to widen, a new report has found.

The report, Agriculture 2025: How the Sector’s Labour Challenges Will Shape its Future, was undertaken by the Labour Market Information (LMI).

In the past 10 years, the gap in the agriculture workforce has doubled from 30,000 to 59,000.

The agriculture industry has been encouraging young people and workers from other sectors to get into agriculture as a career, according to the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC).

However, despite extensive efforts gaps still exist and it is expected that there will still be a large void in the future.

The LMI study only looked at primary production; agri-food industries such as food and beverage processors or input suppliers, which __have additional labour demands, were not considered in the research.

The research indicates that the worker shortage is critical today and will be even more so 10 years from now, with potentially serious consequences for business viability, industry sustainability and future growth.

Access to less labour for Canadian farmers now and into the future will affect food security for Canadian consumers and will also affect export potential of Canada’s entire agri-food industry, according to the CAHRC.

Commenting on the research, Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, Executive Director of the CAHRC, said that the sustainability and future growth of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry is at risk.

It is critically important that this risk is acknowledged and mitigated in an intentional and strategic way.

Figures show that the agriculture and agri-food sector employs over 2m Canadians and accounts for one in eight jobs in the Canadian economy, or 12% of total Canadian employment.

A rising number of retirements will be a key factor driving the decline in the sector’s labour supply in the years to come, according to the report.

All sectors will be impacted by the ageing workforce, but it found that agriculture is unique in that the average age of its labour force is considerably older than the average age in all sectors with over 16% of agriculture workers over the age of 65.

Meanwhile, a declining number of young people entering the agricultural workforce and the fact that the sector attracts a below-average share of immigrants means that the number of new entrants into the sector’s workforce will shrink.

Kerry Co-op board submits letter of concern to the Revenue

The Kerry Co-op board met today to discuss the implications of this week’s additional tax demands received by 400 of its members.

Afterwards, a letter was hand delivered to the Revenue Commissioner’s in Tralee, listing the concerns of the Kerry Co-op board on this matter.

“This is part of a process,” said a Kerry source.

“The board will await the official response of the Revenue on all of the issues that __have been raised, after which decisions will be taken on how best to deal with the matter further.”

Earlier this week the Revenue wrote to 400 Kerry suppliers notifying them of a tax demand on patronage shares in Kerry co-op that had been issued to them during the years 2011, 2012 and 2013.

It is believed that the inferred tax liabilities range from €15,000 to €30,000 per share holder.

Commenting on the action taken by the Kerry Co-op board, ICMSA president John Comer said it is important that both sides engage constructively in a process aimed at resolving the

It is important that both sides engage constructively in a process aimed at resolving the current impasse.

“Kerry farmer-suppliers suffered a major and unexpected shock on Monday last that could threaten the very viability of many family farms and it is essential that this matter is resolved in a manner that is fair and takes account of the prolonged period of depressed milk prices from which we are only beginning to see recovery,” he said.

Kerry suppliers __have already told Agriland that income tax should only be paid on the patronage shares, once they have been redeemed.

The Revenue is currently holding to the position that receipt of the shares constitutes a source of tradable income.

According to Revenue sources, the letters arise as compliance interventions in the context of the organisation’s risk framework and the advice for anyone who has received a letter, or anyone who has received such shares, is to engage with Revenue staff and address the issues raised.

Video: Ear to the Ground meets a harvest team covering 2,000 miles in the US

This week’s Ear to the Ground will feature a harvest team in the US who travel 2,000 miles during the season harvesting crops.

Ear to the Ground will also meet a farmer who is concerned about climate change in Co. Donegal and a Co. Tipperary farmer who is enjoying a bumper harvest this year in his apple orchard.

Tonight’s episode will see Darragh McCullough meet up with a harvest team who are travelling from Texas to the Canadian border following the ripening crops.

The journey began last May as the team set out from Oklahoma, before they began their journey across five states cutting wheat, rapeseed and maize with a fleet of nine brand new combines.

Darragh met up with the team in North Dakota to help bring in the harvest and to find out what it is like to drive such large machinery.

The US harvest is all about efficiency as efforts are made to keep the machines running for as long as possible, according to one worker.

“Out here it’s all about efficiency, if a combine breaks down the service truck is right there, on it straight away. You can’t just breakdown and say we’ll fix it in an hour,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ella McSweeney will travel to Co. Donegal to meet farmer Peter Lynch who is trying to figure out whether climate change is to blame for fields transforming into lakes and for cattle not thriving the way they should.

Lynch has seen numerous changes on his farm over the years and is trying to figure out the best approach to combat these changes.

We will not bury our heads in the sand and hope the problem goes away.

“If there is something we need to do differently or something that we are doing now that can’t work in 10 years time we will __have to address that problem,” he said.

Ella will meet with a climate scientist to investigate what the future holds for Lynch and his farm.

Also on tonight’s episode of Ear to the Ground, Helen Carroll will meet up with James O’Donoghue, a Co. Tipperary farmer, who has perfected the art of chardonnay cider.

O’Donoghue’s 25ac apple orchard in the Suir valley is enjoying a bumper harvest this year, which he then turns into apple juice and cider.

Founder of Longways Cider, O’Donoghue brought Helen around the orchard explaining the differences between dessert, cooking and bitter sweet apples.

Ear to the Ground will be aired on RTE 1 at 8.30pm tonight and will also being repeated on Sunday.

Deer carcass and firearms seized after vehicle is stopped

Firearms and a deer carcass were seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a vehicle was stopped as part of an operation with a partner agency in Castlederg, Co. Tyrone on November 1.

PSNI Wildlife Liaison Officer, Emma Meredith, said that enquiries into the circumstances are currently ongoing.

“However, on a general note, it is worth pointing out that PSNI takes wildlife crime very seriously and as such any officer can investigate a wildlife crime within the service just like any other crime.

“When PSNI receive a call officers will act accordingly with the view to reporting any breach in the law to the public prosecution service.”

She said that the PSNI encourages anyone with any information on suspected deer poaching to call the police on 101 for officers to act and also so police can continue to obtain a clear picture and target the areas of concern through operations such as Operation Wild Deer.

Operation Wild Deer is a multi-agency initiative to combat deer poaching and encourage reporting, she said.

Launched in August 2013, poaching leaflets and posters were produced for distribution throughout Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the issue.

Stag that was on the loose in Newry shot dead by police marksman

Earlier this year, a stag which was on the loose in Newry, Co. Down was shot dead by specially trained firearms officers from the PSNI.

A spokesperson from the PSNI said that the stag was found to be running loose in the St Patrick’s Avenue area of the city and several attempts were made to manage the animal.

It is as yet unknown whether the stag was a wild deer or a farmed deer.

“Several attempts were made to safely and humanely manage the animal. Regrettably officers were required to shoot the stag as it had become very agitated and posed a risk to the public.

“Officers had liaised with a vet and qualified deer stalkers were in attendance at the scene,” the spokesperson said.

As is normal procedure the office of the Police Ombudsman was informed of the incident.

Want to win a Heat Detection and Health Monitoring System worth €8,500?

As part of Agriland’s #FarmFree competiton an SCR Heatime Heat Detection and Health Monitoring System worth €8,500 is up for grabs.

Agriland has teamed up with some of the best-known agricultural brands and manufacturers to launch what is, we believe, the best farming give away in the country.

The SCR Heatime system is one of the top reproduction and health systems in Ireland, with over 735 dairy, 33 suckler beef and over 350 Lely Robotic farms nationwide using the system.

Using a tag embedded with sensors that is fitted to the cows collar, the system can identify changes in normal activity and behaviour around estrus.

efs-2 — Source: Efficient Farming Solutions

Data is transmitted every 20 minutes using long distance radio frequency technology.

This prize will include

20 Long Distance Collars.
One Base station including a Heatime Monitor and Antennae.
One day full farm Installation.
Two hours system training.
Full five year warranty on the collars.

The system will pick up sick cows and identify those in heat while saving the farmer money while preventing the need for tail painting.

It also lessens the need for farmers to visually observe cows and reduces the likelihood of cows being late or empty at the end of the breeding system.

The system is sponsored by the Efficient Farm Systems which is based in Mullingar Co. Westmeath, who are distributors of animal health and monitoring technology in Ireland.

Ideal for dairy or suckler beef farmers the system can provide information to the farmer through the free Healthy Cow 24 App which allows the farmer to __have remote access to the herd.

Agriland’s #FarmFree Competition

This is the second year in a row that Agriland has run its Farm Free competition. As well as the €8,500 Heat Detection and Health Monitoring System, there is a range of other farming products up for grabs.

The lucky winner will also win a Husqvarna chainsaw, a Massey Ferguson disc mower, €1,000 worth of animal health products and much more!

Click here to enter the competition

Nov 24, 2016

Be part of something BIG and help bring Black Country History to Life

Big Give BCLM Christmas Challenge

We want to bring our colliery back to life and we need your help to do it. Between 29 Nov - 2 Dec, we’ll be taking part in the Big Give’s #ChristmasChallenge to raise money to bring this incredible story of steam and industry to life. The best part? All donations made online via theBigGive.org.uk will be matched pound for pound.

Coal mines and collieries were the heart and soul of the region, fuelling the industrial development of the Black Country and helping to create the world we live in today. We want our visitors to be able to experience this story for themselves and to do this we’re going to revitalise our Racecourse Colliery.

What will we do __with the money?

When the project is finished visitors will be able to see Charlie, our pit pony pull the ‘tub’ along the restored tramway; a pit cage that will show how miners were lowered into the shaft; demonstrations at a new Blacksmith’s Forge; light and sound installations as well a host of new characters to talk to about the region’s industrial past, and the stories of real people who once worked at the colliery.

Visit our profile on the Big Give website to watch a video about the project.

How do I make a donation?

Starting from #GivingTuesday (12pm on 29 Nov) you'll be able to visit the Big Give website to make your donation and make a difference this Christmas.