Search Results ... (60)
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River margins
River margins
A river flowing through a field with sheep and a mountain in the distance.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Irish National Stud
Irish National Stud
The State owned Irish National Stud (www.irishnationalstud.ie) based at Tully in Co Kildare is a major tourist attraction, with some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the world. It is a working stud, with elite stallions available to breeders at commercial rates. The farm, purchased by Colonel William Hall Walker at the turn of the 20th century, helps Ireland retain its global leadership position in thoroughbred horse breeding. Each year, over 115,000 visit the farm and its exhibits. In May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II, a noted horse breeder, visited the farm during her historic State visit.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Milk processor map
Milk processor map
Thirteen major firms process Ireland's milk and produce butter, cheese, powders, fresh milk and other products for the domestic and export market. Kilkenny based Glanbia plc (glanbia.com) is the largest, followed by Kerry Group (www.kerry.com) Dairygold co-op (www.dairygold.ie) and Lakeland Dairies co-op (www.lakeland.ie). Glanbia and Kerry are publicly quoted companies listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, while the remainder are farmer owned co-operatives. Each month, the Irish Farmers Journal publishes a Milk League that tracks the price paid for milk by eack processor (www.farmersjournal.ie)
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Woodland in Polmounty
Woodland in Polmounty
An excellent view of a number of shade-loving plants can be found in this wet willow-alder-ash woodland in Polmounty in the South of Carlow including ferns, ivy and brambles.
Betsey Hickey
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Sheep dog herding the sheep.
Sheep dog herding the sheep.
A well trained sheepdog is a key aid for moving sheep from one field to another and essential for gathering mountain sheep. Training and handling sheepdogs is a very skilled job and well trained dogs are very valuable. The most common breed of sheep dog is the Border Collie.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Map of Ireland showing sheep numbers by county
Map of Ireland showing sheep numbers by county
This graphic shows the number of sheep per county in 2010 and the percentage change on 2009. For example, Kerry had 274,564 sheep at the 2010 census, a 2.16% increase on the previous year. The larger circles illustrate the larger county totals, with Donegal the most significant, at 387,057 sheep. The top counties – Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Wicklow all have one thing in common – upland/mountain land. In these areas, sheep are the only enterprise suitable for the terrain.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Ford tractor
Ford tractor
Tractors have revolutionised farming and massively increased productivity. Pictured above is a Ford New Holland. The first mass produced tractor was created by Henry Ford, who was born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan in 1863. He was the son of William Ford, who was born in Ballinascarthy, Co Cork in 1826. As the son of a farmer, Henry Ford believed that tractors were essential to increase food production. The first Fordson Model F was completed in 1916. Henry Ford & Son Ltd. came to Ireland in 1917 and built a factory at the Marino in Cork, the first Ford foundry outside of North America. The very first Fordson tractor left the assembly line on July 3, 1919. By the end of that year, 303 tractors had been built in Cork. massively increased productivity. Pictured above is a Ford New Holland. The first mass produced tractor was created by Henry Ford, who was born on a farm near Detroit, Michigan in 1863. He was the son of William Ford, who was born in Ballinascarthy, Co Cork in 1826. As the son of a farmer, Henry Ford believed that tractors were essential to increase food production. The first Fordson Model F was completed in 1916. Henry Ford & Son Ltd. came to Ireland in 1917 and built a factory at the Marino in Cork, the first Ford foundry outside of North America. The very first Fordson tractor left the assembly line on July 3, 1919. By the end of that year, 303 tractors had been built in Cork.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Logging
Logging
Teagasc research (www.teagasc.ie/forestry) has found that well managed coniferous forests grow far faster in Ireland than in the UK, USA, Canada or Sweden. A major change in recent years has been the shift from the planting of predominantly conifer forests (mainly Sitka Spruce) to broadleaves, such as ash. Up until the turn of the century, conifers accounted for 90% of all planting, but this has fallen to 60% in recent years. Native species, including native broadleaves and Scots Pine, now account for close to 40% of all planting. Most planting is undertaken by farmers, whereas in the past it was undertaken by the State. Coillte, the State’s forestry company, owns over 445,000 hectares of land, or 7% of the land cover of Ireland.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Hay-making
Hay-making
Haymaking became widespread in Ireland during the late nineteenth century. In more recent times, it has been overtaken by silage as the most popular method for preserving grass. It is cut in the summer time and turned in the field for a number of days until it is dry. In the past, crops were gathered into heaps called “cocks”, which were then gathered in the haggard of the farmyard. Barns to protect hay from the elements were widely in use by the early 20th century. Today, hay is generally gathered in the form of round or square bales, which are formed after passing the crop through a mechanical baler pulled by a tractor.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Horace Plunkett and the co-operative movement
Horace Plunkett and the co-operative movement
Horace Plunkett and the Co-operative movement: One man who had a tremendous positive impact on Irish agriculture was Horace Plunkett, who led the introduction of the co-operative movement. In 1889, Plunkett established a co-operative butter-making industry in southwest Ireland, basing his structure on a Scandinavian model. In 1894 Plunkett founded the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society with 33 affiliated dairy co-operative societies or “creameries”. His organisation expanded rapidly; four years later there were 243 affiliated societies. Later, as an MEP at Westminster, he inspired the Recess Committee Report of 1896, which documented failure in Irish agriculture administration. The government eventually accepted his plan, and by the turn of the century the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland (DATI) was established, with Plunkett as vice-president. Cooperatives still dominate Irish agriculture; you can learn more from their umbrella organisation, the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society (ICOS) (www.icos.ie) For more on Horace Plunkett, see www.plunkett.co.uk
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal