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Cows grazing
Cows grazing
Weather permitting, Irish dairy cows are generally grazed on grass pastures from March to October when the grass is in plentiful supply. Average milk yield per cow in Ireland in 2010 was 4,567 litres with constituents of 3.84% butterfat and 3.35% protine. This is relatively low by international standards; in the United States and Continental Europe, average milk yields are close to 9,000 litres per cow. However, the yields in Ireland reflect the prevalence of cost grass based systems rather than intensive indoor confinement systems based on concentrate feeds.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Calf rearing
Calf rearing
A group of Holstein Friesian calves gather around a milk feeder on the farm of Ann Moore in Middleton, Co Cork. The system is and example of low labour techniques imported from New Zealand that allow large numbers of animals to be managed by one person. Milk is placed in the central drum and brought by ATV or tractor to the field where the calves gather around and suck mild from plastic teats. Once they are well fed and have good shelter, calves are very healthy outdoors. In 2011, Ann was awarded the European Innovation award for farm women.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Exports
Exports
Dairy cows pictured grazing the fields at Ring, overlooking Dungarvan bay in Co Waterford. Exports of food and drink from Ireland were worth €8.85 billion in 2011, with dairy and beef accounting for over 60% of the total. In terms of the destination of Irish food and drink exports in 2011, the United Kingdom at 41% was the principal market with sales of just over €3.66 billion. Continental EU markets accounted for 34% of food and drink exports with a combined value estimated in excess of €3 billion.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Farming in the Burren
Farming in the Burren
The Burren is a good example of the wonders of nature situated in Clare and Galway, it is made up of limestone rock, there are flora and fauna which may not be found anywhere else.
Image courtesy of www.burrenbeo.com.
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Farmyard
Farmyard
The farmyard is the hub where all farming activity is centred, with machinery and winter fodder stored alongside animal housing. In Ireland, cattle usually need to be taken from the land and housed indoors for 8-24 weeks, depending on the land type and weather conditiond. A typical housing period would be from early November to early March. Ideally, farmyards are located in the centre of the farm. Farmers plant trees to create a shelter and reduce the visual impact of the buildings. This picture shows the farmyard of William Allen, a winner in the 2010 FBD Farmyard of the year competition run by the Irish Farmers Journal (www.farmersjournal.i.e)
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Strawberries
Strawberries
Wexford is the county most closely associated with strawberry production. Bord Bia estimate that it accounted for almost 100 of the 224 hectares of the crop grown in Ireland in 2008. The Irish strawberry industry began around 1930 and in 1939, when war cut off imports, a production region began around Bree, Clonroche and Adamstown in Co Wexford. According to Teagasc records, the county had just three hectares of the crop in 1940, but this had jumped to 336 hectares by 1960. Crops were grown in small field plots and employed hundreds of young people. Chivers jams opened a depot in Enniscorthy, while Bunclody co-op and Irish Sugar were also involved. In the late 1990’s the crop moved from the fields to indoors, with fresh berries now available for six to eight months rather than just weeks.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Sheep roaming on Achill Island
Sheep roaming on Achill Island
Sheep breeds kept on the hill areas are a hardier type of sheep more suitable to the tough conditions. This picture was taken on Achill island, off the coast of Co Mayo. Sheep wander the roads as they graze commonage land shared by multiple farmers. Each farmer makes their own sheep with a distinctive colour and sheepdogs are essential in order to gather the sheep for management tasks. Sheep farmers in some mountain regions now market their distinctive lamb direct to consumers (www.ringofkerryqualitylamb.ie and www.connemarahilllamb.ie)
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Dairy farmers per county
Dairy farmers per county
Dairy farming is practiced throughout all counties of Ireland, although Munster and eastern counties have the greatest number of cows. Cork had over 4,200 dairy herds, while Tipperary, Kerry and Limerick are also significant. A noted dairy production region touching all four counties is the "Golden Vale", a stretch of top quality land across Limerick, Tipperary and Cork and including the hinterlands of the towns of Charleville, Michelstown, Kilmallock and Tipperary.
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Spreading fertilizer
Spreading fertilizer
Farmers in Ireland spread fertilizer to add nutrients to the growing crop. In 2011, farmers spent €490m on fertilizer (www.cso.ie). Nitrogen (N) is the most important nutrient, fuelling the growth of the crop. This can be applied mechanically throughout the growing season, or delivered organically through clover which is a legume (fixed Nitrogen in the soil). Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are also required. Farmers purchase fertilizers with varying percentages of N, P and K, with 10-10-20 containing 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus and 20% Potassium. They come in granular form in easy to handle bags. Farmers use highly accurate mechanical spreaders to accurately apply fertilizer.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal
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Ewe and lamb
Ewe and lamb
Lambs are born in springtime after a gestation period inside the ewe of five months. Newborn lambs weigh about five kilograms and feed from their mothers’ milk for about 14 weeks. A ewe can only feed two lambs at a time and most ewes will produce one or two lambs per year. However, some ewes will produce three or four lambs and, in this case, lambs may have to be adopted by another ewe.
Copyright Irish Farmers Journal