Community

Monitor Farm facilitators Peter Beattie, Maura Wilson, and Christine Cuthbertson, with programme manager Beth Alexander, with the Midpoint Review

Monitor Farm Scotland programme strengthens collaboration and looks to future

We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs.

20 nostalgic old photographs from the February 2012 Farming Life archives

2025 winners of the NBI Farm Business and Technology Award: Ballyhaise Agricultural College with Niall Beirne Head of Corporate Communications at NBI (left) followed by Steven Macklan, Adam Smith and Conal Daly

Clonakilty Agricultural College triumphs at 2025 Colleges Challenges Day

Farming Life livestock markets

Prices for cattle increase at Markethill Mart, heavy heifers to £2700

Rhian Masson

Farmers’ views sought for student research into cattle disease

Hilltown Mart

Fat ewes selling to £200 at Hilltown Mart

Rathfriland Mart

Dairy cows selling to a top of £2700 at Rathfriland Co-op

Farming Life livestock markets

Beef bred cows selling to a high of £3187-20 at Clogher Mart

Stained glass window of Saint Patrick

The home of St Patrick: Armagh festival returns to honour our patron saint

Across Northern Ireland there are bakeries like these in many towns. This Real Bread Week, go and find one in your local area and support them. Imagine a world where we could only source mass produced bread from supermarkets?

We are lucky in Northern Ireland in that we have some superb bakeries

If stability returns questions will have to be asked as to whether, under those conditions, that special treatment is fair for farmers in Europe. (Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is eyeing peace prize as he cobbles deal with Putin

We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs.

A final 20 old photographs from the February 2014 Farming Life archives

We have another superb selection of old photographs which come from the Farming Life archives.

Darryl Armitage

Darryl Armitage

Dogs are hypersocial with humans, but their ways of showing affection to their parents can be unique, subtle and even weird - similar to some humans

Six ways your dog shows affection, besides tail wagging or licking

Enniskillen Mart

Beef bullocks selling to £2910 for a 850kg Charolais at Enniskillen Mart

Northern Ireland weekly market report - 10 February 2025

ADHB

Stephen McCartney (Hyperfast NI), Derek Lough (YFCU) and Brooke Cameron (Hyperfast NI)

YFCU launches AGM supported by Hyperfast NI as principal sponsor

Lisahally mart

More records smashed at Lisahally Mart, weanlings topping at 412ppk

Dungannon Mart

Improved trade at Dungannon Mart, steers selling to £2160

Armoy mart

Good turnout of sheep at Armoy Mart, fat ewes selling to £210

Saintfield Mart. Picture: Saintfield Mart

Fat ewes selling to £260 at Saintfield Mart
Another good show on Tuesday’s sale at Saintfield Mart with a much improved trade.
Darryl Armitage

Paula McIntyre, Sarah Travers and Tally Knipe

Inspiring women’s retreat featuring Sarah Travers and Paula McIntyre announced

Newcastle-based Black Box Donuts are bringing a touch of sweetness to Tesco Northern Ireland superstores

Black Box Donuts seals sweet deal with Tesco Northern Ireland superstores

Kilrea Mart

Fat cows and bulls selling to £3180 at Kilrea Mart

Adam Henson took guests on a walk around his Cotswold Farm Park and surrounding farmland

Adam Henson kicks off the Big Farmland Bird Count on his farm

Analysis conducted by The Equipment Register (TER), Europe’s largest database of stolen plant and equipment, reports that more than one in 10 (11%) horseboxes for sale on online marketplaces were either registered as stolen or had their identity plates tampered with

More than one in 10 horseboxes for sale on online marketplaces are stolen

Dr Liz Homer

Trials show soya-free diet success for dairy cows according to new research

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, adult male singing whilst perched on bramble bush, Bedfordshire, May

Solar farms managed for nature can benefit bird abundance and diversity

Ballymena Livestock Market

More record prices at Ballymena Mart, bullocks selling to £3159 per head

In response to increased findings of highly pathogenic avian influenza (’bird flu’) in wild birds and new cases in poultry and kept birds, coupled with heightened risk levels, the Avian Influenza housing measures are being extended to mitigate the risk of further outbreaks of the disease

Avian influenza housing measures have been expanded

Sarah Christie, Holly Martin, Gail McCullough, Natasha McMaster and Alexis Kidd at the charity truck and tractor run

Lisnamurrican YFC tractor run 2025 helps to raise £955 for Alzheimer’s Society

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir with David Garrett, NIGTA, Cormac McKervey, Ulster Bank, Neville Graham, Dale Farm and Daryl McLaughlin, NIMEA at the launch of the new CAFRE ‘Supporting Agri-Professionals’ Programme

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir launches new agri-professionals programme
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has launched a new knowledge transfer initiative to help guide and support farm businesses.
Darryl Armitage

The Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed it is investigating a significant fire incident at Barley Cove, on the Mizen Head Peninsula, Co Cork on Sunday evening affecting a Special Area of Conservation

Investigation underway following a significant fire in a SAC in Co Cork

Work is well under way on a major refurbishment of one of Dungannon’s most popular bars, Hagan’s Bar in Irish Street, which was purchased last September for an undisclosed sum by Magherafelt-based 1 Oak Leisure Ireland. The new owners have revealed that, after five decades, the name of the bar will change to The Blackthorn Tavern with plans to reopen mid-March. The venue will be given a full traditional bar re-fit, with a new beer garden and will be open seven days a week, offering ‘great food, live music and lots of craic’. Making sure that everything is on schedule for the March re-opening are 1 Oak Leisure Ireland director Nicky Wright with Bar Supervisor Raymond Sheehan (left) and Venue Manager Gerry Fearon.

Work under way on major refurbishment of popular Dungannon bar

Call for vigilance after man tells of ‘devastating impact’ of romance fraud

Glarryford YFC members with the new club tops and new sponsors

Glarryford YFC hold launch night and unveiling new tops and sponsors

Farming Life livestock markets

Larger entry of cattle at Lisnaskea Mart, store bullocks selling to £1830

Farming Life livestock markets

Cow/heifers selling to up £2690 at Markethill Mart

Omagh Mart

Sucklers selling to £3500 and bullocks to £2700 at Omagh Mart

We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs.

20 more nostalgic photographs from the February 2014 Farming Life archives

Farming Life livestock markets

High demand for cattle at Pomeroy Mart, bullocks topping at £2670/740kg

Farming Life livestock markets

Great sale of sheep at Gortin Mart, ewes with lambs at foot sold to £390

Fivemiletown Mart

Super show of cattle at Fivemiletown Mart, stores selling to £1960

Draperstown Mart

Exceptional show of cattle at Draperstown Mart, bullocks selling to £2120

Armoy Mart

Big bullocks and heifers selling to over £2300 per head at Swatragh Mart

Northern Ireland snack lovers could enjoy a credit ‘crunch’ with a difference by making a ‘crisp cash’ withdrawal from the Bank of McCoy’s over the next two months. As the cost of living continues to soar, the UK’s number one ridged crisp McCoy’s is giving shoppers the chance to unlock a £100,000 prize vault – with instant cash prizes of up to £1,000 available on-pack – while local retailers can also cash in with a separate £50,000 prize vault dedicated just for them. Lots of free stock and packs of McCoy’s crisps are also up for grabs by scanning an on-pack QR code and entering a unique code. Launching the campaign, which runs from now until April 13, are McCoy’s bankers Ricky Watts (left) and John Baxter of KP Snacks (NI) Ltd, McCoy’s parent company

Bank of McCoy’s opens its vault to Northern Ireland snack lovers

Armoy Mart

Firm trade for smaller numbers of cattle Armoy Mart, steers to £2,150

‘Prioritising pasture and planning for profit’ is on Friday 28 February, from 10am-2pm at the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm - Blairfad Farm, Balfron Station, G63 0NQ

Pasture and profit in focus at upcoming Stirlingshire Monitor Farm meeting

Farming Life livestock markets

Steady trade for sheep at Markethill Mart, good quality heavy hoggets to £168

Farming Life livestock markets

Good entry of cattle at Newtownstewart Mart, bullocks and bulls selling to £2580

We were wondering if any of our readers might be able to identify those in the photographs.

20 nostalgic old photographs from the February 2014 Farming Life archives

NI Hospice volunteer Maureen Purdy, NI Hospice community outreach coordinator Pamela McNeill and Tesco Newtownabbey superstore community champion Lisa Morris

Tesco NI helps to raise over £40k for the Northern Ireland Hospice

Farming Life livestock markets

Heavy heifers selling to £2680 at Markethill Mart

The latest Northern Ireland Quarterly House Price Index Report (NIQHPIR) highlights that, after successive increases over the course of 2024, the average NI house price went down to £214,478 – representing a 3.4% decrease from Q3 2024 but still 2.9% higher than Q4 2023

NI house prices stalling as the budgetary announcements take effect

Farming Life livestock markets

Beef bred cows selling to £2901.40 at Clogher Mart

At the presentation of the bursaries are, back row left to right: Killian O'Reilly, Jack Barry, John Doris, Eoin O'Sullivan and Aimee McKnight-Scott. Front row left to right: Sinead McAtamney, Maria Finnegan, Liz Shouldice (chief people officer, Lakeland Dairies), Kate Gormley and Louise Weir

Nine students awarded Lakeland Dairies Pathway To A Better Future bursary

Hilltown Mart

Bullocks selling to £2700 at Hilltown Mart

Rathfriland Mart

Heifers selling to a top of £2150 at Rathfriland Co-op

A rib of beef is an ideal cut to roast. In the recipe here it’s roasted medium rare but if you want it well done just keep it in the oven. Picture: National World archives/Charles Knight

Valentine’s Day is a table blocker that our local restaurants could do without

Northern Ireland weekly market report - 3 February 2025

Northern Ireland weekly market report - 3 February 2025