Just me and nature

This is the year I have decided to have a better work-life balance. I think it’s important to do this – taking a step back is often a step forward. When you get off the carousel of life and work you often see things differently when you get back on again. A wise person once told me to take an hour out of every day and do something for yourself. I have tried that, and I can tell you, it works. Every day I do one hour in the garden – no phone, just me and nature – and over a week, it is amazing how much you get done. It clears the head and helps nurture new ideas.

But, now, down to business! Easter rain was very welcome in most parts of the country to bring on grass growth and help crops to establish.

In our local town of Portlaoise, we had the gathering of the great and the good to celebrate the retirement of Charles Flanagan, once one of our county’s sitting members of Dáil Éireann. Also in attendance at the event was Willie Aird, current TD for Fine Gael, as well as Mairead McGuinness, who we all think will be running in the presidential election later this year – or at least we hope! I think it would be fantastic to have Mairead as president as she knows and understands rural life and its ways coming from a farming background.

I am keeping a close eye on micro distillers and craft brewers in the wake of Trump’s tariffs, which will do nothing to help our malting-barley industry. Our export of Irish grain-produced whiskey is a major source of income in that sector and must be protected.

The Tractor of the Year 2026 kicks off in June in Italy when, once again, all major manufacturers will gather for a three-day presentation of what’s new for 2026 watch this space for more details on the runners and riders for this year’s competition.

A quick roundup of some of the farming news that caught my eye recently. A new measure to be introduced under the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) later on this year will see farmers on peat soils having the option to re-wet if they so wish.

Thornhill Agri Ltd’s plans for a new Irish malting facility seem to be in train, although won’t be ready for this year’s harvest intake. Greengate Biogas recently announced plans to develop its first biomethane plant in Powerstown, Co. Carlow, fuelled by cattle and pig slurry, farmyard straw manure and poultry manure – 700,000t of the stuff! Meanwhile, Mayo County Council has given the green light for an anaerobic digestor, which will process 90,000t of slurry and silage annually but in Co. Cork, there is opposition to a 1,000-acre solar farm. On the machinery front, one quarter of new tractors now exceed 161hp and a total of 734 new tractors were registered in the Republic of Ireland during the first quarter of 2025. Of this number, 26.3 per cent exceeded 161hp according to the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association.

Due to restructuring, Fendt have exited the wagon and telehandler market so the Tigo and Cargo T will be no more, while Continental is also exiting the agri-tyre market.

Bauma 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for construction and mining machinery and equipment, took place recently in Germany attracting more than 3,500 stands and 600,000 visitors. It is an immense event and this year, it showcased the world’s first fully electric digger – the the PC7000-11E, which is a hydraulic mining excavator in backhoe configuration. A massive machine with great  decarbonistion potential.

There are rumblings that round-bale pricing may change soon as the current system – paying per bale rather than paying per weight of bale – is outdated according to some contractors. So, this may lead to more dense and compact bales being produced – we will keep an eye on this. 

Finally, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Philip English (Kverneland Ireland) and John English (AIB), and their extended families, on the passing of their father last month.

Until next month, farm wisely, farm safely.