Donegal farm families commended by Minister McConalogue


DONEGAL minister, Charlie McConalogue, has praised the hard work and dedication of the hundreds of farm families in Donegal. “Agriculture continues to be Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and our largest source of exports, with 130,000 family farms working day in and day out to deliver top quality and sustainable produce which goes to 170 markets […]


Fears for farmers’ mental health due to growing pressures


BY JEROME HUGHES DESPERATE farmers in Donegal are said to be pinning all their hopes on the current dry spell lasting for at least a few weeks following a dire summer for silage last year and poor conditions so far this year. Aside from the first week in September, farmers have had no respite from […]


Importing fertiliser makes sense says Donegal farmer


A farmers’ alliance set up by a Donegal man says it would make “common sense” to import fertiliser from mainland Europe where it is a fraction of Ireland’s price. Redcastle man Liam McLaughlin established the Farmers’ Alliance Group as a result of fertiliser costs sky rocketing. Farmers in Donegal now have to pay around €870 per […]


Triple surprise for one Falcarragh farm


WHILE farming can be challenging and difficult, it can also throw in an odd surprise too as one Falcarragh couple found out. Manus and Margaret Gallagher, from Rocktown, got “the surprise of their life” when they discovered their cow Rocky had given birth to triplet calves on Monday night of last week. Speaking to the […]


Over 7000 farmers in Donegal will benefit


  The start of the 70% advance of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will benefit over 7,400 farmers in Donegal, Fine Gael TD for Donegal Joe McHugh has said. Over €700 million to 111,000 farmers will now be sent out to farmers across the country with €33,889,000 paid out locally. Advertisement Minister McHugh said: “This […]


Up to 1,000 lambs slaughtered and flocks isolated


UP to one thousand animals have been voluntarily euthanised by farmers in Donegal in recent weeks due to an outbreak of a disease called sarcocystosis, the Donegal News has learned. Last month, vets condemned more than 400 sheep carcasses at a number of meat plants around the country following an outbreak of the disease which […]