Tag Archives: farming

THE death took place recently of Michael O’Connor, Drumquin, Ballyncally, who contributed much to the farming community in Clare and spearheaded the introduction of the Simmental cattle breed to the county.  Aged 88 and a native of Birrinfadda, Cranny, he was a son of Jim and Susan O’ Connor. He was educated locally and his early years in employment were spent in West Cork in the Agriculture College in Clonakilty. He returned to Clare in 1953 to join the staff of Clarecastle AI station. After three years on the road with the operators, who travelled all over the county in their familar white coloured Volkswagen Beetle cars, Michael became progeny tester at the station, a position he held for over 30 years. He said that eventhough some farmers were sceptical about the AI scheme in the early years, it turned out to be a great success story. He was responsible for milk recording, carrying out tests in the progeny of …

By Nicola Corless THE  Burren Farming for Conservation Programme will be included in new Rural Development Programme, it had been confirmed. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Simon Coveney announced that €12.5 billion of funds will be sanctioned through the Irish Government and the CAP’s Pillar II programme to the agriculture sector in the period up to 2020. Clare TD Pat Breen said that inclusion of Burren Farming for Conservation Programme in the new Rural Development Programme and the proposals to introduce a new agri-environment scheme were particularly welcome. “I am in regular contact with the farming community and I am very much aware to the challenges facing farm families at this time. Indeed, the recent storm has placed Clare farmers under further pressures with thousands of acres of land now under water,” Deputy Breen said. “There was a very good uptake from Clare farmers for the previous REPS and AEOS scheme and the GLAS scheme will build on the …