EnvironmentA citizen scientist recorded the solitary bee, first seen in Ireland in 2021 and so far known only in the south-east, at Sixmilebridge; experts ask farmers to delay cutting ivy-covered hedges until winter.
EnvironmentThe month averaged 15.22C, 1.62C above the 1991-2020 normal and just behind 2021, and was also wetter and duller than average in most places.
Daily lifeAgri Aware will run its Farm Safety First programme in second-level schools, with workshops and farm visits, after eight under-18s died on Irish farms in the past decade, all in incidents with farm vehicles.
LivestockA private lab detected the virus in three animals on two dairy farms in the south after milk yields dropped; the disease, related to Schmallenberg, can cause abortions and calf malformations and has no vaccine.
EnvironmentAgriculture minister Martin Heydon will ask the European Commission to let farmers who need forage from land set aside for wintering geese and swans use it for their own livestock without losing ACRES payments.
CropsTeagasc's first look at harvest 2026 finds drought-hit yields did most damage to tillage margins, even though Irish grain prices rose about 20 euro a tonne.
LivestockAfter Brittany Ferries left the live export trade, the European Commission says securing sea links for calves is up to the Irish government, and offers to help.
Market ManagementThe Irish co-op took in more than 100,000 tonnes of grain and beans and says quality was excellent even though dry weather cut some yields.
CropsTeagasc trials over four years found tolerant winter barley varieties showed fewer virus symptoms and held yield without insecticide in a high-pressure year, but were not immune.
LivestockThe CSO's June 2026 livestock survey shows 1.62 million dairy cows, 5.15 million sheep and 1.64 million pigs, all up on a year earlier; Cork has the most cattle.
CropsAfter Tirlán set its 2026 grain and oilseed prices, farm groups said soaring input and labour costs have wiped out margins and warned growers may skip potash and phosphate.
VegetablesIreland imported €1.97 billion of fruit and vegetables in 2025 against exports of €492.5 million, a deficit of about €1.47 billion that has revived warnings about food security and the shrinking horticulture sector.
CropsIrish co-op Tirlán set harvest prices of €220/t for green feed barley and €230/t for green feed wheat, up €30/t on last year, but took in 190,000 tonnes against almost 223,000 in the 2025 bumper harvest.
