Latest news with #Co.Cavan
Agriland
4 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Agriland to launch new limited series The Beef Brief podcast
Agriland is set to launch a new limited podcast series this Wednesday (June 4) where we travel around the country talking to beef farmers about the challenges they currently face and how they run their farm. Produced by Agriland, The Beef Brief will be a four-part podcast series that will go behind the scenes and find out what works for some beef farmers and what makes the difference. In the new podcast series our technical beef journalist, Breifne O'Brien, meets up with one Co. Cavan farmer to find out exactly what 'sustainability' means to him and why this approach has made him an award-winning farmer. The new podcast will also feature insights from two Co. Meath based brothers who not only farm, but also have a butcher shop. They share their personal experiences of what it takes to deliver the farm to fork experience first hand and why they are committed to producing the very best produce for their customers. Agriland podcast The podcast will also meet up with a pedigree breeder and beef farmer in Navan to hear why she took part in the World Angus Forum in Australia last month and is also planning to travel to Kansas this year with the Hereford YDP. Agriland also hears from a Co. Waterford based farmer who shares the secrets of his success when it comes to grass management on a beef farm and how to achieve improved performance in a store to beef system. One other key consumer trend that the podcast will explore is why meat fans are enjoying being able to purchase boxed beef online – we find out how that works in practice for the producer. With beef prices hitting a record during the first few months of the year and trade remaining positive, what do beef farmers currently make of 2025? You can hear directly from farmers about this and more in new The Beef Brief podcast, which will be available on the Agriland platform and all streaming platforms on Wednesday (June 4) with a new episode becoming available each Wednesday for the next four weeks.
Agriland
26-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Senator claims suppliers in Co. Cavan will have to ‘slash' prices for new Tesco store
A senator has told the Seanad that suppliers based in Co. Cavan will have to 'slash their prices' if they want to provide produce to the supermarket group Tesco, which is taking over the lease of a former SuperValu store in Virginia. Sinn Féin Senator Pauline Tully detailed in the Seanad that she been 'informed that all local suppliers have been told they must be prepared to give a 40% margin immediately on their goods' if they want to supply the new Tesco store. Senator Tully said: 'This is just going to hammer local suppliers. 'They were supplying SuperValu and, if they want to continue to supply Tesco, they have to slash their prices. They cannot afford to do that. 'They are already barely keeping their head above water. They have families to support, transport costs, production costs and so on. They are providing fresh meat, some of which is organically produced, and fresh fruit and vegetables'. Senator Tully told Agriland that some Co. Cavan suppliers have contacted her and are 'very angry' that this is the approach that Tesco has taken, The senator said she is also concerned about the impact this could have on local farmers and businesses. According to Senator Tully it is vitally important to protect the people that 'grow produce' and who work on and invest in the land and she wants to ensure that farm families and producers who are supplying to supermarket groups such as Tesco are protected. 'What we are seeing is a decline in the number of people who are providing that sort of food in this country because of this practice. 'It is time the government introduced a ban on below cost-selling. 'What is happening is devaluing the goods farmers work so hard to produce,' the senator added. She has called on the Seanad to raise the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon. Tesco A spokesperson for Tesco confirmed to Agriland that it had 'recently acquired a long-established store in Virginia, County Cavan which will soon re-launch as our third Tesco store in the county'. The spokesperson added: 'We are currently in the process of refreshing and refitting the store under the Tesco brand. 'As the world's biggest retail buyer of Irish food and drink, we are proud to partner with over 500 local Irish suppliers nationwide who provide the best quality products for our customers. 'We have already initiated conversations with a range of existing local Cavan suppliers to explore new opportunities for them with Tesco, both in the Virginia store and more broadly across all our stores'. The spokesperson also stated that 'contracts and supply agreements are negotiated in a fair and transparent way'. They added: 'We are proud to have been named the retailer of choice for nine years running by the Irish supply base in the Advantage Survey, which is testament to the strong relationships we build with our supplier partners'.
Agriland
20-05-2025
- Science
- Agriland
Safety mechanism for vacuum tankers wins engineering award
A safety mechanism to aid elderly farmers in particular with the use of vacuum tankers has jointly won Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Undergraduate Engineering Competition 2025. 'Engineering Design & Development of an Easy-Lift Mechanism for Efficient Handling of Vacuum Hoses on Trailed & Mounted Vacuum Tankers' is the project by Killian Smith from Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan. The other joint winner of the award was a project by James Swift from Castlebar, Co. Mayo – 'Harnessing Hydrogen – A Study into Renewable Energy Storage Using Hydrogen' The two ATU students were named as joint overall winners of the Undergraduate Engineering Competition at the 2025 ATU Galway annual Engineering Exhibition and Competition. Their work now gains them automatic entry into Engineer Ireland's Innovative Student Engineer of the Year competition which will take place in Dublin in autumn. Safety for vacuum tankers Killian Smith from Co. Cavan, who was also awarded the Agricultural Engineering Award for his project, said: 'The prototype I developed helps operators of vacuum tankers lift heavy vacuum hoses onto the side of the tanks without risking injury. 'It's especially beneficial for elderly farmers, helping them continue working safely.' ATU Agricultural Engineering award winner Killian Smith from Ballyjamesduff, pictured with ATU head of department, Des O'Reilly, and Noel Sheridan, senior design engineer, McHale James Swift from Co. Mayo also claimed the Energy Engineering Award for his winning project. He said: 'My project aims to provide a means of storing excess renewable electricity during times of low demand using a hydrogen fuel cell system. 'The prototype I developed uses electrolysis to produce and store hydrogen, which can later be converted back into electricity through galvanic operation when needed. 'The system is entirely emissions-free, with water as the only by-product,' he said. Award The winners were selected from 100 students whose work was initially electronically displayed. After a comprehensive shortlisting and voting process, 55 projects were selected for physical display in ATU Galway's Cafe Foyer from April 28 until May 2. The students' work was carefully critiqued and evaluated by a panel of 40 external engineering professionals, from 30 sponsoring companies, during the formal competition held on campus on Wednesday, April 30. Other final year students won engineering awards in other categories such as Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Design and Mechanical Engineering specialisation streams. Event organiser and Mechanical Engineering Department lecturer Dr. Oliver Mulryan said: 'The Engineering Expo is a flagship event that strengthens the connection between our department and industry. 'This year's showcase featured an impressive range of innovative student projects across all stages, clearly reflecting the practical skills and creativity of our students. 'We commend our students for their ingenuity, and we are deeply grateful to the mentors, judges, and sponsoring companies whose invaluable support help make this event such a success. Your continued commitment to our students and programmes is truly appreciated.' Prof. Graham Heaslip, head of School of Engineering, ATU Galway, said: 'This year's engineering exhibition was an outstanding success, highlighting the creativity, problem-solving skills, and future-ready thinking of our students. 'Each project reflected a deep understanding of real-world challenges and demonstrated the kind of innovation that defines the next generation of engineers.'
