Latest news with #Dorans
Agriland
05-08-2025
- General
- Agriland
Watch: Farmyard design event focuses on good cow flow
A farmyard design event on Dondale farm in Naas, Co. Kildare, has highlighted why good cow flow is important. Joe and Kevin Doran are milking 160 pedigree Holstein over 280ac in a company set-up. Many may find the Dorans familiar, considering they hosted an Agri Aware open farm event last month, as well as an 2024 (Irish Holstein Friesian Association) IHFA National open day in 2024. However for this year's open day, the Dorans brought us through their current farmyard layout, highlighting what works as well as what need to be changed. The event - organised by Teagasc as part of a farmyard design series running from July to September - was over seen by local dairy adviser, Ned Loughlin. Teagasc's Padraig O'Connor talked attendees through good cow flow, saying a "good design fixes all problems" and using the Dondale farm as an example. O'Connor firstly highlighted how the Dorans have installed astroturf on their laneways to maximise cow comfort. Wide passages to ensure good cow flow He then described the importance of good cow flow, saying cows should not have to navigate blind corners or sharp bends on the way to the parlour, as they will begin to bunch which may lead to lameness. The Dorans have a straight and wide route to the holding yard, where the cows can all fit comfortably. They are milked in a 16-unit parlour before exiting through the race, which is set up with a drafting gate to maximise labour efficiency. At the end of the race, the Dorans have a fitted foot bath. Teagasc's Sandra Hayes informed attendees about the do's and don'ts of foot baths. Hayes recommended avoiding too short foot baths, as she said has often seen cows become "show jumpers" to avoid them. She also mentioned that double foot baths are not ideal, as the second one generally ends up full of dung after cows get a "fright" from going through the first one. Hayes also highlighted that cows with good hooves are always at the front, while those with bad hooves who need the chemical are generally at the back. She told farmers to consider only using the bath for last 60 cows or else change the solution halfway through milking (depending on herd size). With Joe Doran farming this farm since 1964, the farm has undergone a lot of investment in his time, with significant farmyard development in 2018/2019. This has led to a marriage of new and old facilities working hand-in-hand in the Dondale setup, with a great example being the Dorans' cubicle house. The shed has being upgraded and expanded to over time to accommodate 190 cows, with new parts of the shed up to spec -such as large walkways and suitable cubicles - compared to the older section, which may be below recommended measurements in terms of space. Doran's cubicle house The Dorans are aware of the constant upgrades needed - for example, expanding slurry storage - so they always plan for the future. Teagasc's Bernadette Bennett spoke about proper calving facilities, higlighting how good air flow, adequate space, easy cleaning, and proper drainage slopes are essential. Bennett preformed a smoke bomb test to view the air flow in the calving shed, and recommended every farmer do one themselves in their own facilities. Teagasc's take-home message was to remember three main aspects when designing a yard: Cow movement; Milk tanker movement; Machinery movement. None of these three movements should cross over or hold another up, i.e., they should all work in unison.
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Agriland partners with Agri Aware for Open Farm events
Agriland Media Group is delighted to partner with Agri Aware as the official media partner for its flagship Open Farm events which will take place in two counties this year. The agri-food educational body will return to Co. Kildare, along with a brand-new Open Farm experience in Co. Galway. Open Farm is the major part of Agri Aware's mission of enhancing agricultural literacy, giving the public and schoolchildren a unique opportunity to experience a working Irish farm firsthand and understand the journey of food from farm to fork. Open Farm is a free-of-charge event with gates open to the public from 10:30a.m to 5:00p.m on both days. Education and communications officer with Agri Aware, Michael Geary said: 'Agri Aware is delighted to partner with Agriland Media for Open Farm 2025. Education and communications officer with Agri Aware, Michael Geary (left) and Cormac Farrelly, managing director, Agriland Media Group 'Although targeted at the non-farming community, the importance of the farming community understanding the role Agri Aware plays in communicating the work primary producers do in producing top-quality food while caring for the environment is critical. 'Open Farm provides a unique opportunity to get consumers onto Irish farms and showcase the best of Irish agriculture. 'This opportunity to partner with Agriland Media will be of critical importance to educate and inform our target audience, the general public, and also primary producers and the agri-food sector as a whole of the work Agri Aware carries out to enhance agricultural literacy. ' Managing director of Agriland Media Group, Cormac Farrelly said: 'At a time when many consumers would state that they do not have an association with farming anymore, it's never been more important to educate young people about where their food comes from. 'It's equally important to highlight the importance of farming for our economy and society and inform the wider public to allow them to make healthy and sustainable food choices. 'As Ireland's largest agricultural digital news publisher, we are delighted to be partnering with Agri Aware for these important events to generate understanding of agriculture to the widest possible audience.' Agri Aware The Kildare Open Farm will be hosted on the Doran family dairy farm in Donadea (W91 DH99). On Thursday, June 13, the farm will welcome over 800 primary school students from Kildare and Dublin for a dedicated schools day. Students will explore how dairy products are made, learn about sustainable farming practices, and develop a deeper appreciation for where the food they consume comes from. On Saturday, June 14, the farm will open to the general public for an educational and interactive day out for all ages. There will be self-guided tours for visitors, a mini-farm village, food demonstrations, kids' games, and the chance to speak with the Dorans about how they care for their animals and the environment.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Former MPs among SNP candidates in Ayrshire for Holyrood elections
The Scottish National Party have named their candidates ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. Three former Ayrshire MPs are set to mount a comeback after being selected to run for the SNP at the next Holyrood elections. Alan Brown, Allan Dorans and Patricia Gibson have all been selected to run for the party at next year's Scottish elections after losing their seats at Westminster in last year's general election. Incumbent MSPs Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) and Siobhian Brown (Ayr) have also been selected to defend their seats. In preparation for the Scottish elections next year, the SNP have become the first party to name their candidates for each of the 73 constituencies which will be contested under new boundaries in 2026. Mr Brown and Ms Gibson were MPs for Kilmarnock and Loudoun and North Ayrshire and Arran respectively between 2015 and 2024 while Mr Dorans held the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock seat from 2019 to 2024. After Willie Coffey announced he would stand down earlier this year, Mr Brown will contest the Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley seat in May 2026. Mr Brown said: "I'm proud to announce my candidacy for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley with the Scottish National Party. "If elected, I'll work hard to represent everyone in our constituency, listening to your concerns and fighting for the issues that matter most to you. "A big thank you to the local members and activists for their support – I look forward to working alongside them in the year ahead. "I'd also like to pay tribute to Willie Coffey MSP for his dedicated service to the area since 2007." Last year, Ruth Maguire - MSP for Cunninghame South - announced she would not be seeking re-election following a cancer diagnosis and Ms Gibson has been selected to run in her place. Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, also announced she would stand down at the next election last year and Mr Dorans has been selected to contest the seat. Mr Dorans said: "Privileged and delighted to be nominated and confirmed as the Scottish National Party candidate to stand for election to represent the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency at the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026." Ayr MSP Ms Brown said: "I am honoured to be selected again as the SNP candidate for Ayr, Prestwick and Troon in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. "It has been a privilege to serve the constituency since my first election in 2021 and I look forward to the campaign ahead."
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Zoning change would boost housing, business in Northland
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More housing could be coming to a northeast Columbus community due to a zoning update in the Northland area. Columbus City Council members approved this potential update. Now the public will have a chance to voice their opinions. Ollie's acquires 40 more Big Lots stores; other locations face restructuring hurdles The zoning change would allow for mixed-use building construction in the Northland neighborhood, meaning space for both businesses and apartments. The corridor in question is the east 161 corridor from Worthington city limits to Ponderosa Avenue. 'We are becoming, in essence, the international hub of Columbus with new Americans and immigrants and this will provide us the opportunity to capitalize on all of those aspirations that people might have,' Northland Community Council Vice President Pat Hammel said. Last summer Columbus passed the first zoning code change in the city in decades. The first phase focused on main Columbus corridors. Now some zoning updates will focus on smaller areas in the city. 'One of the lessons that we learned in order to make sure that we are being very transparent with residents about what this does and doesn't do in their communities, we realize it's probably best to have some smaller bites at the apple,' Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said. This area wasn't in the original phase one in part because of the lack of sidewalks, but Dorans said advocacy from the community, improved COTA services and planned infrastructure improvements were driving forces behind the update. Inside look at Ohio State's new hospital tower 'The more that we evaluated from a planning standpoint, what planned infrastructure the city can make investments in over the next five, ten years, that really stood out as a place for us to really bring this update here sooner and later,' Dorans said. If the change moves forward, the Northland community will become a space for more housing and businesses. 'Folks may love what we're doing, they may not love what we're doing, but I want to make sure folks understand what we're doing,' Dorans said. 'I often say to people, retiring doesn't mean I want to go to sleep and it means we won't be sleepy anymore,' Hammel said. Now the public has a say. Public comment has begun and continues for the next 60 days. To review the proposed changes and submit feedback, visit the city's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus looks to improve the careers for 500 residents
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Multiple organizations were awarded a grant Monday by the Columbus City Council under the Columbus Access to Resources for Expanding Employment Readiness program, or CAREER 500. CAREER 500 is aimed at increasing the city's workforce development programs to help residents train in skills needed in central Ohio. Columbus leaders recognized a gap between the number of career opportunities and the number of people trained to do those jobs. The CAREER 500 initiative could be the solution. Columbus City Council President Pro Tempore Rob Dorans spearheaded the effort, hoping to strengthen the city's workforce. 'We have jobs, we just don't have the people trained to do them,' Dorans said. 'At the same time, we know friends or family that live paycheck to paycheck. It seems let's make an investment in people to make sure they're trained for the jobs that exist today and into the future.' Seven programs were selected to be awarded up to $350,000. Those programs include Riverview International Center which helps immigrants and new Americans learn the skills necessary to get jobs. Riverview Executive Director Emelia Sheeley said the organization is using the grant money to hire more staff and make the workforce development program bigger. 'Our population in central Ohio is really growing thanks to immigrants and refugees,' Sheeley said. 'To be able to ensure that going ahead for the next couple of years, we have the funds to help people get jobs is just huge.' Franklinton Rising also received the CAREER 500 grant. The nonprofit helps young people learn life skills to enter the central Ohio workforce for the first time. They learn about construction trades through restoring and building new homes in inner city neighborhoods. Franklinton Rising President Tom Heffner said those homes are then rented to low-income people in need. 'Being an employee and working and earning a great wage is foreign to many, many, many young adults that are in this age group, so we're doing a lot of life skills teaching as well as teaching job skills,' Heffner said. Dorans said CAREER 500 grants will allow more people to access life-changing workforce development programs, giving them the chance to get good wages, quality health care benefits and retirement plans. 'Especially when you have such a low unemployment rate historically for Columbus, we really need to be focusing on folks that just with a little bit of extra help and training they are going to be able to move up,' Dorans said. The goal of CAREER 500 is to help 500 central Ohio residents over the next two years with the grant program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
