Another week down, and it’s been a busy one on the news front. Bluetongue is the story nobody wants, but there’s plenty more to keep an eye on too – from weanling prices to the factory kill and a stretch of foggy, cool weather. Here’s our round-up from the yard in Foulksmills.
Bluetongue cases rise sharply – Wexford still worst hit
The Irish Farmers Journal reported on Thursday that bluetongue cases jumped by 42% in a week, bringing the total in Ireland to 88 – 82 in cattle and 6 in sheep – across 15 counties. Wexford remains the county with the most, at 30 cases, followed by Waterford on 10 and Cork and Kildare on 9 each.
Signs to watch for include crusty noses, drooling, mouth ulcers, heavy eye discharge, lameness and crusty teats. Bluetongue is notifiable, so if you suspect it, contact your local district veterinary office. The advice reported this week is to follow Department of Agriculture guidance and to vaccinate – talk to your own vet about the right plan and timing for your herd or flock.
Weanling sellers feeling the squeeze
ICSA suckler chair Eoin Ryan said this week that some farmers are getting €300–€350 a head less for weanlings than a year ago. Bord Bia figures to 10 October show weanling exports down almost 10,000 head, or about 25%, on the same period last year, with overall cattle exports down around 10%.
The disruption to the Algerian trade has hit hard, with an estimated 5,000–10,000 weanlings waiting on a market. ICSA wants the Department and Bord Bia to restore that trade and open up more North African outlets.
Beef: autumn kill wipes out the supply gap
The Irish Examiner reported that factory intake for the last four weeks of October passed 140,000 head – over 26,000 more than the same weeks in 2025 – and total 2026 throughput is now ahead of last year for the first time. Base quotes this week were:
- Steers: 650–660c/kg
- Heifers: 670–680c/kg
- R-grade cows: 625–630c/kg, eased by up to 10c
- R-grade young bulls: around 660c/kg
With factories needing to keep numbers up in the run to Christmas, the advice for anyone with finished cattle is to bargain hard.
Milk price: all eyes on October
September prices from most co-ops landed close to 40c/L, with Tirlán at 40.08c/L and committing to pay at least that for the rest of the year, Dairygold at 40c/L and Lakeland at 39.7c/L. This week the ICMSA said stronger dairy markets must be reflected in October prices – we’ll have those announcements in the coming weeks.
Eco-Scheme and paperwork reminder
Advance Eco-Scheme payments of over €203 million began issuing to almost 107,000 farmers in mid-October, at €66 per eligible hectare and a 75% advance rate. If you haven’t been paid, the Department has asked farmers to return any outstanding documentation, and AP3/AP5 farmers to log closing stocks on the National Fertiliser Database. The Direct Payments Helpdesk is on 057 8674422.
Weather: dry, cool and foggy
It’s been a remarkably dry week down here. Met Éireann’s farming commentary shows Johnstown Castle in Wexford recorded just 0.6mm of rain in the past seven days – only 3% of normal. The weekend looks settled and cool, with highs of 7–11°C and widespread fog, some of it dense in places, so take care on the roads with machinery. Monday is due to turn breezier with rain moving in from the southwest. Spraying opportunities should continue in light winds, though drying will be poor to moderate in the low temperatures.
From the yard
With weanling prices under pressure, a lot of farmers are holding stock on longer this winter. If that’s you, getting a steady, high-fibre diet into them from the start makes all the difference to how they come out the far side of the winter. Our FibreGold Calf & Yearling 16% is made for exactly that stage – drop us a message and we’ll talk you through it.
Orders, bulk deliveries and queries: WhatsApp WJ on 087 283 2443, email accounts@kehoefarming.com or visit our contact page. We deliver nationwide and to Europe.
Sources: Irish Farmers Journal – bluetongue; Irish Examiner – bluetongue by county; Irish Farmers Journal – weanlings/ICSA; Irish Examiner – beef kill and prices; Irish Examiner – September milk prices; Irish Farmers Journal – ICMSA headline; gov.ie – Eco-Scheme payments; Met Éireann farming forecast; Irish Farmers Journal – weekend weather.
