Stocking rate

Irish farms rank among the lowest stocked in EU

Just 41% of Irish grazing livestock farms are stocked above 1.4LU/ha, in contrast to over three quarters of grazing farms in the Netherlands and Belgium.

NEWS 13 August 2026

Irish farms rank among the lowest stocked in EU

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Slurry paper acres must stop, says UFU

Slurry paper acres must stop, says UFU

NORTHERN IRELAND 29 July 2026

Editorial: uncertain future for sheep farming

Editorial: uncertain future for sheep farming

VIEWPOINTS 15 July 2026

Dairy farm incomes up 41% in 2025

Dairy farm incomes up 41% in 2025

Dairy farm incomes up 41% in 2025

NEWS 6 July 2026

Heatwave advice: managing rams and safely transporting sheep

Heatwave advice: managing rams and safely transporting sheep

Heatwave advice: managing rams and safely transporting sheep

MANAGEMENT 24 June 2026

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320,000ha in BISS opt not to meet active farmer check through stocking rate

320,000ha in BISS opt not to meet active farmer check through stocking rate

Topping, running goats or keeping donkeys can be used to demonstrate the farm activity needed to claim BISS, in lieu of meeting the ewe/ha stocking rate check.

NEWS 14 May 2026

ICMSA sticks to 1LU/ha active farmer definition as it wants headage off table

ICMSA sticks to 1LU/ha active farmer definition as it wants headage off table

The ICMSA does not want to see coupled income supports introduced in the 2028-2034 CAP as it warned that any headage would require a reduction in funds for area-based schemes.

NEWS 14 May 2026

Dairy Management: grassland management, feeding meal and spreading slurry

Dairy Management: grassland management, feeding meal and spreading slurry

Aidan Brennan looks at the key management tasks for the weeks ahead and says that fields cut for silage will need the P and K elements replaced.

MANAGEMENT 14 May 2026

Common-sense approach should apply to nitrates rules - ICSA

Common-sense approach should apply to nitrates rules - ICSA

ICSA rural development chair Edmond Phelan has called on the Department to apply the same approach to slurry imports as stocking figures.

NEWS 14 May 2026

8,691 non-stocking rate claims for BISS active farmer checks

8,691 non-stocking rate claims for BISS active farmer checks

Instead of using the previous year's stocking rate, farmers can satisfy the BISS active farmer check through maintaining land or cutting hay.

NEWS 14 May 2026

1LU/ha for payments would leave 80% without CAP support - INHFA

1LU/ha for payments would leave 80% without CAP support - INHFA

Any definition, especially around stocking density, must recognise and accommodate the various land types and restrictions that farmers have to operate under in Ireland, the INHFA has said.

NEWS 14 May 2026

ICSA hits out at ICMSA call for 1LU/ha minimum for payments

ICSA hits out at ICMSA call for 1LU/ha minimum for payments

The ICMSA's call for the next CAP to set a minimum stocking rate threshold at the equivalent of four ewes/ac has been labelled 'divisive' by the ICSA.

NEWS 14 May 2026

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