Francess McDonnell

Francess McDonnell Profile Picture

Francess McDonnell is an award-winning journalist and producer with significant experience in covering agriculture, agri-business and business issues. She has worked with the Irish Times, Sunday Times Ireland, Sky News Ireland, BBC Northern Ireland and the Belfast Telegraph and Irish News. Her family has farmed for generations and is part of a rural, lough-shore community where her interest in farming, agri-business and rural issues first began. She is a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester and the School of Journalism, Cardiff University.

EPA: ‘No signs yet’ of an improvement in water quality
EPA: ‘No signs yet’ of an improvement in water quality

There was “no significant change in any of the water quality indicators” for Ireland’s rivers,lakes, estuaries and groundwaters in 2023,...

CSO: Green diesel clearances jump to 98m litres in April
CSO: Green diesel clearances jump to 98m litres in April

Latest figures show a year-on-year increase in excise clearances of green diesel in April 2024, according to the Central Statistics...

TB: 5,122 herds restricted over 12 months to end of Q1 2024
TB: 5,122 herds restricted over 12 months to end of Q1 2024

Latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show the total number of herds restricted because...

Dramatic rescue for farmer and his dog from the Mourne Mountains
Dramatic rescue for farmer and his dog from the Mourne Mountains

A farmer who suffered “serious injuries” following a quad accident earlier today (Monday, June 10) and his dog have been...

Coillte-backed fund has acquired 5,000ha of forestry
Coillte-backed fund has acquired 5,000ha of forestry

The Coillte-backed Irish Strategic Forestry Fund (ISFF) has, to date acquired more than 5,000ha of forestry, according to latest figures....

HSA: 577 agri, forestry and fishing inspections in first four months of 2024
HSA: 577 agri, forestry and fishing inspections in first four months of 2024

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) conducted approximately 577 inspections across the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector in the first...

Mullinahone Co-op confirms new ‘strategic acquisition’
Mullinahone Co-op confirms new ‘strategic acquisition’

Mullinahone Co-operative has confirmed the acquisition of Co. Waterford based Abbey Rubber Mouldings Ltd. The terms of the deal were...

Modest increase in GDT price index after latest auction
Modest increase in GDT price index after latest auction

The average Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price index rose by 1.7% according to latest auction results published today (Tuesday, June...

ICMSA: Revenue guidance on VAT ‘does not go far enough’
ICMSA: Revenue guidance on VAT ‘does not go far enough’

A new guidance document published by Revenue today (Tuesday, June 4) which sets out the items that unregistered farmers can...

Revenue publishes new guidance on VAT refunds for farmers
Revenue publishes new guidance on VAT refunds for farmers

New guidance has been published by Revenue today (Tuesday, June 4) on the application of the VAT Refund Order for...

Lakeland Dairies sends empty milk cartons to 27 MEP candidates
Lakeland Dairies sends empty milk cartons to 27 MEP candidates

All 27 MEP candidates standing in the Midlands North West constituency could be waking up today (Tuesday, June 4) to...

Scientists: Pasteurisation ‘effectively inactivates’ bird flu viruses in milk
Scientists: Pasteurisation ‘effectively inactivates’ bird flu viruses in milk

New research published today (Monday, June 3) by UK and Scottish scientists has confirmed that pasteurisation should “effectively inactivate” H5N1...

Weather: Drying conditions set to deteriorate from Tuesday 
Weather: Drying conditions set to deteriorate from Tuesday 

Met Éireann is advising farmers that drying conditions will deteriorate from tomorrow (Tuesday, June 4) with a forecast of rain...

Factories accused of ‘trying to drag the price down’ on sheep trade
Factories accused of ‘trying to drag the price down’ on sheep trade

Factories have been urged to be “responsible in their pricing of lambs and hoggets” in order to not undermine the...

Warning that changes to derogation could ‘impact’ on beef sector output
Warning that changes to derogation could ‘impact’ on beef sector output

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has delivered a stark warning to an Oireachtas Joint Committee that any reduction in dairy cow...

What scheme payments have been made this week by DAFM?
What scheme payments have been made this week by DAFM?

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has outlined that the total paid this week to participants in...

Co. Kilkenny based dairy business with 470 cows sold for €1.45m
Co. Kilkenny based dairy business with 470 cows sold for €1.45m

The Newry headquartered Roebuck Food Group plc has confirmed that it has sold its dairy division based in Co. Kilkenny for...

Bord na Móna reports operating profit of €95.2m for year to March 2023
Bord na Móna reports operating profit of €95.2m for year to March 2023

Bord na Móna delivered an operating profit of €95.2 million for the financial year to March 2023 – up from...