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.

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...

Who got the top 10 direct  payments under CAP in 2023?
Who got the top 10 direct payments under CAP in 2023?

Latest figures released by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show that a Tipperary based business, Artemis...

Watch: Ryan hopeful Nature Restoration Law will ‘get over the line’
Watch: Ryan hopeful Nature Restoration Law will ‘get over the line’

The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, is hopeful that the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) will get “over...

Bord Bia quality assurance schemes must include focus on ‘water quality’ – DII
Bord Bia quality assurance schemes must include focus on ‘water quality’ – DII

Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) wants the government to back a 10-point action plan which it believes could “secure” the European...

Moorepark Technology Ltd reports operating loss of €170,338 for 2023
Moorepark Technology Ltd reports operating loss of €170,338 for 2023

Moorepark Technology Ltd (MTL) the joint venture company established by Teagasc with shareholders from the Irish dairy industry, has reported...

US report: EU milk production forecast to ‘fall slightly’ in 2024
US report: EU milk production forecast to ‘fall slightly’ in 2024

A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlights that EU milk production is forecast to fall...