Farmers could soon be moving cattle from the hill to the yard using their smartphones via new technology.

A dozen Scottish hill farmers are using 100 suckler cows to trial virtual fencing that uses GPS collars, cloud computing and online software instead of physical fences.

The project has been set up by SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), with the support of Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) funding.

Dr Tony Waterhouse of SRUC told the Irish Farmers Journal: “You can programme the system to bring them from the hill to the yard over three days.”

A boundary is ‘drawn’ on the farmer’s smartphone and when the animal approaches that boundary, the GPS collar gives audio-warning stimuli, followed by a mild electric pulse if the animal continues.

Virtual fencing aims to save time and labour when grazing cows.

More money making to be had in west Cork

In west Cork, farmers needn’t worry about fertiliser, feed, or animal health supplies – at least for the moment. The Dealer heard that in west Cork, they actually even have hand sanitiser when nobody else has it. However, the problem is there are no containers to put it in.

Alcohol is one of the main ingredients of hand sanitiser and it is also a byproduct of the cheese making in Ballineen.

They are so lucky in west Cork – they can even make money on a product they didn’t set out to make at the start. More in the pot for milk price bonuses.

Bookings for Ploughing trade stands pushed back over coronavirus threat

I see bookings for trade stands for the National Ploughing Championships, which usually go live around St Patrick’s Day, have been pushed back by a week to 10 days as the coronavirus threat grows.

The NPA’s Anna Marie McHugh told The Dealer: “For the national event, bookings for trade stands usually go live now, but we’re giving it a week to 10 days.

“What we have said is that should the situation not level out [by September], any monies paid to the NPA would be fully refunded.

“Everything could be different. This is similar to Foot and Mouth disease, it was now it happened and it was still so volatile in September.”

Last week, the NPA sent a directive to its members that all club and county ploughing matches were to be postponed indefinitely.

Former ICSA president seeking Seanad seat

The Dealer was interested to learn that former ICSA president Patrick Kent is seeking a seat in the Seanad on the agriculture panel.

While some might recall Kent from his infamous “red cans” comment on Claire Byrne Live, this is not Kent’s first foray into mainstream politics, having previously been on the replacement list for Mick Wallace’s ultimately successful MEP bid.

He was nominated by newly elected Wexford TD Verona Murphy and a team of other Independents.

While the Taoiseach and TDs can make nominations, so too can certain organisations.

It was interesting to note the coupling of certain organisations with certain candidates.

The Dairy Executives’ Association seems to be flying Fianna Fáil colours, nominating former Fianna Fáil TD Kevin O’Keeffe and Fianna Fáil Monaghan councillor Seamus Coyle.

Former TD and chair of the agriculture Oireachtas Committee, Pat Deering, was nominated by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association.

The ASA nominated farmer Paul Daly and former UFU president and farmer Ian Marshall.

ICOS nominated two candidates, Cavan Fianna Fáil councillor Shane P. O’Reilly and Mayo Fine Gael senator Paddy Burke.

The Irish Grain and Feed Association nominated former labour TD and self-styled “whiskey distiller” Dominic Hannigan.

For those who think the Seanad is an easy ticket, they should know that the High Court ruled that Cork Sinn Féin councillor Paul Hayes was “unqualified” to sit on the agriculture panel due to a lack of experience.

Fake news in sheep’s clothing

The Dealer was delighted to see a farmer on a certain infamous WhatsApp group call out the person in charge of that group for sharing fake news regarding the coronavirus.

There is no doubt that the times we are living in are scary, but some people delight in dressing fake news up as a seemingly truthful text and standing back while others panic.

We all know what reputable news sources are – let’s stick to them.