Kilkenny Mart Column - Have we seen the best of the summer?

As we approach the end of July we are wondering have we seen the best of the summer with rain being the main dampner over the past few weeks.

As we look at Europe at the moment countries like Greece, Italy, Spain and parts of France are suffering severely due to forest fires and drought and the people who have booked holidays to these parts now are wondering how are they going to coup with temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 degrees.

I know this is a farming column, but as I have said before agriculture is very much based on weather conditions and people who have tillage still to harvest may find that the heavy rain has caused a lot of damage.
We can only hope that next month we will experience a decent settled spell.

Works set to commence on new Aldi store in Kilkenny

Sheep
On the sheep front Monday’s sale attracted smaller numbers, which helped to steady the trade.
Butcher lambs ranged from €148 to €178 per head, factory types €127 to €145 per head with store lambs €80 to €111.
On Tuesday, August 8, we hold the Premier Belclare Ram & Ewe Sale, and on Monday, 21st August, we hold our annual Breeding Ewe Show and Sale with entries now being taken.

GALLERY TWO: KTC triathlon in Kilkenny (2023) - see pics!

Pictures by Mark Desmond

Cattle
Thursday’s cattle sale attracted similar numbers to the previous week, with 650 on offer.
Beef bullocks saw prices range from €1000 to €2490 eg 870 kg BB bullock, 500 to 600 kilo bullocks €1100 to €1850 400 to 500 kilo types €750 to €1470 and under 400 kilo from €400 to €1200 per head.

Cull cow numbers were small with a little over 50 on offer but prices were steady with friesians ranging from €1.10 to €2.25 per kilo with continentals €1.40 to €2.85 per kilo.
Heifers were in short supply with Beef and Forward store types raging from €950 to €1930 per head with lighter stores €500 to €1060 per head.

There were more beef type bullocks on offer and most sellers normally factory men were happy with the outcome.
As a farmer said to me, ‘it’s good we have the mart as an alternative to provide some competition.’

If you have not tried selling through the mart system before the process is easy. As long as the animals on offer are TB tested within the year and have two tags you are free to sell.
With animals entered before 3.30pm on the previous Wednesday. Payment can be a cheque or direct payment into your bank account. More details from 056 7721407.

Pictures: Family fun day turns Market Cross in Kilkenny into a Wonderland

Pictures by Harry Reid

Homecoming
I was in UPMC Nowlan Park on Monday evening to welcome back our hurlers who lost for the second year in a row to Limerick.
An excellent team, but perhaps with an advantage over other counties in that the funding they are receiving from their main sponsor is massive and all the players’ needs are met.

Anyway, hard luck Kilkenny but even though they hurled very well they were beaten by a better team on the day. Our last win in 2015 seems a long time ago and I’m sure we are fed up being called great losers. Ah well there is always next year.
Until next time do be careful on the farm, and good buying, good selling and good luck.