- As mentioned earlier, environmental farming often involves farming alternatives. www.coillte.ie gives details of forestry investment and rates of payment.
- www.irishforests.com provides a useful start for those considering forestry as an alternative source of income.
- www.bim.ie The website of Bord Iascaigh Mhara and www.marine.ie both give an overview of the present stage of commercial fish farming in Ireland.
- www.sustainable.ie Sustainable Ireland gives a brief overview of current developments in organic farming.
- www.planorganic.com A site that provides farming news from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe.
- www.bordbia.ie The official website of Bord Bia which also incorporates the website of Bord Glas, giving details on all aspects of horticultural production from a producer and consumer perspective.
So far we have concentrated on looking at how the Internet can be used in helping farmers in two specific areas, financial planning and assistance and environmental issues. There is also a wealth of general farming information available for the Irish farmer, including:
- www.farmersjournal.ie This features the current online edition of the Farmers’ Journal. In addition, a very useful feature of this site is the ability to search through back issues as far as 1998.
We are now taken to this screen where we can see copies over the past six years.
- www.ftmta.ie The website of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association of Ireland. This is a very useful website for any farmer wishing to buy used farm machinery as it gives details of what is available and from what trader.
- www.icbf.com This is the site of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, an organisation with the aim of improving the Irish national cattle herd genetically. Its links section also provides links to other cattle breeding societies in Ireland and abroad.
- www.macra.ie is the official website of Macra na Feirme. This site offers its own search facility as well as information useful for young farmers.
- www.ruralni.gov.uk A site aimed at the farmer in Northern Ireland but containing much useful advice for farmers and growers everywhere.