ILLEGAL DUMPING
Illegal dumping, including fly tipping, is an increasing problem that we are seeing the length and breadth of the country. Some people illegally dump their own household waste, while others with a van or trailer collect other people’s rubbish and dump it somewhere secretly, rather than disposing of it correctly.
If a person is caught illegally dumping they will be immediately issued with a €150 fine. However, with people waking up to find more rubbish dumped in their communities every week, then you have to ask how effective this is.
Cork tillage farmer, Billy Cotter, has been personally hit by illegal dumping with people dumping bags on his farm. Close by, at the gateway of his late Uncle’s farm, there is more rubbish thrown by the roadside.
Helen Carroll is with Billy in Castletownroche to see the affected areas herself.
COW BOOK
Sheep and suckler farmer John Connell, 31, spends his days looking after his herd of 40 sheep and 40 cows in Co.Longford with his parents. However, farming is not the only passion John has in life. Since childhood, he has had a love of writing stemming from winning a writing competition aged 12. While living in New Zealand when he was 22, John penned a short story based on a true event of losing a calf. From this, his writing career blossomed.
With his agent urging him to write about what he knew John started ‘The Cow Book’ which is due for release this year. Listed as one of the “books to look out for in 2018” by The Irish Times, writing about what he knows and loves is already paying off. John believes it is important to be transparent in his writing and truthfully lays out the ins and outs of farming in Ireland while also talking candidly about his battle with depression.
Ella McSweeney visits John and his family on their farm in Ballinalee to meet the man behind the book.
JOHNE’S DISEASE
Johne’s Disease is not something that any cattle farmer wants to hear whispered around their farm. It is a highly contagious bacterial infection that has a very late detection period and leads to emaciation and death. Understandably this is a threat that no farmer wants to have affect his herd, but what are the more widespread dangers, to the agricultural sector and more?
Most obviously there is a worry that it will have an impact on our export trade should the infection be present, but there is another danger that is linked with this disease that could hit consumers on a far more personal level. There are ongoing studies to see if there is a possible link between Johne’s Disease in cattle and Crohn’s Disease in humans. Could this be a time bomb for the future?
Darragh McCullough travels to Cork University Hospital to speak to Dr.Fergus Shanahan to discuss these links.
Ear to the Ground broadcasts on RTÉ One, Thursdays at 8.30pm. Repeat lunchtime Sunday. Produced by indiepics for RTÉ.