Over the course of this week, I'm introducing you to the seven speakers joining us for Future of Farming: Clarity & Direction on Wednesday, 4 November.
Yesterday, we met Dr Nicholas Ryan of Golden Vale Research.
Today, we're looking at an entirely different side of the future of Irish agriculture: technology that's changing how we manage our land and livestock.
Meet John Maher, Irish Sales Executive with Nofence.
John grew up on a suckler-beef farm in County Laois, which his family converted to dairy farming in 2023. He joined Nofence in spring 2026, bringing with him an understanding of the everyday challenges facing Irish farmers.
And the technology he's working with is fascinating.
Imagine being able to divide a field, move a grazing boundary or manage cattle on awkward ground without having to put up another electric fence.
That's what Nofence is making possible.
Using GPS collars and an app on your phone, farmers can create virtual grazing boundaries for their livestock, monitor their locations and change grazing areas remotely.
But for me, the interesting part isn't just the technology itself.
It's what that technology could mean for farmers.
Could it make previously difficult ground more productive?
Could it reduce the hours spent moving fences, checking livestock and managing grazing?
Could it make extensive farming, conservation grazing and the management of fragmented holdings more practical?
And, importantly, does the financial investment actually make sense for the average Irish farm?
These are the sorts of questions we need to be asking when we talk about the future of agriculture.
John brings both practical farming experience and knowledge of emerging technology to this discussion.
On Wednesday, 4 November, he'll join six other speakers at Future of Farming: Clarity & Direction, where the audience will help shape the conversation.
This isn't a Nofence sales presentation. It's an opportunity to explore the bigger picture of where Irish farming is going, what's changing and what those changes could mean for the next generation.
Wednesday, 4 November | 5:45–7:00 pm | Online
We'd love to have you involved.
Learn more about Nofence: https://www.nofence.com/