Rare Breed: A Farming Year

The documentary series charting the lives of farming families over the course of a year returns to trace developments in the industry throughout 2015. Beginning in January, Co Down farmer Garth Taylor applies pedometers to his herd of cows, and wonders whether he should continue producing milk despite disappointing trade prices.

It is February 2015 and Toomebridge farmer James Alexander reacts to a suspect TB result among his herd of cattle. Meanwhile, with lambing season in full swing, Alison and Wade McCrabbe tend to their second batch of newborns on their farm in Raphoe, Co Donegal.

A look back at March 2015 with Frank Donnelly, whose family have grown mushrooms near Moy in Co Tyrone for almost 50 years. Cameras follow him as he examines the compost ahead of the new production cycle.

Cameras follow Co Antrim farmer Ricky Cowan and his son Matthew as they continue their work during lambing time in April 2015. While Matthew may only be 13 years old, he has extensive experience of lambing and helps his father with the remaining 200 ewes on the farm near Larne.

During the month of May, Co Antrim farmer James Alexander enters his heifers into a leading agricultural show, while Co Tyrone farmer Frank Donnelly manipulates his mushroom crop to encourage maximum growth.

It is June of 2015 and Larne farmer Ricky Cowan teaches his 13-year-old son Matthew how to shear as they tackle their flock of sheep.

It is July of 2015 and Co Down farmer Gareth Taylor has made necessary changes to his production systems to counteract low milk prices.

August 2015 is a busy month for Raphoe farmer Alison McCrabbe as she attends the annual Beltex Show and Sale in Carlisle. In preparation for the big event she is busy washing, clipping and tanning the specially chosen sheep.

We join our farmers in the month of September, where they are feeling the pressure to bring in the harvest. Near Rush in Dublin, Matt Foley is preparing his tomatoes for the end of their harvest while near Athy in Kildare, tillage farmer Andrew Bergin is busy combining his malting barley and peas. In Corrandulla in Galway, vegetable farmer Kenneth Keavey is battling the weather to harvest potatoes.

It is October 2015 and Co Antrim farmer Ricky Cowan and his son Matthew introduce two rams to a batch of ewes, while James and Ruth Alexander in Toomebridge are busy as they buy and sell cattle.

It is November 2015 and Co Down dairy farmer Gareth Taylor is attempting to cut costs by holding his cattle herd in the fields for as long as possible. Elsewhere on the farm, the team is busy producing ice-cream for the Christmas market, which is the busiest time of the year for sales.

It is December and the farmers manage the wintry weather. Meanwhile, Moy farmer Frank Donnelly is busy meeting the high demand for his mushroom crop. Last in the series.