Climate Adaptation Conference

15 October 2024
8.30am
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 P302

What are the adaptations to be made to address the climate challenges in grassland?

Conference objective

Irish grassland systems are experiencing some clear climatic challenges. The incidence of high level precipitation events, soil moisture deficits and prolonged winter conditions are becoming increasingly frequent resulting in challenging conditions for Irish farmers.

The objective of this conference is to identify the significant risks and opportunities for Irish grassland systems and to highlight the knowledge gaps that may exist which require an additional research focus. Key areas such as:

grass/clover breeding
grassland modelling
weather and grass production trends
latest research findings

will form part of the conference. The conference is very much focussed to addressing the key climate adaptations that Irish grassland needs to address in the years ahead.

Conference sponsored by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Click here to register for the event!

Registration fee - €100

Closing date for registrations - Friday 11th October, 5pm

Agenda

Time	Item
8.30am	Registration - Tea/Coffee
8.45am	Conference Opening
Session 1	Impacts of changing weather patterns - Chair Michael Doran, ICBF Chairman
9.00am	Setting the scene - Dr. Joe Patton
9.15am	How weather patterns are changing, what are we adapting to? - Dr. Padraig Flattery, Met Eireann
9.45am	Feed costs - future scenario analysis - Dr. Peter Doyle and Dr. Tomas Tubritt, Teagasc
10.05am	A decade of PastureBase Ireland - what do we know about grass growth on farms - Prof. Michael O’Donovan and Dr. Ciaran Hearn, Teagasc
Session 2	Climate adaptation challenges - Chair Brian Murphy, DAFM
10.35am	The Grazing Cow — A Carbon Paradox - – Dr. Luc Delaby INRAE
11.00am	Grass growth to 2040: the challenges ahead - Dr. Elodie Ruelle, Teagasc
11.25am	Break
Session 3	New species and the challenges - Chair Fiona O’Donnell, Dairy Women Ireland/Dairy Farmer
11.50am	Breeding for climate adaptation – Dr. Alan Stewart PGG Wrightson Seeds, New Zealand
12.20pm	Plantain and multi species swards - their role in adaptation – Dr. Ellen Fitzpatrick, Dr. Philip Creighton, Dr. Brendan Horan and Mr. Kevin Dolan, Teagasc
12.50pm	Grass/clover swards - adapting to the climate challenge – Dr. Michael Egan, Dr. Caitlin Looney, Teagasc and Mr. Mark Bateman - Dairy farmer
1.10pm	Discussion
1.30pm	Summary/key messages/new research areas – Dr. Deirdre Hennessy, UCC
1.45pm	Lunch
2.30pm	Visit Moorepark grassland studies Grassland nutrition - plantain and clover impacts – Michael Dineen and Mr. Eoin Wims, Teagasc Plantain/clover plot and grazing investigations – Tomas Tubritt and Ms. Ciara Carroll, Teagasc Long term grass clover results – Dr. Áine Murray, Teagasc Red clover evaluation trials – Ms. Sinead Kearney and Dr. Peter Doyle, Teagasc Initiatives on climate adaptation on Moorepark Farm – Jonathan Herron, Teagasc

Download Climate adaptation conference flyer (pdf)