Keeping Up The Good Work

Signpost Demonstration Farm Programme

The Teagasc Signpost Programme, Farmers for Climate Action, involves a national network of demonstration farms and provides the majority of Irish farmers with relevant, real world farms which are sustainably achieving GHG emission reductions.

Demonstration farmers have been identified for all of the main farming enterprises, including dairy, suckler beef, dairy calf to beef, sheep, tillage, pigs and poultry.

The network of 120 demonstration farmers will play two critical roles:

They will be amongst the first to adopt climate mitigation and adaptation technologies, supported by their Teagasc Advisors
They will be central to farmer-to-farmer learning, sharing their experiences with other farmers through farm walks, events, articles, videos, media etc.

In addition, their success in reducing GHG emissions can help to build trust from the wider public in relation to the pathway towards the 2030 targets that the agriculture sector is on.

The Signpost Programme is currently supported by over sixty partner and supporting organisations, and provides a national anchor point for networking and training for the many actors across the Irish Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS).

The Signpost Programme can act as a bridge between our knowledge creators, (researchers) and the knowledge users, (advisors, teachers, and farmers). Engagement with the Signpost Farmers can provide opportunities for the Signpost Team to translate research into practice, and bridge the gap between research and application.

A Rumen Simulation System (RUSITEC) is used in a laboratory to assess the methane reducing potential of feed additives such as oils, plant extracts, seaweeds, seaweed extracts and halides.

A key focus will be on ensuring the provision of consistent information and advice to farmers. This is extremely important in ensuring early adoption of new climate friendly technologies such as new fertilisers and feed additives.