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Climate Adaptation Conference

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

15 October 2024
Climate Adaptation Conference Proceedings

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

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

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

  1. Grassland nutrition - plantain and clover impacts – Michael Dineen and Mr. Eoin Wims, Teagasc
  2. Plantain/clover plot and grazing investigations – Tomas Tubritt and Ms. Ciara Carroll, Teagasc
  3. Long term grass clover results – Dr. Áine Murray, Teagasc 
  4. Red clover evaluation trials – Ms. Sinead Kearney and Dr. Peter Doyle, Teagasc 
  5. Initiatives on climate adaptation on Moorepark Farm – Jonathan Herron, Teagasc