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Signpost Climate Actions

Programme Plan | Programme Design | Climate Actions Farm Sustainability Plan |  Linking with Partners

Teagasc will work with the Signpost Farmers to reduce their environmental footprint, while also improving both the profitability and sustainability of their farming businesses.

The solution for each farm will be somewhat different and will be tailored to suit the individual farmer and farm. The dairy Signpost Farmers will be striving to achieve the type of targets listed in Table 1. The beef and sheep Signpost Farmers will aim to achieve the targets listed in Table 2. Teagasc Advisers will work with and support the Signpost Farmers as they change how they farm.

A Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) will be created with each Signpost farmer – identifying areas for improvement and action. All farmers will receive a Farm Sustainability report at the end of each year.This report will benchmark their progress, against their starting point, other Signpost farmers and the targets set for the farm. The data collection and analysis methodology of the National Farm Survey will be used for recording, analysing and reporting on both individual and overall performance.

Table 1: Indicative Key Indicators of Success (KIS) for Dairy Signpost Farms

Area1Target
GHG Emissions
  • GHG emissions per kg milk solids produced
Pasture productivity & stocking rate
  • Identify and reseed unproductive swards – target an increase of 2 tDM/ha utilised over 5 years
  • Stock the farm appropriately: < 250 kg org. N/ Ha (whole farm) 
Reduced fertiliser use
  • Reduce chemical N fertiliser usage by 10% over 5 years
  • Increase sward clover content to 20% over 5 years
  • Spread at least 50% of chemical N as protected urea and all slurry using LESS
Optimum soil fertility
  • 90% of soils to have optimum soil fertility status
  • Adhere to NMP to correct soil deficiencies
Adequate slurry storage
  • 16, 20, 22 weeks slurry storage to be available for all livestock, depending on location.
  • No spreading during closed period
Replacement rate
  • Target 18-20% for stable herd
  • Target 5 lactations herd average lactation number
  • Increase EBI by €10 per year
Concentrate CP %
  • Reduce concentrate CP% to 14% (main grazing season)
Biodiversity
  • Target 10% of high value biodiverse area per farm
  • Increase quantity and quality of biodiversity on the farm
Costs & returns
  • Reduce costs/save money
  • Target net profit > €800 per cow or > €2,000 per ha

Table 2: Indicative Key Indicators of Success (KIS) for Beef & Sheep Signpost Farms 

AreaTarget
GHG Emissions
  • Contribute to the national reduction of GHG emissions from farming
  • Reduce GHG emissions per kg carcase weight produced
Pasture productivity & stocking rate
  • Identify and reseed unproductive swards – target an increase of 2 tDM/ha utilised over 5 years
  • Stock the farm appropriately: < 250 kg org. N/ Ha (whole farm) 
Reduced fertiliser use
  • Reduce chemical N fertiliser usage by 10% over 5 years
  • Increase sward clover content to 20% over 5 years
  • Spread at least 50% of chemical N as protected urea and all slurry using LESS
Optimum soil fertility
  • 90% of soils to have optimum soil fertility status
  • Adhere to NMP to correct soil deficiencies
Adequate slurry storage
  • 16, 20, 22 weeks slurry storage to be available for all livestock, depending on location.
  • No spreading during closed period
Replacement rate
  • Target 18-20% for stable herd
  • Target 5 lactations herd average lactation number
  • Increase EBI by €10 per year
Concentrate CP %
  • Reduce concentrate CP% to 14% (main grazing season)
Biodiversity
  • Target 10% of high value biodiverse area per farm
  • Increase quantity and quality of biodiversity on the farm
Costs & returns
  • Reduce costs/save money
  • Target net profit > €200 per LU or > €500 per ha

Engaging all farmers

The Signpost Advisory campaign is the second element of the Signpost programme.

The Signpost Advisory Campaign will mobilize advisers - Teagasc, private and industry - and teachers to engage with both farmers and students in climate action.

A hybrid or blended approach to training, using both traditional and digital approaches willbe used. Traditional “tried and tested” development approaches of short training courses, events, discussions groups, one-to-one consultations and media willbe used. A training programme, initially for advisers, consultants and other rural professionals and then for all farmers, will form a key part of Signpost Advisory. This training course will enable farmers to identify appropriate climate actions for their farms; farmers can then work with a trained adviser to develop a FSP for their own farm.

Teagasc will investigate a digital learning approach to raising awareness of and bringing about climate action. We will explore with our Signpost partners how best to roll out training to their suppliers, and are willing to consider adjusting our approach depending on partner requirements. We would like to explore with partners how suppliers could be motivated to engage with digital learning.

We will build on our existing knowledge resources to develop a dedicated website - a “one-stop shop” for climate action. A rich and varied digital learning resource, potentially including podcasts, videos, micro-learning resources and online self-assessment tools willbe created. Learning materials will be developed using a co-design approach.

communications database will be extablished targeted communications issued on a regular basis. We will  leverage both Teagasc and partner networks/ communications channels to extend climate action messages.

Finally, Teagasc and Bord  Bia  have an agreement in place on developing a communications strategy from the Signpost Programme to support the reduction of agricultural emissions.