The Signpost Series Webinars

Sustainable Agriculture Webinars

The Signpost Series - ‘Pointing the way to a low emissions agriculture’

Download and listen to The Signpost Series as a podcast below

Upcoming Webinars

Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond - 13 May 2022

Ted Massey & Leanne Roache, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) will join the webinar to discuss Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond.

Actions for pollinators and biodiversity on the farm - 20 May 2022

Ruth Wilson, National Biodiversity Data Centre will join the webinar to discuss actions for pollinators and biodiversity on the farm.

Previous Webinars

The added value of using high merit beef sires on the dairy herd - 6 May 2022

Dr Nicky Byrne joined the webinar to discuss the added value of using high merit beef sires on the dairy herd.

The role of genetics in helping address GHG challenges in agriculture - 29 April 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Andrew Cromie, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) to discuss the role of genetics in helping address GHG challenges in agriculture. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Tom O'Dwyer, Head of Signpost Programme, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Role of Breeding in Addressing GHG Mitigation Opportunities (PDF)
  Andrew Cromie, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF)

Watch webinar recording below

Providing our partners with affordable sustainable food - 22 April 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Emer Fardy & Sean Leahy, Hilton Foods to discuss providing our partners with affordable sustainable food. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Providing our partners with affordable sustainable food (PDF)
  Hilton Foods Ireland Technical and Sustainability Manager, Sean Leahy and Group CSR Senior Manager, Emer Fardy

Watch webinar recording below

Danone's Sustainability Journey - 14 April 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Andy Boland, Teagasc Environment Specialist was joined by Elaine Crosse and Mark Stafford, Danone to give an overview of Danone's Sustainability Journey. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar, which was facilitated by Noel Meehan, ASSAP Programme Manager, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Danone’s Sustainability Journey (PDF)
  Elaine Crosse and Mark Stafford, Danone

Watch webinar recording below

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cattle & Pig Manure - 8 April 2022

On this episode of the Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr. Stephen Nolan, PIGergy Project and Mr. Shaun Connolly, GEBTech Project to discuss Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cattle & Pig Manure. A a questions and answers session took place at the end of the presentation, which was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Reducing the carbon footprint of cattle and pig manure (PDF)
  Dr. Stephen Nolan, PIGergy Project and Mr. Shaun Connolly, GEBTech Project

Watch webinar recording below

Understanding and supporting social sustainability of farmers & Preventing Injury and Ill Health in Agriculture - 1 April 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by David Meredith, Research Officer, Teagasc & Francis Bligh, Health and Safety Specialist, Teagasc to discuss Understanding and supporting social sustainability of farmers & Preventing Injury and Ill Health in Agriculture. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, Teagasc.

View presentations below

• Understanding and supporting social sustainability of farmers (PDF)
  David Meredith, Research Officer, Teagasc
• Preventing Injury and Ill Health in Agriculture (PDF)
  Francis Bligh, Health and Safety Specialist, Teagasc

Watch webinar recording below

100^th Webinar Episode - 25 March, 2022

On this episode of the Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Professor Gary Lanigan, Teagasc to discuss Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and the Role of Sequestration and Rewetting. The presentation was followed by a questions and answers session, which was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Carbon sequestration and water table impacts on peat soils (PDF)
  Professor Gary Lanigan, Teagasc 

Watch webinar recording below

An overview of the Micro-generation Support Scheme - 16 March, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Rory Somers, Policy Lead on Micro-generation and Assistant Principal, Retail Energy Policy & Regulation Division at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) to give an overview of the Micro-generation Support Scheme. Rory was also joined by Leo Haverty, DECC. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the presentation which was facilitated by Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Micro-generation Support Scheme (PDF)
  Rory Somers, Policy Lead on Micro-generation and Assistant Principal, Retail Energy Policy & Regulation Division at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC)

Watch webinar recording below

Meeting our Sustainability targets in agriculture: The Agri biomethane opportunity
- 11 March, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by David Hagan, Devenish & Russell Smyth, KPMG to discuss meeting our sustainability targets in agriculture: The Agri biomethane opportunity. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the presentation which was facilitated by Padraig Foley, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Meeting our Sustainability targets in agriculture - The Agri biomethane opportunity (PDF)
  David Hagan, Devenish & Russell Smyth, KPMG

Watch webinar recording below

Fertiliser Programmes to save money and emissions on Dairy and Drystock farms - 4 March, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr Seamus Kearney, Signpost Programme, Teagasc to give an overview of fertiliser programmes to save money and emissions on Dairy and Drystock farms. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the presentation which was facilitated by Padraig Foley, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Fertiliser Programmes to save money and emissions on Dairy and Drystock farms (PDF)
  Dr Seamus Kearney, Training and Development Specialist, Signpost Programme, Teagasc

Watch webinar recording below

On-farm actions to improve water quality in the Mulkear Catchment - 25 February, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Carol Quish, Project Manager, Mulkear EIP to discuss on-farm actions to improve water quality in the Mulkear Catchment. A questions and answers session took place at the end of the presentation which was facilitated by Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• On-farm actions to improve water quality in the Mulkear Catchment (PDF)
  Carol Quish, Project Manager, Mulkear EIP

Watch webinar recording below

Nutrient tips to save money and reduce emissions on your farm - 18 February, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr Patrick Forrestal, Teagasc Researcher to give some nutrient tips which will save money and reduce emissions on your farm. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Nutrient tips to save money and reduce emissions on your farm (PDF)
  Patrick Forrestal and team, Teagasc

Watch webinar recording below

Ammonia emissions, impacts & solutions - 11 February, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Dr Dominika Krol, Teagasc & Dr David Kelleghan, UCD to discuss ammonia emissions, impacts & solutions. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Padraig Foley, Teagasc.

View presentations below

• Ammonia emissions impacts and solutions (PDF)
  Dr David Kelleghan, University College Dublin (UCD)
• Ammonia emissions impacts and solutions (PDF)
  Dr Dominika Krol, Teagasc

Watch webinar recording below

Carbon footprint of dairy farms along the Atlantic coast of Europe - 4 February, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Marion Sorley, Teagasc to discuss the carbon footprint of dairy farms along the Atlantic coast of Europe. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc.

View presentation below

• Carbon footprints of dairy farms along the Atlantic Coast of Ireland (PDF)
  Marion Sorley, Teagasc

Watch webinar recording below

Valuing Natural Capital for the future - 28 January, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Professor Jane Stout, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin to discuss Valuing Natural Capital for the future. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist.

View presentation below

• Valuing Natural Capital for the Future (PDF)
  Professor Jane Stout, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

Watch webinar recording below

Managing Red Clover on Dairy Farms - January 21, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr James Humphreys, Teagasc Solohead Farm to discuss Managing Red Clover on Dairy Farms. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc. 

View presentation below

• Managing red clover on dairy farms (PDF)

Watch webinar recording below 

Future Upland Management - Lessons from SUAS - January 14, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Declan Byrne, SUAS Project Manager to discuss Future Upland Management - Lessons from SUAS. A questions and answers session was facilitated by Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist.

View presentation below

• Sustainable Uplands Agri-Environment Scheme (SUAS) (PDF) 
  Declan Byrne, SUAS Project Manager

Watch webinar recording below

Ecosystem services on CAFRE's Upland Farm - January 7, 2022

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Byran Irvine, CAFRE, Greenmount College to discuss ecosystems services on CAFRE's Upland Farm. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist also joined the webinar to facilitate a questions and answers session.

View presentation below

• Ecosystems Services at CAFRE Hill Farm, Glenwherry (PDF)
  Byran Irvine, CAFRE, Greenmount College

Watch webinar recording below

Perspectives of Farm Sustainability - December 17, 2021

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director to discuss the perspectives of farm sustainability. Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc also joined the webinar to facilitate a questions and answers session with Professor Frank O'Mara.

Watch webinar recording below

The value of native provenance trees and hedging stock - December 10, 2021

On this episode of The Signpost Series, for the final webinar of Hedgerow Week, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc and Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist were joined by Joe Gowran, CEO, Woodlands of Ireland and Maria Cullen, Chair of the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists (SIPP) to discuss the value of native provenance trees and hedging stock and how to reduce health risks to them.

View presentations below

• The value of native provenance trees and hedging stock and how to reduce health risks to them (PDF)
  Joe Gowran, CEO, Woodlands of Ireland
• The value of native provenance trees & hedging stock and how to reduce health risks to them (PDF)
  Maria Cullen, Chair of the Society of Irish Plant Pathologists (SIPP)

Watch webinar recording below

Planting Hedges - December 3, 2021

On this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director to officially launch Hedgerow Week 2021. Catherine Keena, Countryside Management Specialist Teagasc also discussed planting hedges.

View Catherine's presentation here: Planting hedges (PDF)

Watch webinar recording below

November 2021

October 2021

September 2021

August 2021

July 2021

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

March 2021

February 2021

January 2021

December 2020

November 2020

Friday, 3 April	Greenhouse Gases - Why all the fuss?  • Questions and Answers	Speaker Philip O'Brien, EPA
Thursday, 9 April	Reducing GHG Emissions in Irish Agriculture • Understanding the commitment • Questions and Answers	Speaker John Muldowney, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Friday, 17 April	Options to Reduce GHGs (The GHG MACCs) • Current and Predicted Emissions Levels • GHG emissions reductions that can be delivered at farm level • Questions and Answers	Speaker  Gary Lanigan, Teagasc
Friday, 24 April	Feeding Management for Productive Ruminants • How feed protein impacts GHGs? • Appropriate levels of protein at different times • Questions and Answers	Speaker Joe Patton, Teagasc
Friday, 1 May	Land Management – Drainage/Water Table Control  • The role of land management in drainage and water table control and GHG mitigations • Questions and Answers	Speaker Patrick Tuohy, Teagasc
Friday, 8 May	Maintaining the Derogation – The changes we need to see for a credible case   • Questions and Answers	Speaker Jack Nolan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Friday, 15 May	Reducing Slurry Emissions • Key Advisory Messages for farmers using low emissions slurry • LESS • Timing • Where to use • Nutrient Value and factoring it in and reducing Chemical Application  • Derogation Changes and TAMS  • Questions and Answers	Speakers David Wall, Mark Plunkett & Tim Hyde, Teagasc
Friday, 22 May	Use of Protected Urea • Scientific Update • Questions and Answers	Speakers Patrick Forrestal & David Wall, Teagasc
Friday, 29 May	Low Carbon Dairy Farming • Questions and Answers	Speaker  James Humphreys, Teagasc
Friday, 5 June	Water quality in Ireland - current status and Irelands 3rd River Basin Management Plan • Questions and Answers	Speaker Jenny Deakin, EPA
Friday, 12 June	Nitrogen – Interactions with soil and water • Understanding nitrogen and soil interactions • Questions and Answers	Speaker Karl Richards, Teagasc
Friday, 19 June	Phosphorus - Interactions with soil and water • Understanding phosphorus and soil interactions and finding the P pinch points on farms • Questions and Answers	Speaker Karen Daly, Teagasc
Friday, 26 June	Protecting Nitrogen and Phosphorus inputs on farms • Optimising N use and farming practices to minimise losses to water • Optimising P use and farming practices to minimise losses to water • Questions and Answers	Speaker David Wall & Mark Plunkett, Teagasc
Friday, 3 July	Forestry • GHG Emissions and the Role of Forestry • Questions and Answers	Speaker:  Tom Houlihan, Teagasc
Friday, 10 July	The Water Cycle - where does all the water go? Sediment impact on water quality • Identification of hydrological sensitive areas and mitigation actions • Understanding sediment losses water quality impacts • Questions and Answers	Speakers:  Owen Fenton and Daire OHuallachain, Teagasc
Friday, 17 July	Water Quality- LAWPRO • Protecting natural waters through catchment management • Questions and Answers	Speaker:  Ruth Hennessy, LAWPRO
Friday, 24 July	Water Quality – ASSAP – Farming for Water Quality • Policy Drivers and whole industry collaboration - Joe Crockett - DSI • Farmer advisor engagement and farm specific plans - Noel Meehan, Teagasc • Questions and Answers	Speakers:  Joe Crockett, Dairy Sustainability Ireland (DSI) and Noel Meehan ASSAP Manager, Teagasc
Friday, 31 July	Met Eireann • Ireland’s Changing Climate • Questions and Answers	Speaker:  Keith Lambkin, Senior Climatologist, Met Éireann
Friday, 7 August	Climate Adoption Policy • Adapting to the Impacts of Climate change in the Agriculture Sector – DAFM • Grass growth variability – How can we improve? - Teagasc • Questions and Answers	Speakers:  Maria Talbot, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) and  Michael O Donovan, Teagasc
Friday, 14 August	Carbon Sequestration in Grassland • Questions and Answers	Speaker Donal O Brien, Teagasc
Friday, 21 August	Woodlands for Water • Questions and Answers	Speaker Kevin Collins, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Friday, 28 August	Energy • Energy Efficiency and Generation • The role of energy efficient and renewable technologies in decarbonising agriculture • Questions and Answers	Speakers John Upton and Barry Caslin, Teagasc
Friday, 4 September	Biodiversity o Nature of Irish Hedgerows o Questions and Answers	Speaker Catherine Keena, Teagasc
Friday, 11 September	Biodiversity o Supporting Pollinators through Agri Environmental Interventions o Questions and Answers	Speaker Lorna Cole, SRUC, Scotland
Friday, 18 September	Biodiversity o Biodiversity on farmland: current status, policy impacts, farm-scale responses o Questions and Answers	Speakers John Finn and Daire OHuallachain, Teagasc
Friday, 25 September	Biodiversity o Natural Capital on Irish Farmland o Questions and Answers	Speaker  Jane Stout, Trinity College Dublin
Friday, 2 October	Semi-natural grasslands in Ireland - precious resources under threat • Questions and Answers	Speaker Maria Long, Grassland Ecologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Friday, 9 October	What impacts the quality of water in Agricultural Catchments Programme [ACP]?    Findings from 11 years of high resolution monitoring in the ACP • Questions and Answers	Speaker  Per-Erik Mellander, Chief Scientist, Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc
Friday, 16 October	11 years of Hi-resolution water monitoring.   An overview of the equipment and methods undertaken by the ACP in six agricultural catchments • Questions and Answers	Speaker   David Ryan, Technologist, Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc
Friday, 23 October	The Agricultural Catchments Programme assessment of the Nitrates Derogation	Speaker Edward Burgess, Agricultural Catchments Programme, Teagasc
Friday, 30 October	Animal breeding as a cumulative and permanent strategy to environmental stewardship • Questions and Answers	Speaker Donagh Berry, Centre Director, VistaMilk, Teagasc