24 August 2020

Teagasc/Glanbia Future Farm Programme

The Open Source Future Farm Programme will harness advancements in technology and farm practices to support farmers to make the necessary changes for a profitable and sustainable future.

A key objective of this programme is to help farmers implement changes to ensure that their environmental footprint is in line with the aims of the national Climate Action Plan.

There are 11 demonstration farms ranging in size from 120 to 320 cows. The programme is part of the EU-funded Smart Agri Hubs dairy project, with meters installed to monitor and improve water and energy usage. This tool will aid all farmers across the Glanbia Ireland supply base in using water and energy resources more efficiently.

A key priority in the programme will be to introduce digital technologies and practices particularly in the area of labour efficiency. It will provide strong insights for other farmers on streamlining their farming operation to deliver lean management practices, whilst also supporting the health and well-being of the farmer.

Strong emphasis will be placed on soil nutrient management, utilising high yields of quality grass, effective Nitrogen usage and the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of the herds to help boost productivity.

Read about the advancements on the 11 farms located in Laois, Waterford, Kildare, Cork, Kilkenny, Meath, Wexford, Wicklow and Tipperary here on the individual farmer pages. The farms vary in size and soil types across the Glanbia Ireland catchment area.