Beef

Increasing your Profits from Beef Farming
There is a big variation in the performance of beef farms across the industry. Financial accounts for year-end have consistently highlighted the gap in performance between the top 1/3 of beef farms versus the average and bottom third as Eddie Webb, Teagasc Tuam advisor points out
09 January 2022

The Signpost Series Webinar - Perspectives of Farm Sustainability
On this episode of The Signpost Series on Friday, 17 December, 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 perspectives of farm sustainability
08 January 2022

Teagasc Green Acres Newsletter Issue 9
The Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme e-Newsletter, this January, focuses on preparing for the arrival of calves on farm with a farmer update from Jarlath Ruane, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. It includes key management tips, advice on calf rearing, vaccination of dairy-beef calves and calf housing
07 January 2022

Monaghan farmers lead the way on organics
Beef and tillage organic enterprises are thriving in the county. Elaine Leavy, Organic Specialist and Drystock Advisors Jane McConnon & Shane Filan meet two farmers, one in beef the other in tillage, who tell their organic story from initial conversion through to a new and thriving business.
07 January 2022

Its time to get filling your profit monitor input sheet for 2021
Farm Management Specialist Kevin Connolly advises on completing your 2021 Profit Monitor.The operation of a successful farm business is often likened to a three-legged stool. The business is the seat, held up by three legs. Each leg is critical to ensure the business is viable & sustainable ...
06 January 2022

Preparation and Planning – Calving Checklist
For spring calving suckler herds the start of a new year should prompt us to think about preparing for the 2022 calf crop. A little bit of preparation and planning at this stage could leave things running a lot smoother when calving begins. Beef Specialist Aidan Murray gives some guidance
05 January 2022

Farmer Ronan Delany on his mixed farming system and his plans for the year ahead
Kicking off the first episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2022, Ronan Delany from Co. Meath gives an insight into his mixed farming system, how he has managed to meet the challenge to reduce age to slaughter and his plans to progress in the year ahead.
05 January 2022

Diversified Farmers' Guide to Social Media
Diversified businesses looking to bring in new customers need to create a social media strategy that is narrowly focused on their target audience to avoid wasting time and money. Many businesses are now aware of the need have an online presence. Follow the guidelines given here
05 January 2022

Capturing More N from Cattle Slurry
With fertilizer prices at all-time highs cattle slurry will be a key resource on farm to reduce the impact of high N, P & K prices. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc, Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford and Francis Quigley, Machinery Specialist, Kildalton College explain how to achieve this
04 January 2022

Clonakilty Agricultural College Drystock Unit Farm Update - December 2021
David Hallissey brings us a winter update on the Drystock unit at Clonakilty Agricultural College. He has the end of grazing grass summary, ewes were scanned recently and cattle were weighed. David outlines the performance of the cattle groups and more in a short video here
01 January 2022

TResearch Autumn/Winter 2021
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. The Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of TResearch magazine brings a new look. We’ve put the people who carry out our cutting-edge research front and centre.
31 December 2021

Completing a Profit Monitor - Don’t leave it too late
Beef specialist Alan Dillon suggests that the first few days after Christmas is an ideal time to get your Profit Monitor figures together for your Teagasc advisor. Having this compiled and compared by mid to late January can be invaluable in holding or reducing costs in 2022.
29 December 2021

Review of 2021 and outlook for 2022
On the final episode of the Beef Edge podcast for 2021, Teagasc Head of Drystock, Pearse Kelly, joins Catherine Egan to look back on the year gone by and to discuss what is expected in the New Year and the outlook for 2022.
29 December 2021

Unearthing a medieval town
For the final Map of the Month of the year 2021, we take a closer look the abandoned town of Newtown near Jerpoint Abbey, Co. Kilkenny, which according to local legend is the resting place of St. Nicholas. This map by Daniel O'Mahony, Walsh Scholar looks at how technology revolutionised archaeology.
29 December 2021

Newford Notes - Week of 13th December 2021
Michael Fagan, Teagasc Technician of Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm in Athenry wishes all the farming community and everybody who has supported the farm A Very Happy Christmas and a safe New Year in 2022. He brings us the last Newford update for 2021 summing up the activities on farm recently
26 December 2021

The Teagasc Beef Edge Podcast celebrates 100th episode
The Teagasc Beef Edge Podcast released its 100th episode today, Wednesday, 22 December, featuring Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie Mc Conalogue TD. In the last year over 30,000 farmers have tuned in to the Beef Edge Podcast.
22 December 2021

Minister McConalogue on CAP, foreign markets and the future of the Irish beef sector
For the 100th episode of the Beef Edge podcast, Catherine Egan is joined by Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to find out what beef farmers can expect from the new CAP, to discuss markets for Irish beef abroad & what is in store for the future of the Irish beef sector.
22 December 2021

The complicated story of fluke - Part 2
Work in Animal Health Ireland has shown that fluke could be costing €70 per finished steer in lost performance if not treated correctly. Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist in the second of a two part series discusses liver fluke. Martina explains the treatment of fluke and ensuring it works
22 December 2021

The complicated story of fluke - Part 1
Work in Animal Health Ireland has shown that fluke could be costing €70 per finished steer in lost performance if not treated correctly. Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist in the first of a two part series this week discusses liver fluke. Here she explains the stages of fluke in the animal
21 December 2021

Meeting December Climate Actions
In December Climate Actions: Order protected urea for 2022 - how to value it versus other N, Organise soil sampling, Weigh finishing animals in winter to ensure they are on target for slaughter next Spring, Identify suitable heifers for breeding at 15 months and importing organic manure for tillage
19 December 2021

Reducing Phosphorus Loss to Water
There has been at lot of focus on Nitrogen in media coverage in recent times, but it is another nutrient, Phosphorus, that in causing issues in many watercourses draining heavy soils. Ivan Kelly, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor provides some advice on reducing Phosphorous loss to water.
19 December 2021

The benefits of soil sampling to farmers
It is crucial that farmers take soil samples and analyse the findings to save money in 2022. Brendan Garry and John Noonan, Teagasc Mayo provide some advice and Edward Gibbons, local farmer discusses the benefits he has seen on his farm by taking soil samples over the years.
19 December 2021

How to reduce chemical fertiliser N in 2022
Getting more from every kilo of nitrogen (N) in 2022 is the new challenge as fertiliser N prices reach record highs and legislative N limits tighten in a quest to improve water quality and reduce the impacts of agricultural emissions on climate change. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Specialist has advice
18 December 2021

Reviewing your 2021 grazing year
With Christmas approaching and grazing finished on most farms, now is the time to review your 2021 grazing season to identify areas for improvement in 2022. Mayo dairy farmer Alan Duggan completed his closing Average Farm Cover (AFC) and discusses how he his using the results to plan for 2022.
18 December 2021

The new “marteloscope” training network
Jonathan Spazzi, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer explains the new “marteloscope” training network: enhancing forest owners’ confidence and ability in managing diverse forests. He defines “marteloscope”, describing the plots, what the course entails and a farmer gives his experience of it here
17 December 2021

Safeguard your payments against Cross Compliance Penalties
Under cross-compliance, the beneficiary of direct payments is required to meet specified minimum criteria in the maintenance of their yard and the storage of organic manures to avoid sanctions being applied to their area-based payments. Noel Bardon, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Westport has some advice.
17 December 2021

Environment Newsletter - December 2021
The latest edition of the Environment newsletter has information on: Think before you plant!; Planting a new hedge; and a message from Signpost Programme - How big is your carbon footprint?.
17 December 2021

Teagasc Pathway to Reducing GHG Emissions
The Climate Action Plan of 4th November clarified sectoral emission reduction targets for agriculture and land-use. Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Signpost Programme focuses on the steps needed for agriculture to deliver on its targets. Teagasc Director, Frank O'Mara outlined these at the Beef Conference also
16 December 2021

Apply for BDGP extension now
In this video Deirbhíle Browne, Teagasc Walsh Scholarship Masters student, based in Teagasc Newcastle West, is reminding all farmers participating in the BDGP programme, that the DAFM have recently announced a one year extension. Don't forget to apply by the deadline date of Monday 20th December.
15 December 2021

New Commercial Beef Value (CBV) announced by ICBF
At last week's Virtual Beef Conference ICBF announced a new Commercial Beef Value. Described as a new selection tool for farmers with non breeding herds it will have particular relevance to those herds that are purchasing animals to bring to finish. Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist has details
15 December 2021