Beef
ASSAP Service: A typical Farm Assessment
The ASSAP (Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory programme) is a free advisory service aimed at improving water quality. There are 10 PAA’s (Prioritized areas for action) in West Cork. Lane Giles, ASSAP Advisor, Clonakilty explains what the service provides for the farmer in West Cork
03 July 2021
Growth Watch: Controlling weeds in May reseeds
The timing of reseeding plays a crucial role in the ability to control problematic weeds going forward. Where reseeding was completed earlier this year, there’s an opportunity to tackle problem weeds, like docks and chickweed, now. James Fitzgerald & Seán Cummins, Green Acres Advisors provide advice
02 July 2021
Delivery of Public Good Farm Practice through CAP
Cross Compliance rules were first introduced in 2000 and revised in 2015. The aim is implement public good practices on farm to protect human, animal, plant and environmental health. Anne O’Malley, Farm Food Business and Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballina explains Statutory Management Requirements
02 July 2021
When should breeding season end?
On Spring calving suckler farms the stock bull will need to be removed by the 15th July 2021 to ensure no calves are born in May next year. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist discusses the implications of late calving cows and advises on the next steps to take now to get it right for next year
30 June 2021
Martin Connolly’s Beef Edge Masterclass on his Friesian bull beef system
Teagasc Green Acres dairy calf to beef participant, Martin Connolly, from Co. Roscommon gives a Beef Edge Masterclass on this week’s podcast episode.
30 June 2021
Best Practice when using Pesticides
It is important that all users take care and follow best practice procedure when using pesticides. Deirdre Glynn, ASSAP Advisor and Mark Trimble, Tillage Advisor, Kilkenny discuss safe storage and handling of chemicals, good sprayer maintenance and best practice when using pesticides on farm.
26 June 2021
Using NUDGE theory to improve Farm Safety
A leading USA expert will outline the potential of Nudge theory to improve Farm Safety at a Teagasc Webinar on Thursday, 1 July at 3pm. Dr Julie Sorensen, Director, New York Centre for Agricultural Medicine & Health (NYCAMH) will provide a seminar on research that applies Nudge Theory to farm safety
25 June 2021
Green Acres GrowthWatch in Kildare & Tipperary
James Fitzgerald and Seán Cummins, Programme Advisors to the Green Acres farms offer some timely advice on grassland management and share the current grassland management plans of two of the programmes farmers; Peter Byrne and JP Hammersley.
25 June 2021
Fertiliser Guidelines for 2nd Cut Silage
Second cut silage is planned on many farms to replenish silage reserves for the coming winter. This crop tends to be lower yielding compared to first cut silage. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition and John Conroy, Teagasc Westport outline fertiliser guidelines for making 2nd cut silage
24 June 2021
Maintaining Quality in the Grass Sward
Alan Nolan, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe has excellent practical advice on maintaining quality in the grass sward. The key message is to take some simple steps now to maintain grass quality and Alan lists these here. Walking the farm every week to monitor grass supply and quality is key
23 June 2021
Teagasc Opening Statement on Organic Farming to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture Food and the Marine - June 22 2021
Today, Tuesday June 22, Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle and Mary Ryan, Teagasc Researcher gave a briefing on Organic Farming to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The full statement includes publications, on-line, advisory, education & research support for organics
22 June 2021
Making quality silage - Factsheet
High-quality silage of 72-74 DMD (dry matter digestibility) is central to the success and profitability of all calf to beef systems. It can deliver the levels of animal performance needed without excessive meal feeding. Get the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef 'Making Quality Silage' Fact sheet here
22 June 2021
Health for Sustainable Farming
Research by Teagasc along with National Centre for Men’s Health, IT Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology indicates that farmers adopt health practices, as they get older. However, health issues can progress gradually, so the sooner health adoption takes place the better!
20 June 2021
Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter June 2021
Welcome to the first e-newsletter for the Signpost Programme. The Signpost e-newsletter will be published monthly. It will provide you with news from the Signpost Programme, technical articles, policy and research updates as well as profiling Signpost Farmers from across the country.
19 June 2021
Green Acres Calf to Beef - GrowthWatch: Taking an opportunity to apply the ‘forgotten fertiliser’
Historically, Irish farmers applied lime on a little and often basis. Now only 50% of the national lime requirement is applied. Lime corrects soil pH, grows more grass and improves how the soil uses Nitrogen & Phosphorus fertilisers. Seán Cummins GreenAcres Advisor encourages Lime application now
18 June 2021
Machinery Co-operatives in Ireland
Ireland’s first farm machinery sharing co-operative was formed by members of Kilnamartyra dairy discussion group in West Cork. The machinery co-op provides a sound business structure for the sharing of machinery between farmers and can be applicable to farmers in any enterprise, especially tillage
18 June 2021
Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Newsletter: Issue 1 - June 2021
The first issue of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme e-Newsletter has an update on Pat Collin's farm, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork; Best Practice in Dosing; Key management tasks; Calf purchases and purchase price. The Green Acres Calf to Beef e-Newsletter will issue fortnightly.
17 June 2021
Identifying Practical ‘On Farm’ Innovations
Identifying Practical ‘On Farm’ Innovations that meet the needs of European Beef Farmers - that’s the mission of the EU funded BovINE Network. BovINE partners share updates on the latest round of Research Innovations and Good Practices under the project’s spotlight online on Tuesday 22nd June 2021
16 June 2021
Stay safe with Cattle this summer
With cattle out grazing and breeding season at full steam on many farms it is important to keep a focus on safety with livestock. Interactions with cattle are necessary so each interaction must be planned and managed carefully to avoid risk. Francis Bligh, Teagasc Health & Safety Specialist advises
16 June 2021
Weaning Autumn born Suckler Calves
Many autumn born suckler calves are now being weaned. It is important to try to reduce stress as much as possible during weaning. Áine O'Riordan, Teagasc Advisor, Cork West and Aidan Murray Teagasc Beef Specialist discuss meal feeding as part of the BEEP-S weaning option here
15 June 2021
Risk Assessing Your Farm
Don't ignore safety issues on your farm! Serena Gibbons, Education Officer, Teagasc Galway/Clare issues a reminder about completing the Risk Assessment Document. She focuses on 3 main areas where the highest number of accidents and fatalities occur; namely - Tractors, Machinery and Livestock.
12 June 2021
Environment Newsletter - June 2021
This month's Teagasc Environment newsletter has information and advice on: REAP the benefits; Measures to reduce nutrient and sediment run-off to waters from January 1, 2021; and Message from ASSAP - Protect our bathing waters.
11 June 2021
Target Grazing Covers on Beef Farms
What are your targets when it comes to good grassland management for suckler cows, weanlings and beef cattle? Is it that they have enough grass in front of them so that they do not run tight on grass? This is not enough explains Pearse Kelly, Head Drystock Knowledge Transfer
10 June 2021
Agriculture is facing a momentous decision on carbon budgets
Over the next few months a decision on the future of Irish agriculture will be taken that may prove to be as momentous as the 1984 introduction of milk quota or our 1973 entry to the EU. Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc refers to the publication of sectoral carbon budgets from 2021 onwards
10 June 2021
Grazing heavy covers on beef farms
Some farmers are now dealing with heavier covers than usual on farm, whether from an increase in growth rate or a late turnout to grass. Once pre-grazing yields go over 1600kgDM/Ha, grass quality drops and reduced liveweight gain in cattle. Mícheál Kelly, Teagasc Athenry Advisor has grazing advice
09 June 2021
Fine tuning dairy bull beef in Co. Roscommon
Martin Connolly farms part-time near Castleplunket, Co. Roscommon and runs a calf-to-beef system taking dairy-bred male calves, through to slaughter as bulls at 20-24 months of age. The farm is in the Teagasc Green Acres calf to beef programme since 2019. James Fitzgerald, Programme Advisor has more
08 June 2021
Running a contract rearing operation alongside your flock
John O'Connell is a BETTER farm sheep programme participant and farms on the outskirts of Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. He runs a sheep and contract grazing system. Ciaran Lynch Teagasc Sheep specialist & Tom Coll Teagasc Advisor, discuss the resulting changes and grassland management improvements here
08 June 2021
Silage Season Safety Check
We're now in one of the busiest times on farms as silage is being harvested. It's also one of the most high risk times due to increased movement of machinery and people on our roads and farms. Jacinta O'Neill, Teagasc Advisor, Westport, has a useful safety checklist to consider for silage season
06 June 2021
Water Protection measures since 1st January 2021 – do they affect my farm?
Many farmers have asked about water protection measures that have been in place since the start of 2021 and if these apply to their farms. These measures were introduced to reduce nutrient and sediment run-off to waters to improve water quality. Tim Hyde, Environment Specialist has the answers here
05 June 2021
Ger McSweeney - Innovative Farm Programme
Aisling Molloy, Teagasc Advisor, Kanturk and Suckler to beef farmer Ger McSweeney outline how he is improving the technical efficiencies on his farm resulting in reduced Carbon footprint for every Kg of beef he produces. He is achieving this through the Innovative Farm Programme: Life Beef Carbon
05 June 2021