Beef

National Farm Survey: Single Suckling Enterprise Factsheet 2020
The 2020 Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) recorded data on over 800 farms, representative of over 90,000 dairy, beef, sheep and tillage farms in Ireland. This factsheet covers data collected on single suckling enterprise.
06 August 2021

Signpost Programme Update
Our demonstration farmers are currently engaging with the National Farm Survey (NFS) recorders. This month's research update is on the importance of getting soil pH right. Take a look at the warming stripes for Ireland from 1901 to 2020
06 August 2021

Environment Newsletter - August 2021
The latest edition of the Environment newsletter has information on: Low-input grassland; Message from Signpost - Why do farmers need to engage with climate action?; and Message from ASSAP - Tillage cover/catch crops can help water quality
06 August 2021

Teagasc Green Acres Newsletter: Issue 5
This issue of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme e-Newsletter has an update on Irvine Allen, programme participant's farm; Key Management Tips; Silage quality improvements; and Genetic merit of calves. The Green Acres Calf to Beef e-Newsletter issues fortnightly.
05 August 2021

Five reasons for farmers to engage with climate actions
Climate change is perhaps the greatest environmental challenge facing the world right now. Climate change is already happening with increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels. Irish Agriculture contributes to 35% of the greenhouse gases produced in Ireland.
04 August 2021

Work Safely with Cattle
Well designed and maintained handling facilities are essential for the safe handling of cattle and prevention of injury to handlers. Under TAMS both permanent and temporary cattle handling facilities can be applied for.
03 August 2021

Climate Actions for August
August is a good month to sort out deficits in grazing infrastructure to optimise days at grass, if your capital expenditure budgets allow. Helpful solutions include spur roadways, multiple access points to paddocks and back fencing. Get the current advice from the Signpost Programme for August here
02 August 2021

Why farm soils cause greenhouse gas emissions - and how to fix it
Hands up who is interested in soil? Anyone? Anyone at all? Tumbleweeds might roll past unless you are addressing a room full of avid gardeners and land managers. This article by Rosie O'Neill, Teagasc Walsh Scholar first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm.
01 August 2021

The Changing Model for Agricultural Schemes
Results-based payment schemes are likely to be the future of agri-environmental schemes going forward for Irish farmers. Martina Donnelly, Teagasc Galway/Clare Advisor, compares the previous REPS and GLAS schemes to the new REAP scheme here.
31 July 2021

Reseeding: The final piece of the jigsaw in Co. Carlow
Shane Cranny operates a calf to beef system in Myshall, Co. Carlow, where 70 autumn-born Holstein calves are purchased annually. Here Seán Cummins, Teagasc Green Acres Advisor shares some insight into Shane's farm and we get in-depth reseeding information from Shane himself in a short video
31 July 2021

Child Safety on Farms
With the on-going easing of restrictions, children may be attending summer camps & meeting friends. However, children will still be spending more time on farms during their holiday time and Jacinta O' Neill, Teagasc Advisor Westport, reminds us that the farmyard is not a playground here
30 July 2021

Growth Watch: Rain to give much needed respite, but challenges persist
The extended dry spell has posed many challenges to the farmers in the Teagasc Green Acres Programme. James Fitzgerald & Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, give advice on dealing with cattle in different weather conditions. They also get farm updates from JP Hammersley & Irvine Allen.
30 July 2021

Signpost Farmers: Tim Leader & Aidan Maguire
Meet two of our Signpost Farmers - Tim Leader and Aidan Maguire. Tim Leader farms a Dairy, Dairy Replacements and Calf to Store/Beef enterprise in Kilcorney, Rathcoole, Co Cork while Aidan Maguire farms a calf to beef enterprise in Antylstown, Navan, Co. Meath. Read all about the farmers here
29 July 2021

Positive farm price developments signal boost to farm incomes in 2021
Improving farm output prices are likely to provide an increase in farm incomes in 2021, in spite of rising input prices, according to the Mid Year Outlook for 2021 produced by Teagasc economists.
29 July 2021

Nitrogen Loss to Water in Agricultural Catchments
Every four years the Nitrates Directive is reviewed and changes are made to the regulations. 2021 is such a year. In Teagasc, the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) studies water quality in 6 contrasting catchments across the country. Edward Burgess ACP, discusses some ACP study results here
29 July 2021

Fertiliser advice under prolonged dry soil conditions
Over the last 6 to 7 weeks soil moisture deficits (SMD) have continued to increase due to low rainfall in many parts of the country. At SMD above 50 mm growth becomes restricted. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist discusses Fertiliser N Application decisions in dry conditions
28 July 2021

Planning in preparation for weaning- how to prevent pneumonia?
With spring calving herds weaning calves in September-October, now is the time to plan your vaccination programme. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist, highlights that the number one cause of mortality in weanlings in 2020 was pneumonia and she has advice to prevent it on your farm here
28 July 2021

Teagasc Green Acres Newsletter Issue 4
This issue of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme e-Newsletter has an update on Shane Cranny's farm; Key management tips; Calf mortality - a cost to the system and Antibiotic usage. The Green Acres Calf to Beef e-Newsletter issues fortnightly. See it here
26 July 2021

Growth Watch: Complete heavier machinery work while ground conditions allow
The advice from the GreenAcres Advisors, Seán Cummins and James Fitzgerald, this week is to complete heavier machinery work, like spreading lime, while ground conditions allow. They bring us the Green Acres Growth Watch from the farms of Jarlath Ruane, Co. Mayo and Aidan Maguire, Co. Meath
24 July 2021

Safety around livestock
As farm safety week draws to a close today Peter Mullan, Teagasc Advisor issues a reminder to farmers to mind your health by staying safe around livestock and gives tips on
23 July 2021

Farmers Have Hearts - Your Cardiovascular Health
The theme of the final day of Farm Safety Week is Your Health. So it is timely today to look at the Farmers Have Hearts Cardiovascular Health Programme. Dr. Noel Richardson (IT Carlow) offers some good advice on diet and food nutrition to improve the health of farmers in a must-watch video here
23 July 2021

Farmer Health and Wellbeing
John McNamara, Teagasc Farm Safety Specialist looks at stress and Well-being in this video, along with Carlow IT Staff. Springtime can be a particularly stressful time of year. It's important to manage stress. So now this summer take the opportunity to rest, recover and make some time for relaxation
23 July 2021

Manage your Health - It's Essential for Lifestyle and to Farm Effectively
Health is essential for your lifestyle and to farm effectively. Poor health is associated with increased farm injuries and lowered farm income due to being less able to farm effectively. This is why Teagasc promotes the ‘Total Worker Health' model in its Statement of Strategy.
23 July 2021

Keeping the elderly safe on farm
Protecting the public is today's theme in Farm Safety week so Áine Butler, Teagasc Advisor takes a look at Keeping the elderly safe on farm. Teagasc Farm Safety Specialists Francis Bligh and John Mc Namara have important safety tips also
22 July 2021

Protecting yourself from Infectious diseases
All farm animals naturally carry a number of organisms which can be transferred to humans and cause ill health. As part of Farm Safety Week Seán Doorley, Teagasc Advisor Castlerea, highlights ways to improve good farm hygiene to try to prevent the spread of disease from animals to humans.
22 July 2021

The Importance of a Tidy Farmyard
Having a well kept farmyard is beneficial to both work efficiency and safety. Over the past 10 years the HSA reported 29 farm deaths due to collapses and falls. The major areas associated were slips & trips, bales falling and falling from a height. Penny Gavin Teagasc Walsh Scholar has tidy tips
22 July 2021

Taking Care in the Countryside
Irish farmers work very hard each day, managing their animals & crops. This is done while also maintaining habitats, protecting watercourses & supporting their communities. Teagasc Health & Safety Specialists John McNamara & Francis Bligh have advice for farmers on how to keep the countryside safe.
22 July 2021

Opportunity to Clear the Decks
You'd have to look back to 2013 to see beef prices similar to what we have today which is great to see even if it is not as frequent as we might like. Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist says tight cattle supplies at home and internationally plus positive global demand all point to a good back end
22 July 2021

Quad Safety on farm
As part of Farm Safety Week, David McLaughlin, a hill sheep farmer in Co. Donegal talks about safety when using his quad while farming. David advises to keep your eye on the ground, not on the sheep. Watch as David demonstrates in this short video
21 July 2021

Heat Stress in Cattle
Compared to other animals cattle cannot dissipate their heat load very well. Cattle do not sweat effectively and rely on respiration to cool down. Dr. Bernadette Earley, Teagasc Grange Researcher has produced a timely fact sheet to help farmers manage cattle on these hot days. Read it here
21 July 2021