Crops
The Caha Project
The Caha Project is a project where nine farmers have come together to protect a section of their local river. This length of river is particularity important as it has been identified as having a High Status Objective and is a Priority Area for Action under the Water Frameworks Directive
24 March 2021
Drainage Maintenance to protect Water Quality
Ireland lies in a temperate zone where the main role of drainage is the removal of excess water in the root zone of crops from surplus rainfall, improving land trafficability and increasing productivity. Meabh O'Hagan, ASSAP Advisor and Niall McLoughlin, Lakeland Dairies has some advice.
24 March 2021
Phosphorus Use on Peat Soils
A recent analysis conducted by the Teagasc Rural Economy and Development programme indicates that approximately 6% of the country (420,000 Ha) is made up of cultivated peats across a wide range of farming intensities. Fiona Doolan, ASSAP Advisor Kildare/Laois, discusses Phosphorus Use on Peat Soils
24 March 2021
Managing farm roads to protect water quality
Farm roadways are an essential piece of infrastructure on most livestock farms and in particular dairy farms. Under new Nitrates rules there shall be no direct runoff of soiled water from farm roadways to waters from 1st January 2021. Padraig Fitzgerald, Teagasc Advisor lists the key points involved
24 March 2021
What is a Riparian Margin & what can it do for Water Quality?
A Riparian Margin is the land that runs alongside our rivers and streams. Here, Fiona Doolan, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor, Co. Laois, talks about a variety of riparian margins. She explains the benefits of a riparian margin on water quality and the role it plays in protecting rivers and streams
24 March 2021
Managing Soil Phosphorous for Water Quality
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient particularly when it comes to crop establishment. Eddie Burgess, Catchment Specialist with the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme speaks more about managing soil phosphorus for water quality.
24 March 2021
ASSAP - Working with farmers to improve water quality
The Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme - ASSAP is in existence since 2018. Advisors are working with farmers in Priority areas for action (PAA) across the country to improve water quality. ASSAP advisors Deirdre Glynn and Cathal Somers give information about the programme
23 March 2021
Catch Crops for Water Quality
There are multiple benefits to using catch or cover crops in a tillage system. In terms of water quality it is the ability of catch crops to reduce nitrate (NO3-N) leaching that makes it a valuable tool for all tillage farmers.
23 March 2021
Why LESS is more
Slurry application on Irish farms was often seen as a chore, done to relieve pressure on slurry storage systems in late winter / early spring, traditionally spread by splashplate. Today this is changing fast with the use of low emission slurry spreaders (LESS), as Eamonn Lynch Dairy Advisor,explains
23 March 2021
Why You Should Use Protected Urea
Protected urea allows farmers to spread urea based nitrogen during the growing season without the worry of nitrogen (N) being lost from the field through ammonia emissions. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and nitrate leaching when compared to CAN Cathal Somers gives more information
23 March 2021
Nitrogen Use Efficiency = Cleaner Water
Deirdre Glynn, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor and Dr. David Wall, Teagasc Researcher both define Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) here. They discuss losses of Nitrogen and how we can avoid this going forward through soil testing, nutrient planning, responsible fertiliser and slurry spreading and more
23 March 2021
How Nitrate leaching occurs
Nitrate leaching can occur during times of heavy or prolonged rainfall. Free draining soils are particularly susceptible to nitrate loss as it's very mobile in soil and readily leaches groundwater. The highest risk is in winter and early spring, as Prof Owen Fenton, Teagasc Researcher explains
23 March 2021
ASSAP- Farming for Water Quality
ASSAP – Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advice Programme works with farmers in a free and confidential advisory service to help improve water quality. Priority areas for action (PAA) are being targeted across the country to improve water quality.
22 March 2021
Farming for Water Quality in a Priority Area for Action - Farmer Testimonial
The Glenaboy river in county Waterford is currently at Moderate ecological status. The river catchment is in a Priority Area for Action (PAA) for the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP). Find out how farmers and ASSAP advisors work together to improve water quality
22 March 2021
Water Quality in your area & accessing catchments.ie
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) operate a number of water quality monitoring programmes to assess the condition of waters in Ireland. The outcome these monitoring programmes is available to see on the EPA interactive map.The map can be accessed on the website catchments.ie
22 March 2021
Water Quality Indicators - Chemical Sampling
It is important to understand what causes damage to our waters and work together to protect them. As part of Water Quality Week and World Water Day today, LAWPRO Scientists demonstrate here what the chemical indicators of water quality are and how this sampling is carried out
22 March 2021
Using kick sampling to determine the quality of water in a river?
Macro-invertebrates are small aquatic animals such as insect larva, snails, worms, beetles etc and are excellent indicators of water quality. Where rivers are unpolluted these are in abundance. Scientists examine these macroinvertebrates by kick sampling, as LAWPRO catchment scientists demonstrate
22 March 2021
Why is water quality important?
We need safe and secure waters to supply agriculture, industry and our drinking water needs. It is important that we understand what causes damage to our waters and work together to protect them. As part of Water Quality Week and World Water Day today, LAWPRO Scientist Ruth Hennessy has more here
22 March 2021
EU's green deal - Essential role of legumes
This webinar is a Legume innovation and networking workshop which is hosted by Mark Gibson and brought to you by Teagasc. The legumes innovation workshop aims to identify transition paths enabling home grown legumes in a more sustainable food and feed value chain.
21 March 2021
Teagasc forest establishment workshops very well received
During February and March, landowners were able to participate in three one-hour online workshops “Planting a new forest - Getting started”, organised by Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department. Close to 600 people registered for these workshops and each session had well over 300 participants
20 March 2021
Water Quality Week
Teagasc Water Quality Week runs next week Monday, 22nd March to Friday, 26th March. Water quality week is organised in collaboration with the dairy processing co-ops and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). Noel Meehan, Programme Manager ASSAP has details of the plans for the week here
19 March 2021
GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - John & Margaret Murphy
John & Margaret Murphy, Co. Cork are GLAS participants who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to an old stone outbuilding on the farm. Eimear Connery, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For the past four days Teagasc Daily focused on Co Cork participants of this scheme
14 March 2021
GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - Tom O'Neill
Tom O'Neill, Co. Cork is a GLAS participant who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to an old 1740s tower building. Eimear Connery, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For one more day, of a four day focus, Teagasc Daily will focus on Co Cork participants of this scheme
13 March 2021
GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - Kevin Wood
Kevin Wood, Co. Cork is a GLAS participant who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs mainly to a lofted grain store dating back to 1888. Eimear Connery, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For two more days Teagasc Daily will focus on Co Cork participants of this scheme
12 March 2021
New farm forests are backing biodiversity
Ireland’s new forests are working to reverse the decline in our national biodiversity and strengthen environmental sustainability. Teagasc Forestry advisor, Noel Kennedy, explains how biodiversity protection and enhancement are at the heart of today’s young forests.
12 March 2021
GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme Farmer Focus - Siobhan Madden
Siobhan Madden, Co. Cork is a GLAS 3 participant who availed of the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme for repairs to adjoining 200 year old buildings. Enda Maloney, Teagasc Advisor has more details. For the next three days Teagasc Daily will focus on Co Cork participants of this scheme
11 March 2021
The Signpost Series - Impact of climate change on smallholder food production in the tropics
In this episode of The Signpost Series, Mark Gibson is joined by Paul Wagstaff, Senior Agricultural Advisor with Self Help Africa who speaks about the impact of climate change on smallholder food production in the tropics and the interventions that can be used to reduce the impacts of climate change
11 March 2021
Timoleague Agricultural Catchment Programme Update
Teagasc’s Agricultural Catchments Programme has been monitoring water quality in 6 locations across Ireland to investigate the impact of agriculture on water quality in these catchments. Oisín Coakley, ACP Advisor, provides an update on the 8km square Timoleague catchment here
08 March 2021
Farm Planning – Don’t leave it to the last minute
Andy Ryder, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Westport focuses on applications for and changes to, Herd Numbers. He identifies how this impacts on Basic Payment Scheme, ANC, GLAS and Forestry schemes. Andy emphasizes the importance of planning in advance and not leaving Herd No changes until the last minute
06 March 2021
March Management of Winter and Spring Cereals
Michael McCarthy, Teagasc Business and Technology Tillage Advisor West Cork, has management advice on winter cereals. He recommends prioritising fertiliser application and weed control now. He advises on spring barley seed rates and reminds nitrates derogation farmers of their liming requirements
04 March 2021