Dairy

Dairy Newsletter - January 2022
Get the latest information & advice from the Teagasc Dairy team in this month's newsletter. It includes: Managing early nitrogen this spring; Mastitis in early lactation; Labour saving spring 2022; Climate actions for January; and Health & Safety - Prepare to cut risk.
10 January 2022

Let's Talk Dairy Webinar - Costings of Nitrogen Fertiliser
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 16th December, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, compares costings of nitrogen fertiliser products to get best value next spring.
10 January 2022

Getting the Best Out of Slurry
Maximise the opportunity to reduce chemical fertiliser inputs in the year ahead. If you'd like to find out more you won't want to miss the Teagasc Getting the Best Out of Slurry Webinar on Wednesday, 12th January 2022 at 11am with Francis Quigley and Mark Plunkett. Register here
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

Ask for your Nutrient Management Plan
NMP online produces a fertiliser plan for your farm including a liming plan, where to apply your slurry/FYM and what fields to target with specific fertiliser based on soil test results. Teagasc environment specialists Padraig Foley and Tim Hyde give more information.
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

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

Mineral supplementation for dry cows
Inadequate mineral supplementation during the dry period can cause problems with new-born calf health, as well as a greater risk of problems with cow health. James Dunne, Teagasc Dairy Specialist has recommendations and details on pre-calving mineral requirements here
03 January 2022

Once a Day Milking Conference 2022
Once a Day Milking is currently only practiced on around 200 Irish dairy farms. But the interest in the practice of once a day milking continues to grow. Teagasc will address the topic through a webinar on Thursday 6 January starting at 10.00am.
03 January 2022

Best practice in calf rearing ahead of calving
Dairy Specialist, George Ramsbottom, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge to discuss best practice in calf rearing ahead of the upcoming calving season.
03 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

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

Clonakilty Agricultural College Dairy Update December 2021
All cows are now dry on the Clonakilty College Dairy Farm Unit. Some selective dry cow therapy was used. James Daunt, Dairy teacher, has details on this and on the various activities taking place on the farm in the December Dairy update. Wishing you a happy Christmas and New Year from the college
28 December 2021

Milking Parlour Location
As we move in to the quiet time of the year you may be planning on updating or constructing a new milking parlour. A milking parlour is a significant investment on any farm and takes careful consideration. Teagasc dairy specialist Patrick Gowing gives advice on planning the location of your parlour.
27 December 2021

Matt Ryan Part 2: How dairy farmers have adapted in an effort to achieve technical excellence
In the second part of his interview, renowned agri-consultant Matt Ryan joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss practices that dairy farmers have adopted in an effort to achieve technical excellence.
27 December 2021

Let's Talk Dairy Webinar - Analysing your farm's performance
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 9th December, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist gives an overview of the Profit Monitor, including what it consists of and the benefits of completing it especially when planning for the year ahead.
27 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 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

Mastitis in early lactation
Mastitis in early lactation costs money but careful management in the last couple of weeks before calving can prevent many cases from occurring. George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Dairy Specialist shares his experience and advice here
20 December 2021

Matt Ryan Part 1: On the challenges that dairy farmers have encountered & overcome in the last five decades
Renowned agri-consultant Matt Ryan joins Emma-Louise Coffey for the first in a two-part interview on this week’s Dairy Edge to reflect on the challenges that dairy farmers have encountered & overcome in the last five decades & he considers how farmers are positioned to face the current challenges.
20 December 2021

Let's Talk Dairy - Knowing your Carbon Footprint
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 2 December, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist was joined by Siobhán Kavanagh, Signpost Programme Communications and Engagement Specialist to discuss the Bord Bia report and knowing your carbon footprint.
20 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