Dairy

Let's Talk Dairy Webinar - Grazing Utilisation Star Index
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy, which took place on Thursday 22nd July, host Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist was joined by Tomás Tubritt, Teagasc Moorepark to discuss the Grazing Utilisation Star Index.
09 August 2021

Dairy Newsletter - August 2021
This month's Dairy Newsletter includes information on: Why August wins championships; A good time to review your work routine; Costs and solutions to lameness issues; Signpost – climate actions for August; and Health & Safety - Beware of moving machinery.
09 August 2021

Complete a Fodder Budget now to Correct Winter Silage Deficits
James Concannon, Walsh Scholar highlights that a fodder budget is an effective tool when it comes to quantifying fodder requirements for your farm this Winter. Now is the best time to take action regarding your Winter fodder so any deficits can be addressed due to the grass still growing.
08 August 2021

National Farm Survey: Cattle Finishing 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 cattle finishing enterprise.
08 August 2021

High Genetic Merit Belclare Sires Having the Desired Effect
Francis Gonley and his family run an all sheep farm on the outskirts of Sligo town. The farm is part of the Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme. Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, reports the latest on sheep performance and farm plan progress.
07 August 2021

Research Insights Webinar - Reducing methane emissions from ruminants
On a recent Teagasc Research Insights webinar which took place on Wednesday, 14th July, David Kenny, Teagasc Head of Animal & Bioscience Department was joined by Donagh Berry, Sinead Waters and Ben Lahart to discuss reducing methane emissions from ruminants.
07 August 2021

Growth Watch: Building Bank of Autumn Grass Starts Now
James Fitzgerald and Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, give advice on using the break in weather to boost on growth in August and build grass reserves on your farm. They also get updates from farmers Ciaran Bartley, Co. Limerick, and Peter Byrne, Co. Kildare.
06 August 2021

Use of digital technology in making precision management decisions on-farm
Dairy farms in Ireland are currently challenged with finding implementable solutions to improve sustainability. The Farm Ambassador Programme, an initiative located in the Dingle Peninsula, aims to investigate the feasibility, application and impact of digital technology in the farming business.
06 August 2021

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 Moorepark ‘21 Dairy Open Day
Teagasc Moorepark Open Day will take place on Tuesday, 14th, Wednesday, 15th and Thursday, 16th September 2021, for the Irish dairy industry. The Open Day will be repeated over the three days to ensure compliance with government Covid-19 guidelines.
05 August 2021

Grass10 Newsletter - 3rd August 2021
Get the latest from the Grass10 team; PastureBase Ireland data for the week for Dairy, Beef + Sheep farms; Neill Boland's grass situation; Grass10 Grazing Tips; Changing Focus to Autumn Grazing; David O’Leary's grazing update; Register for a webinar on Building Grass for an Extended Grazing Season.
04 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

What will make you an employer of choice?
On this week’s episode of The Dairy Edge, Beth Dooley explains what makes individual farmers an employer of choice and has tips on complying with employment regulation.
02 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

What the Carbon Removal amendment means for Irish agriculture
On the latest episode of the Environment Edge podcast, Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny John Paul Phelan joins Deirdre Glynn & Cathal Somers to discuss the new Carbon removal amendment to the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development bill.
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

Building Grass for an Extended Grazing Season Webinar
August is a critical time for grazing management, many farmers believe it is the beginning of the grass year. Find out why by joining the Grass10 Team & Michael O'Leary, PastureBase on Thursday 5th August at 7pm. Hear the experiences of David Brady, Heavy Soils farmer & John Galvin, Dry soils farmer
01 August 2021

Teagasc National Farm Survey 2020 Dairy Enterprise Factsheet
The 2020 Teagasc National Farm Survey (NFS) recorded data on 836 farms representative of over 93,000 dairy, beef, sheep and tillage farms nationally. This analysis summarises the results of dairy enterprises, excluding farms supplying mostly liquid milk and herds of 10 cows or less.
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

Successful straw incorporation
Close to 2,000 farmers signed up to incorporate some or all of their straw this year and on this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, Dermot Forristal joins Michael Hennessy to chat through the main factors to take into consideration when incorporating straw.
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

Winner of the Teagasc / FBD Student of the Year Award Announced
The 2020 national winner of the Teagasc/FBD Student of the Year award is Deirdre McMahon, Leagh North, Kinvara, County Galway. Deirdre was also the dairy category winner. Congratulations Deirdre! Find out about all the winners and finalists here and watch back on the Awards ceremony
28 July 2021