Dairy
Signpost Programme Farmer: Joe Carroll
Meet Joe Carroll, one of our Signpost Programme Farmers. Joe milks 84 dairy cow herd on a 25.5 hectare milking block in Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry. Joe is also a member of the Kerry Agribusiness Joint Programme.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Winning the 2nd half - how do cows experience your farm?
A lot happens in the first 150 days of the cow’s lactation but to a large extent the game is decided in the second half. How can we win the second half? Tom Fallon, Farm Buildings & Infrastructure Specialist wants to achieve five in a row (lactations for all cows) and has tips for achieving this
26 July 2021
A day in the life of a young dairy farmer - Laura Hannon
On Wednesday 14th July, Laura Hannon hosted an Instagram takeover on the Teagasc account to give insight into a day in the life of a young dairy farmer. She gave an overview of her story, educational background and how she got into dairy farming. Watch as Laura takes you through her daily farm tasks
25 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