Dairy
Increasing biodiversity on intensive farms
Wildlife habitats such as hedgerows, field margins, ponds, wetlands, and woodlands, commonly occur on Irish farms. The retention of existing habitats is vitally important, as they typically deliver greater ecological benefits compared with newly created habitats.
14 September 2021
Reducing the use of antibiotics on dairy farms
There is growing interest in the potential to use selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) in low SCC cows i.e. cows with SCC less than 200,000 cells/mL, to reduce antibiotic use at dry-off. Researchers Pablo Silva Boloña, Clare Clabby and Sinead McParland give some relevant information from a recent study
14 September 2021
Grazing management to increase N use efficiency on Irish dairy farms
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE;%) is a key indicator of agricultural system efficiency. It is defined as the proportion of the total N inputs, in feed, fertiliser, organic manures etc. that are recovered in milk & meat exports from the farm.
14 September 2021
PastureBase Ireland adds new functionality to benefit all grassland farms
Farmers attending the Teagasc Moorepark '21 dairy open day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week will hear about the increased functionality in PastureBase Ireland (PBI). PastureBase Ireland is the national grassland database and provides daily updates on grass growth across the country
13 September 2021
Use COW rather than milk yield to cull cows
Milk yield alone is not a reliable measure to use when selecting cows for culling from a dairy herd. The culling tool, Cows Own Worth (COW), is a much more reliable means of identifying suitable cows for culling. George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Dairy Specialist talks about the ICBF generated tool here
13 September 2021
Irish Dairying - Delivering Sustainability
Exports of Irish dairy products and ingredients have increased from an average of €1.8 billion for the years 2007-2009 to over €5.2 billion in 2020. The expansion of the Irish dairy industry has contributed greatly to improve economic prosperity in rural Ireland. Pat Dillon Moorepark tells more
13 September 2021
Making dairy farms a more attractive place to work
Many farmers are excellent employers offering decent employment opportunities with flexible working conditions for a fair wage. Marion Beecher, Beth Dooley and Abigail Ryan have information and advice on making dairy farms a more attractive place to work
12 September 2021
Growth Watch: Mid-September grazing targets
As the middle of September approaches, a number of key grazing targets begin to come into effect at farm level. Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisor, discusses mid-September grazing targets and gets updates from farmers Peter Byrne, Co. Kildare and Ciaran Bartley, Co. Limerick.
10 September 2021
Small woodlands on dairy and drystock farms: Have your say on trees
Forests account for 12% of land area in Ireland. The government target is that forests will make up 18% of the land area by 2046. Rachel Irwin, Teagasc Walsh Scholar is surveying farmers to analyse their perceptions of, attitudes towards, and willingness to plant, trees on farms. Have your say here
08 September 2021
Safe Slurry Handling
In the next few weeks the last of the slurry for this year will be spread on farms by many farmers and contractors before the October 15th deadline. Francis Bligh & Tom Fallon, Teagasc have important advice on staying safe around slurry, in particular when agitating slurry and emptying slurry tanks
07 September 2021
Registration opens for Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day
Registration has opened for farmers to attend the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Event, which will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 14th, 15th & 16th September 2021. The Open Day will be repeated over the 3 days, so farmers can select which day they wish to attend. More details here
07 September 2021
What is soil health and is it part of the solution to many of the challenges ahead in agriculture?
On the latest episode of The Environment Edge podcast, Dr Fiona Brennan Soil & Environmental Microbiology researcher with Teagasc based in Johnstown Castle tells us all about soil health.
06 September 2021
Rathcroghan EIP - Engaging farmers in European Innovation Partnerships
European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) are testing new forms of knowledge exchange and innovative learning. Luke Clogher, Teagasc and Monica Gorman, UCD, consider Farming Rathcroghan Project EIP-Agri, that aims to enhance farming, archaeology and agri-tourism in a unique archaeological landscape
04 September 2021
Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter September 2021
This month’s Signpost newsletter features a guide to actions that dairy farmers can take to reduce emissions. We have the usual climate actions for the month as well as a timely video on lime application. We profile 3 Signpost farms – James Skehan (beef) Sean Collery (dairy) & Don Somers (tillage)
03 September 2021
Growth Watch: Time to consider meal supplementation to calves
Ensuring animals achieve the desired levels of daily weight gain is a critical element in successful calf-to-beef systems. Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisor, discusses this and gets updates from farmers Peter O’Hanrahan, Co. Kilkenny, and Jarlath Ruane, Co. Mayo.
03 September 2021
Human health advantages of pasture-derived milk fat products
Many people today believe that dairy fats are an “unhealthy’ part of our daily diet. However, this belief is not supported by current scientific evidence. Here, PhD Walsh Scholar student, Orla Skillington at VistaMilk talks about the human health advantages of pasture-derived milk fat products
02 September 2021
Structured for success?
TEAGASC Researchers Tracy Bradfield Walsh PhD Scholar and Emma Dillon Senior Researcher Rural Economy & Development, together with Robert Butler and Thia Hennessy of UCC, examined the impact of land structure on the economic performance of dairy farms. Their policy recommendations are discussed here
02 September 2021
Developing Rural Ireland - A History of the Irish Agricultural Advisory Services
A new book that documents the history of the Irish agricultural advisory services and its role in developing rural Ireland, was launched at a virtual event at Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, yesterday, Wednesday 1 September.
02 September 2021
Hedgerow Cutting Season Begins
Hedges can be cut from 1 September until the end of February. The Wildlife Act, 1976 (2000) prohibits hedge cutting during the bird nesting season. Here Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist and Anthony Dineen, Teagasc Advisor simplify the rules and regulations around Hedges.
01 September 2021
Autumn Reseeding – Overcoming the extra challenges
Traditionally many dairy farmers have looked to the autumn to carry out reseeding as their workloads reduce. Reseeding in the autumn presents far more challenges than early summer reseeds. James Moyles, Teagasc Advisor, Tullamore advises on the mistakes he has encountered with autumn reseeds.
31 August 2021
Rural housing density in Ireland - Map of the Month
The August Map of the Month, created by Researchers David Meredith, Rob O’Hara and Jesko Zimmermann looks at the density of rural dwellings in Ireland. It clearly shows the impact of the road network, proximity to towns and cities, and general topography on residential housing density.
29 August 2021
Growth Watch: Deadline approaches for nitrogen and phosphorous applications
James Fitzgerald & Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, discuss the approaching deadline for applications of chemical nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers. They also get updates from farmers Pat Collins, Co. Cork, and Irvine Allen, Co. Westmeath.
27 August 2021
Time for Spreading Lime
The benefits of correcting a lime deficiency are numerous. Lime can be safely spread any time of the year but planning and a more proactive approach to lime application would help increase application rates. John McCarthy, Teagasc/Dairygold Joint Programme Advisor has some advice on spreading lime.
26 August 2021
Fodder Budget – Planning for Winter 2021
Now as the silage season approaches completion, it’s a good time to take stock of the amount of fodder in the yard. This exercise will highlight the amount of fodder you have and if you have enough for the stock you plan to carry over the winter. Eddie Webb has advice on how to do a fodder budget
25 August 2021
Pat Dillon previews the 2021 Moorepark Open Day
Teagasc’s Head of Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme, Pat Dillon, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast with a preview of the 2021 Moorepark Open Day event.
23 August 2021
Pollution Prevention on Farm Roadways
A well designed and well maintained farm roadway has many benefits which must include pollution control. Farm roadways are widely acknowledged as a significant run off pathway. Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, Tralee, has advice here on roadway layout to avoid run off to watercourses
23 August 2021
Endangered Corncrake making a welcome return
Corncrake numbers have declined in recent times, however they have increased again in 2021. Joanne Masterson, B&T Drystock Advisor at Teagasc Galway/Clare, discusses corncrake friendly mowing and the Corncrake LIFE Project Scheme. She also sheds light on the future of this bird species.
22 August 2021
Goats don't like the rain!
Goats don’t like the rain. Marion Roeleveld, Killeen Farmhouse Cheese had goats out grazing, but when it rained they would run back into the shed. They were very bad grazers and very susceptible to parasites. Anne Kinsella, Teagasc Rural Economy, brings us this insight into making goat's cheese
20 August 2021
Growth Watch: Finishing at pasture commences
James Fitzgerald & Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, discuss how farmers in the programe are lessening the costs associated with winter finishing by moving to finishing stock off grass prior to housing. They also get updates from farmers Aidan Maguire, Co. Meath, & Shane Cranny Co. Carlow.
19 August 2021
Multi-species swards grow more forage with less fertiliser, even under drought conditions
Six-species swards outperformed perennial ryegrass monocultures and were considerably more resistant to drought. New research from Teagasc, Johnstown Castle and Trinity College Dublin shows that multi-species mixtures out-yielded perennial ryegrass which received double the amount of fertiliser
18 August 2021