Environment

Three Reasons to use Protected Urea in 2022
Protected urea grows more grass in the long term. This is just one of three reasons why farmers should use Protected Urea in 2022. Mark Plunkett, Patrick Forrestal and Siobhán Kavanagh, Teagasc detail these and how to use it while Patrick Forrestal has tips on using protected urea in a video also
31 January 2022

Streamlining the spring workload in dairying
Monitor farmers are critical to demonstrate good farming practice to other dairy farmers in the region. Here Mark Treacy, features a profile of one monitor farm: The Buttimer family, who are dairy farming in Ballineen, Co. Cork. Mark outlines how labour is efficiently planned for the calving period
31 January 2022

Teagasc FUTURE BEEF Programme in Mayo
The Future Beef Programme is a new Teagasc Beef Demonstration programme consisting of 24 Suckler and Beef finishing farmers around the country. Alan Nolan, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe introduces the father and son team of Michael and Niall Biggins who are Mayo's Future Beef farmers
30 January 2022

Teagasc Future Beef Programme in East Cork
The aim of the Teagasc Future Beef programme is to demonstrate to beef farmers how they can produce a quality product as efficiently as possible while also making it more environmentally sustainable. Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Advisor introduces the three East Cork demonstration farms here
29 January 2022

The many benefits of our forests
Ciara, Teagasc's virtual forestry adviser highlights in this video some of the many and wide-ranging economic, environmental and social benefits our forests provide for us every day of our lives.
28 January 2022

Using pig slurry to save money makes more sense than ever
Pig slurry is now worth €48 per 1000 gallons. This double its normal value because fertiliser prices have never been so expensive. Using pig slurry can save you money - now more than ever before! Amy Quinn, Teagasc Pig Development Department has guidance for farmers importing pig slurry here
28 January 2022

Teagasc Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign launched by Minister McConalogue
The Teagasc Soils, Nutrients and Fertiliser Campaign 2022 has been launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD. This Teagasc initiative is in response to the unprecedented fertiliser prices, and potential supply availability concerns arising in Spring 2022
26 January 2022

GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme 2022 is open
On Friday, 21st January, the 2022 GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme opened for online applications. The scheme is open to GLAS farmers for the conservation of traditional farm outbuildings. It will close on 22nd February 2022. Find out more about what's involved here
25 January 2022

Opportunities for Organic Horticultural Growers
On Wednesday, 26 January at 7.30pm, join us online for a webinar which will explore the opportunities available to organic horticultural growers.
25 January 2022

Ed Curtin, Future Beef farmer in Cork
Ed Curtin is a new Future Beef farmer, based in Meelin, Co Cork. Ed farms a suckler-to-weanling and dairy calf-to-store/calf-to-beef enterprise in partnership with his mother Breda. Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager has more on Ed's farm here; the achievements and the challenges
24 January 2022

A successful Registered Farm Partnership in south Tipperary
Keeping the February 11 deadline in mind, Gordon Peppard Teagasc Collaborative Farming Specialist, meets organic farmers Pat and Angela Mulrooney embarking on a successful Registered Farm Partnership (RFP) with their son Mark, in south Tipperary
23 January 2022

Using modern technology to unearth a medieval town
New technologies have allowed researchers to retrace Newtown in Co. Kilkenny without having to take a spade to the site. This article by Daniel O’Mahony, Teagasc Walsh Scholar & Jesko Zimmermann, Teagasc Cartographer first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm recently
23 January 2022

Teagasc Future Beef Programme in Galway
Teagasc's Future Beef programme, launched December 2021, aims to demonstrate to beef farmers how they can produce a quality product as efficiently, profitable and environmentally sustainable as possible. Mícheál Kelly, Teagasc Advisor, Athenry introduces Galway's Future Beef Farmer, Aonghusa Fahy
22 January 2022

Plan spring fertiliser applications for tillage crops
Considering the cost of nitrogen in 2022, it’s a good year for farmers to look at ways to reduce nitrogen use on farm. There are a number of ways to reduce nitrogen use including; growing your own nitrogen (using legume crops), reduce nitrogen inputs and more options as discussed here
21 January 2022

Big future for Future Beef
Future Beef is the new Teagasc suckler beef demonstration farm programme. It consists of a network of 24 demonstration farms positioned right across the island supported by three experienced advisors. Martina Harrington Future Beef Programme Manager, tells us more in detail
21 January 2022

Teagasc & NUI Galway partner new BSc Agricultural Science degree in the West
2021 saw the launch of a brand new BSc in Agricultural Science at the National University of Ireland Galway with a strong focus on Sustainable Agriculture. Teagasc and NUI Galway have announced a partnership to deliver on the huge demand for an Agricultural Degree programme in the West of Ireland.
20 January 2022

The importance of taking a proper soil sample
Your soil sample forms the basis of your decisions on where to apply slurry, FYM, lime and chemical forms of Phosphorous and Potassium on the farm. Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist advises on how to take a representative soil sample and outlines the benefits of getting it right
19 January 2022

Growing Grass Using Less Nitrogen Fertiliser
This Thursday at 7pm join John Douglas and Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10 and Micheal O'Leary from PastureBase Ireland online, for advice on Getting the best response from what fertiliser you apply. David O'Leary, 2020 Young Grassland Farmer of the Year will talk about his system. Register here
18 January 2022

Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter January 2022
In this month’s newsletter, Minister McConalogue explains the Climate Action Plan and what it means for Agriculture. We have our monthly climate actions, a video with timely advice for spring nutrient management for 2022 and an article on laying new hedges. We also provide 2 decision support tools
17 January 2022

Signpost Tillage farmer: Tom Tierney
Tom Tierney is a tillage farmer in Prosperous in County Kildare. Tom uses a no-till establishment system in conjunction with cover crops to improve soil health. He is a participant in GLAS and in the Kildare Pollinator project to try to reduce his impact on the environment and improve biodiversity
16 January 2022

Plan your spring fertiliser applications
There are three areas of focus planning for 2022 which require careful planning: limiting the increase in expenditure in fertiliser, growing sufficient grass to feed animals and protecting the soil fertility on the farm for the future. Find out how and avoid waste with the advice outlined here.
15 January 2022

Working Safely with Slurry
With slurry season commencing in many parts of the country this week it is once again important to think about the dangers associated with handling slurry and to plan this work with safety in mind. John McNamara and Francis Bligh Teagasc Health and Safety Specialists advice caution with safety tips
15 January 2022

Cork Student wins Teagasc award at BTYSTE 2022 – Potential of nematodes to replace pesticides
Johannah Pigott, a Transition Year student from Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork, is the winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2022 (BTYSTE). Johannah’s project looked at the potential of nematodes to replace chemical pesticides.
14 January 2022

Can we assume all fires are bad? Not necessarily so..
Fire has been used for centuries to effect desired changes in vegetation conditions; enabling rapid removal of unwanted, dead or less productive vegetation from land, and creating favourable conditions for new growth. John Casey & Catríona Foley, Teagasc discuss prescribed or controlled burning
14 January 2022

Teagasc at BTYSTE: Soil microbiology
Soils are so much more than meets the eye. Soils are home to a staggering abundance and diversity of living organisms, most of which we cannot see with the naked eye. Teagasc researchers Aoife Duff and Catriona Boyle tell us more as part of BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE).
13 January 2022

Virtual Tillage Conference 2022
The 2022 National Tillage Conference will take place virtually, split over two days. The first session will take place on Thursday, 13 January and the second session will take place on Thursday, 27 January, both at 11.30 am. Register to attend here.
11 January 2022

Teagasc at BTYSTE: In the clover
Teagasc is at the virtual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2022. Teagasc Researchers Catriona Boyle and Deirdre Hennessy bring us this article on Clover research in Teagasc as part of the event this week. Find out about the Teagasc prize awarded and visit the Teagasc stand here
10 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

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