Environment

Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter November 2021

This months newsletter provides a guide to the actions beef farmers can take to reduce emissions on their farm, including 2 Signpost Farmers, Alex McCarthy (Dairy) & John Barry (Beef), outlining their carbon footprint; A guide & link to the Dairy Energy Decision Support Tool; research update & more
06 November 2021

Focus on ewe body condition score sees lamb numbers up in West Cork

Denis O’Riordan, a BETTER Sheep farmer, farms approximately 280 hectares (690 acres) of hill & lowland in West Cork, with his wife Esther, daughters Abbie, Roísín & Órlaith, and his uncle, Donie O’Connor. Michael Gottstein, Teagasc Head of Sheep KT outlines the benefits of the 2021 farm practices
06 November 2021

Signpost Programme Farm Walk: Patrick & Paula O’Hanlon, Kerry

Patrick & Paula O’Hanlon's farm in Tarbert, is one of five farms in Co. Kerry partaking in the Teagasc Signpost Programme. A farm walk was held recently on their farm. Méabh Dore, Teagasc Dairy advisor recounts the most notable changes on the farm and the biggest learning outcomes from the day here
03 November 2021

GLAS Funding allows Restoration of Clare Farm Outbuildings

Co. Clare suckler farmer Denis Clair, a GLAS participant was eligible to apply to the Heritage Council for the DAFM-funded Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme, to restore & repair a number of historic outbuildings on his farm as Michael Dillon, Teagasc Advisor Kilrush and Helen Devitt outline
02 November 2021

Halloween - What do you know?

With Halloween upon us, Teagasc Daily asks the question: What do you know about pumpkins, bats and turnips? On Oíche Shamhna (Halloween night) long before pumpkin carving, the humble turnip was traditionally carved out. And hear what Éanna Ní Lamhna has to say on bats on the Environment Edge podcast
31 October 2021

Delivering on sustainability

As part of Moorepark 21 Teagasc researchers and specialists prepared detailed papers on the theme Irish Dairying - Delivering Sustainably. Researcher Laurence Shalloo's paper was 'Delivering on sustainability' . Read a summary of the paper below.
29 October 2021

Organic Dairy Farm Open Day on the banks of the River Barrow

Joe & Alicia Whitty have been farming organically for 14 years now, but the biggest change to their farming system came in 2015 when they converted their mixed beef/pigs and tillage operation to organic dairying. The Whitty family hold an organic farm walk on Wednesday November 3rd at 11am.
28 October 2021

Best practice for sheep dipping

Kevin O’Sullivan, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor highlights the key areas to pay attention to when using sheep dip. He also takes us through the correct procedure for disposal of spent sheep dip in order to ensure our watercourses are protected.
26 October 2021

Are your Climate Actions for October on track?

Are your Climate Actions for October on track? If not you can act now to apply lime, start closing paddocks, check out your carbon footprint for your farm, check your soil maps and apply K to low index soils or start taking soil samples and manage your hedges to allow some thorn saplings to grow.
26 October 2021

Options for Organic Tillage Growers

The second in a series of Autumn organic webinars, hosted by the Teagasc Organic Specialists, takes place on Wednesday, 27 October at 7:30pm and focuses on Options for Organic Tillage Growers. Register here
24 October 2021

The Signpost Series - Implications of climate neutrality for agriculture, land use & forestry in Ireland

On this episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 8 October, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr. David Styles, University of Limerick to discuss the implications of climate neutrality for agriculture, land use & forestry in Ireland.
23 October 2021

Delivering a Sustainable Beef Sector

BovINE network spans across 9 EU States. BovINE links farmers, advisors, researchers, & other relevant stakeholders to stimulate exchange of knowledge & ideas to address solutions to the challenges faced by the sector. The 2021 network meeting theme is Delivering a Sustainable Beef Sector.
22 October 2021

Forests and farming – working together to protect water quality

Trees and forests offer an array of positive environmental functions. Protecting water quality is one of the most important and one that can hugely benefit farming. Noel Kennedy, Forestry Development Officer discusses how farming and forestry can benefit and improve water quality.
22 October 2021

Cathal Moran's Teagasc/Glanbia Open Source Future Farm Walk

A farm walk with Cathal Moran, farmer participant in the Teagasc Glanbia Future Farm Programme took place on Friday, 1 October on his farm in Skeoughvasteen, Co. Kilkenny. See first-hand in a series of 8 mini-video clips how the day went and download the event proceeding here
21 October 2021

Managing BYDV Risk

Planting a mix of crops, having a range of sowing dates and applying fungicides to control disease are all examples of how tillage farmers can manage risk to their income. This autumn has demonstrated how people view risk. Ciaran Collins, Teagasc Crops Specialist has advice on BYDV risk management
21 October 2021

Calculating the Carbon Footprint of your Farm

The Environment is at the forefront of all our decisions now as we actively make positive moves to lowering Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). We know Greenhouse gases have a negative impact on our planet. Serena Gibbons, Education Officer Teagasc Athenry looks at how the carbon footprint is calculated
20 October 2021

Nutrient Loss & the Closed Period for Spreading Manure

The regulated closed period for spreading organic manures is often a source of frustration and annoyance for farmers. This is not surprising given the cost of manure storage and variation in Irish weather. Edward Burgess, Teagasc explains the research supporting the closed period restrictions
19 October 2021

Soaring Fertiliser Costs proving Importance of Soil Fertility

Fuel shortages, spiraling costs, lack of labour and talks of power outages are among the topics that are covered when talking to farmers in the last few weeks. Keith Fahy, Teagasc Athenry advisor recommends soil sampling to identify lime deficiency and correcting this to reduce fertiliser bills
17 October 2021

John Ryan's Teagasc/Glanbia Open Source Future Farm Walk

A farm walk with John Ryan, farmer participant in the Teagasc Glanbia Future Farm Programme took place on Friday, 8 October on his farm in Gortnahoe, Co. Tipperary. John and his father Tom are farming 70 Ha near Gortnahoe, Co.Tipperary. In 2019, they milked 138 cows. Read more on the farm walk here
17 October 2021

Building a Farm Roadway

A well-designed, carefully built and properly maintained farm roadway system has many benefits, including, less lameness, faster and easier stock movement, less roadway maintenance, more efficient paddock access and more as Tom Fallon, Farm Buildings & Infrastructure Specialist outlines here.
16 October 2021

How I cut my hedges - Tony Mullins

Enhancing the biodiversity on your farms starts with the correct management of hedgerows. It’s a good time of the year to have a chat with your contractor before he / she starts cutting, providing the contractor with clear guidelines. This video provides more information on improving hedgerows
14 October 2021

Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter October 2021

This months Signpost newsletter has a particular focus on where a farmer can access the carbon footprint for their farm. We feature some highlights of Moorepark Open Day. Catherine Keena provides a video and short note on hedgerow management. See Farmer profiles, monthly climate actions and updates
12 October 2021

Teagasc and Dairy Sustainability Ireland publish ASSAP interim report

The second Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) interim report was published recently. The ASSAP programme is a key part of a wider government and community effort to improve water quality in 190 selected priority areas for action (PAA’s) around the country.
11 October 2021

The Signpost Series - 'What's the Story with our Bogs?' and the European Carbon Farming Initiative

On this episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 1 October, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc was joined by Dr Douglas McMillan, Chair of the Green Restoration Ireland (GRI) Cooperative to discuss what’s the story with our Bogs?
10 October 2021

Environment Newsletter - October 2021

The latest edition of the Environment newsletter has information on: Key management dates; Shop windows; Have that conversation; Know your derogation commitments; and EIP Update - Comeragh upland communities.
09 October 2021

Sustainable energy solutions in horticulture using solar PV and Heat Recovery - Webinar

Donal Gernon and Dónall Flanagan, Teagasc Horticulture Development Department hosted a webinar on Tuesday, 28 September which focused on sustainable energy solutions in horticulture using solar PV and Heat Recovery. They were joined by Local Power and European Industrial Chillers representatives
09 October 2021

How to improve the biodiversity value of your forest - Part 2

In the second of a two-part series of articles, Steven Meyen, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer talks about how to improve the biodiversity value of your forest. He advises on tree species, open spaces, underutilised areas and interconnectivity between habitats here.
08 October 2021

How big is your carbon footprint?

Regardless of your enterprise mix, carbon footprint is becoming a key indicator of farm efficiency. In this article first published in Today's Farm Siobhán Kavanagh & Gráinne Hurley, Teagasc and Eleanor Murphy, Bord Bia explain what climate change is about and discuss the carbon footprint of farms
06 October 2021

Teagasc Green Acres Programme returns to live action

The first on-farm live open day of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme took place on September 29 on the farm of JP Hammersley in Lattin, Co. Tipperary. Alan Dillon and Seán Cummins, Teagasc Green Acres report here on the detail of the day's success.
04 October 2021

Irvine Allen - Teagasc Green Acres Farm Walk

Irvine Allen is a participant in the second phase of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme and runs a dairy calf-to-beef operation on his 58ha farm in Co. Westmeath. Irvine will host a farm walk on 5th October at 2pm and invites you to come see the improvements he has made in the enterprise
03 October 2021