Environment
Greenhouse Gases – Innovative Farm Programme
The Innovative Farm Programme project aims to promote innovative livestock farming systems and associated practices to ensure the technical, economic, environmental and social sustainability of beef farms. Graham Waters, Naas Advisor and Ricky Milligan discuss the benefits of it on Ricky' s farm
30 May 2021
Doing less boosts biodiversity
Paul Fitters, Lecturer in the Teagasc College at the National Botanic Gardens discusses "Rewilding" at the Knepp Estate in the UK. Improving biodiversity opened up new diversification opportunities. He has suggestions for how we can all do our bit for biodiversity and rewild a little in our gardens
29 May 2021
Agriculture and Water
Paula Browne, ASSAP Adviser, Teagasc Clare looks at ways to minimise losses of nutrients, sediment and pesticides to water from farming. A number of key considerations should be central to minimising any pollution potential to our watercourses and these are outlined here.
27 May 2021
Teagasc appoint Dr David Wall as Enterprise leader at Johnstown Castle
Dr David Wall has been appointed as the new enterprise leader at the Teagasc campus in Johnstown Castle. The enterprise leader role is to lead the management of the farms and estate in Teagasc Environment Research Centre to deliver the research programme, as part of the team led by Dr Karl Richards
27 May 2021
Managing Margins with Nature in Mind
Thinking "outside the field" and managing the margins with nature in mind can contribute to the improvement of biodiversity on Irish farms. Aoife Leader, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, highlights some key actions that farmers can take to retain, maintain and enhance field margins for farmland biodiversity
26 May 2021
Slurry Storage, Have you enough?
The impact of dairy farming systems on the environment is of critical importance in gaining access to premium dairy markets that will return a good milk price to the farmer. Tom Curran, Regional Manager, Cork West and Tim Hyde, Environment Specialist, Teagasc discuss slurry storage as a key factor
25 May 2021
Teagasc appoints new Organic Specialist
Teagasc has appointed Joe Kelleher as Organic Farming Specialist and he commences the new role today, Monday, 24 May 2021. He previously worked as a dairy advisor in the Limerick/Kerry advisory region. He joins Elaine Leavy as part of the national organic farming team in Teagasc
24 May 2021
Results of Teagasc Protected Urea trial finds no residues
A new scientific paper was published in the past week with results from a trial on using protected Urea on the Teagasc farm at its Environment research centre, Johnstown castle. Irish farmers are being encouraged to switch from using CAN fertiliser to protected Urea, as part of reducing emissions
23 May 2021
Lowering the Carbon Footprint of Milk Production at Solohead Research Farm
Following rapid expansion there is an immense challenge to lower the environmental impact of dairy farming. At Solohead Research Farm we have designed and tested systems for lowering the carbon and ammonia footprints of milk production. James Humphreys, Researcher has details in a short video here
23 May 2021
Farmers are part of the solution - Biodiversity Day 2021
Saturday May 22nd 2021 is International Biodiversity Day. The theme for this year is: 'We're part of the solution'. We’re all part of nature, so we must be part of the solution for biodiversity loss and climate change. What actions can farmers take?
22 May 2021
Teagasc Appoint new Biodiversity Researcher
Teagasc has announced the appointment of Dr Stephanie Maher as a new permanent biodiversity researcher based in the Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford.
20 May 2021
"Bee kind" farming
Today is #WorldBeeDay and Teagasc encourages farmers to adopt "Bee kind" farming, to look at ways of improving habitats and enhance biodiversity to support wild bees on Irish farmland. In Ireland there are 77 solitary bee species, 21 bumble bee species and 1 honey bee species.
20 May 2021
Launch of The Signpost Programme
The Signpost Programme was launched on Tuesday, 18 May. Hosted by RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground presenter Helen Carroll, the online webinar demonstrated how the new Teagasc led collaborative programme will support Irish farmers in reducing emissions from agriculture. Catch up on all the highlights here
18 May 2021
Meet the Teagasc Signpost Team
The new Signpost Programme – Farmers for Climate Action, will be launched tomorrow Tuesday, 18 May. Today we meet the Signpost Programme team who will work with farmers, and the partner organisations to prompt climate action by all Irish farmers.
17 May 2021
The Teagasc Signpost Programme Launch
The official launch of The Teagasc Signpost Programme, a collaborative programme to lead climate action by Irish farmers and their transition towards more sustainable farming systems.
16 May 2021
Ireland's Trees: our heritage 10,000 years in the making
Teagasc's virtual forestry adviser, Ciara, tells the story of forests in Ireland – from the last Ice Age to the present day. A heritage, 10,000 years in the making…She describes the climate affect of forestry development, the decline in forestry as agriculture developed and population grew.
14 May 2021
Beware of wild flower mixes as you might get more than you paid for
The highly invasive Blackgrass weed was found in a commercial wildflower mixture that was grown in an experimental plot in Carlow. If this weed is widespread in mixtures which were planted on farms, schools, gardens, and amenity areas across the country it poses a huge risk of contamination to crops
13 May 2021
Slurry storage capacity and TAMS
Tom Fallon, Teagasc Farm Buildings & Infrastructure Specialist has tips for applying for TAMS grant aid for slurry storage here. He advises when building new facilities to look beyond meeting the minimum storage requirements as many farms require extra storage. He features a TAMS grant farm example
10 May 2021
The Benefits of Using Low Emission Slurry Spreading on Drystock Farms this Summer
Low Emissions Slurry Spreading technology (LESS) has become a common sight on Galway farms in recent years. Umbilical pipes, dribble bars, trailing shoes and injection systems are replacing the traditional splash plate. Bryan Donnelly, Advisor Teagasc Galway highlights the benefits of LESS
10 May 2021
Farmyards and Water Quality
Farmyards can impact on water quality where wastes & effluents gain access to water directly, as point source pollution or indirectly, by diffuse pollution. With good farmyard management & design these impacts to water, where they occur, can be eliminated as Kevin O’Sullivan ASSAP Advisor outlines
08 May 2021
New Anaerobic Digestion (AD) project commences
Teagasc recently held the first online meeting of the technical working group for a new Anaerobic Digestion (AD) project called FLEET. Teagasc economist Dr Fiona Thorne is the principal investigator on the FLEET project, supported by the SEAI Research and development fund. Read more here
07 May 2021
The Signpost Series - Water quality – national problems, local solutions
On the latest episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 30th April, Mark Gibson, Teagasc ConnectEd is joined by Jenny Deakin, EPA to discuss water quality – national problems, local solutions.
07 May 2021
REAP - The Facts
Teagasc has produced a Factsheet and a video on the new Results-Based Environment-Agri Pilot Project (REAP). Find out more here and listen to what Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist has to say about REAP. Expressions of Interest must be lodged with DAFM by Monday May 10th
05 May 2021
3rd European Beef Carbon Farmers’ Network
The 3rd European farmers’ network webinar takes place today at 5pm. In this webinar hear from innovative grass-based Irish beef producers about how they're improving beef carbon footprint. LIFE BEEF CARBON is an initiative combating climate impact of beef production in Ireland, France, Italy & Spain
04 May 2021
The Signpost Series - The BRIDE Project
On the latest episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 23rd April, Mark Gibson, Teagasc ConnectEd is joined by Donal Sheehan, Manager of the BRIDE Project to give an overview of the Project, results-based payments and how farmers can be rewarded for environmental improvement.
04 May 2021
Can you REAP the rewards?
The deadline for farmers to apply for the Results-Based Environment-Agri Pilot Project (REAP), a new Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Pilot programme, is fast approaching. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist urges eligible farmers to apply before May 10th
30 April 2021
FitForests –Ensuring correct tree species choice to address climate change uncertainties
Niall Farrelly, Senior Forestry Research Officer Teagasc, discusses over 100 years of research from Avondale Forest Park, Co. Wicklow and how this leads on to new forestry research called FitForests which will assess the suitability of different tree species to adapt to climate change.
30 April 2021
The Signpost Series - Context, Measurement & mitigation of methane emissions in Irish dairy systems
On this episode of The Signpost Series webinar, which took place on Friday, 16th April, Mark Gibson, Teagasc ConnectEd is joined by guest speakers Laurence Shalloo, Ben Lahart & Katie Starsmore, Teagasc to discuss context, measurement & mitigation of methane emissions in Irish dairy systems.
30 April 2021
Major Focus on Clover establishment and Management in 2021
A clover booklet ‘Management and establishment of grass-white clover swards’ for 2021 is being launched by Teagasc today, Monday, 26 April. Agriculture in Ireland is under ever increasing pressure to reduce nitrogen fertiliser use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase nitrogen use efficiency
26 April 2021
The Importance of Wetlands
A combination of geology and abundant rain has endowed Ireland with an extraordinary array of wetlands covering some 20% of the country. While most wetlands occur naturally they may also be artificially created. Mary Roache Mayo ASSAP Advisor has examples of a variety of wetlands that occur on farms
26 April 2021