Environment
Watch: Tips on establishing your ACRES hedge
Following a wet winter thus far, the cold spell over recent days has finally allowed farmland to dry, and this may give those who have signed up to ACRES an opportunity to get in and establish their hedging.
21 January 2024
One step at a time
The Signpost Programme dairy demonstration farmers are making progress in adopting the 12 Steps to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
20 January 2024
€50 million available to farmers in the new Water EIP
Mairéad Whitty, Local Authorities Water Programme and Project Lead for the Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) and Noel Meehan, Teagasc, manager of the ASSAP programme, join Cathal and Deirdre on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss the new €50 million Water EIP.
20 January 2024
Transitioning to LESS
With the recent changes to nitrates regulations there are a large number of farmers who will be moving from the traditional splash plate to using Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) for the first time. Francis Quigley, Farm Machinery & Milking Machine Specialist, tells us more.
17 January 2024
Take the first step to improve water quality
Farmers have been urged to partake in the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP), described as being the first step in making water quality improvements on their farms.
17 January 2024
Slurry spreading advice for farmers and slurry contractors
As the slurry spreading season opens across the country over the coming week, Noel Meehan, ASSAP Manager, outlines why it is very important that farmers and agricultural contractors apply slurry very carefully so as to prevent nutrient losses to water.
15 January 2024
Now is the time to get soil sampling
Stephen O'Callaghan, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, tells us why soil sampling and analysis are crucial for Derogation and ACRES schemes, essential for fertiliser allowances, and guide decisions on slurry, lime, and nutrient management for the next four years.
14 January 2024
Key change to slurry spreading rules comes into play
With the prohibited period for slurry applications coming to a close in the not too distant future, farmers need to be aware of a key change to the rules regarding the method by which slurry can be applied on some farms.
12 January 2024
Protecting Farmland Pollinators
Saorla Kavanagh's paper in the Journal of Pollination Ecology explores the success of the Protecting Farmland Pollinators Scorecard Project, revealing how close collaboration with farmers and the implementation of a whole farm pollinator scoring system can effectively restore biodiversity.
10 January 2024
New Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards launched
New Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards were launched today, Tuesday, January 9 by Teagasc, with generous support from FBD.
09 January 2024
The hard questions answered on the highs and lows of farming in 2023
Kilkenny farmers John Fennelly and Kieran Condon join Cathal and Deirdre on the first Environment Edge podcast of the year to chat about the highs and lows of farming in 2023.
05 January 2024
On the road to Carbon estimates: the Signpost Deep Soil Sampling Campaign
Embarking on a four-month journey, spanning 12 counties in Ireland, our Signpost team covered 148 soil profiles, collecting 2,919 soil and bulk density samples up to 60cm depth. Our goal: build the baseline of our soil carbon observatory and investigate carbon sequestration potential in Ireland.
04 January 2024
‘Knowledge gap’ in organic conversion to be addressed in new research project
A new research project, which is a collaboration between Teagasc and UCD, and supported by funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), aims to support the sustainable growth and development of the organic farming sector.
04 January 2024
Minister McConalogue announces support for AgNav environmental sustainability tool
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., has announced €2 million for the further development of AgNav, a National online farmer-centric portal to encourage and support farmers to implement climate action and sustainability improvements and efficiencies.
03 January 2024
The Wexford farmers helping to take back the Blue Flag
With the help of the county council, Wexford farmers are working hard to improve water quality in their local seaside village of Duncannon and things are looking good.
18 December 2023
Signpost Series - Sustainable diets: Balancing personal and planetary health
On this episode of the Signpost Series, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc, was joined by Dr. Sinead McCarthy, Teagasc, to discuss sustainable diets: Balancing personal and planetary health.
17 December 2023
Anaerobic digestion: What does it offer farmers?
Providing feedstock to anaerobic digestion plants could present opportunities to farm businesses, writes Maurice Deasy, Teagasc Athenry, and Ciara Beausang, Teagasc Grange. The anaerobic digestion plant at Teagasc Grange will help identify the best options.
16 December 2023
The Irish Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Seven farmers participating in the Teagasc Future Beef Programme are participating in the Irish Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Advisor, informs us of the programme and highlights what is being recorded.
13 December 2023
Signpost Series: Farm Level economics of supplying silage for AD
On this episode of the Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department, was joined by Dr. Maurice Deasy, Researcher on FLEET Project, Teagasc, to discuss farm level economics of supplying silage for anaerobic digestion (AD).
12 December 2023
Irish farmers achieve key 2030 nitrogen fertiliser reduction target
Recently published figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have highlighted the progress Irish farmers have made in terms of reducing their nitrogen fertiliser usage - a key step in achieving agriculture’s emission reduction targets.
12 December 2023
Climate Actions for December
Read the latest farm advice and current actions farmers should consider taking this month
09 December 2023
ACRES ‘ASKS’
Eamon Patten, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe, tells us that in its inaugural year, the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) has 46,000 participating farmers, surpassing the initial 30,000 target.
09 December 2023
Estimating soil carbon stocks on the Signpost Farms
There is a lot of interest in the potential of both our hedgerows and soils to store carbon as a means of offsetting agricultural emissions, writes Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Signpost Programme at Teagasc, who looks at how soil carbon is being monitored on the Signpost Farms.
07 December 2023
Biodiversity enhancement on farmland through high-diversity landscape features
Dr Saorla Kavanagh, Biodiversity Research Officer from the Environment, Soils and Land Use Department, joined 19 other experts from around Europe last year to participate in the EU CAP Network Focus Group for enhancing the biodiversity on farmland through high-diversity landscape features.
07 December 2023
Ministerial visit to Teagasc Signpost Farm marks World Soil Day
To mark World Soil Day, Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, took the opportunity recently to visit Thomas, Florence and David Fennellys’ farm near Emo, Co. Laois.
05 December 2023
Soil carbon capture - an effective tool to combat climate change
Carbon sequestration - the capture of carbon into soil - can be an effective tool to combat climate change. Attaining more accurate measurements of soil carbon levels requires widespread and in depth attention to land-use practices.
05 December 2023
Healthy soil is important for Ireland’s bees
As part of World Soil Day 2023, Saorla Kavanagh and Colm O’Leary explain how pollination services and soil and water are connected, and how they are collectively vital for ensuring resilient farming systems.
05 December 2023
A grá for nematodes and the EU’s first soil health law
Dr Fiona Brennan, Teagasc Senior Research Officer in Soil and Microbiology, joins Cathal Somers and Deirdre Glynn on this episode of the Environment Edge podcast to mark World Soils Day.
05 December 2023
Why do we need a Soil Health Law?
World Soil Day is upon us again, this is an annual event held on the 5th of December where the focus is on soil health and advocating the sustainable management of soils. Cathal Somers, Teagasc ASSAP advisor tells us why we need a soil health law.
05 December 2023
Rectifying soil fertility starts now
John Kilboyle, B&T Advisor at Teagasc Galway/Clare, reminds farmers of the two new requirements of the latest Nitrates Action Plan, while highlighting what they mean for farmers.
03 December 2023