Signpost Sustainability Week 2022
Signpost Sustainability Week 2022 takes place from Friday, 14 October - Friday, 21 October 2022. This week will focus on 'Farming for a Better Future' with a series of public in person and virtual events.
Friday, 14 October - Friday, 21 October 2022
Sustainability Week 2022 will consist of a series of public in person and virtual events: Farm Walks | Webinars | Poscasts | Photo Competition
Click on the events to get more information
Farm Walks
- Teagasc Arrabawn Signpost Dairy Farm Walk - Loughrea, Co. Galway - Tuesday October 18th, 11am
- Teagasc Tirlan Signpost Dairy Farm Walk - Cappoquin, Co. Waterford - Thursday October 20th - 11am
- Teagasc Kerry Agribusiness Dairy Farm Walk - Crecora, Co. LImerick - Thursday October 20th - 11am
Webinars
- First steps to achieving our emissions reduction target - Friday October 14th - 9.30am
- Launch of the Teagasc Sustainability Report 2021 - Monday October 17th - 2pm
- How Teagasc can help farmers improve sustainability on their farms - Friday October 21st - 9.30am
Podcasts
Photo Competition
Sustainability Week 2022, will see the start of our quarterly photo competitions where we will be inviting photo entries from the public relating to the quarterly climate actions. The first competition will focus on Autumn climate actions and there is €250 up for grabs.
Programme of Events
Friday, 14 October | 9.30am
First steps to achieving our emissions reduction target
Dr Seamus Kearney, Teagasc Signpost Programme; Dr Deirdre Hennessey, Teagasc and Signpost Dairy Farmer Edwin Thompson, Teagasc Tipperary Joint Programme will discuss the 1st step to reducing emissions on all farms – reducing emissions from chemical N.
Monday, 17 October
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are greenhouse gases generated by agriculture, which have a negative impact on climate change. In agriculture methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) are the most important. Agriculture contributes over one third of Ireland’s national greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture now has a target of a 25% reduction ion greenhouse gasses to be achieved by 2030.
Click here for more information
Webinar - Launch of the Teagasc Sustainability Report 2021
The Teagasc Rural Economy programme will publish the annual Teagasc Sustainability Report for 2021, which is based on data collected from farmers through the National Farm Survey. The reports tracks the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Irish farms. Details will be presented on Monday, 17th October at 2pm.
Podcast - The Environment Edge Special Edition - Reducing N and GHG losses
A special episode of The Environment Edge will be released on Monday, 17 October featuring Signpost farmer, Trevor Boland from Co. Sligo along with Teagasc advisor Gabriel Trayers. Trevor farms in a heavy soils area, more prone to N2O losses and this podcast will focus on what he is doing to reduce N and GHG losses on his farm.
Click here to listen to the podcast
Tuesday, 18 October
Enhancing Farm Biodiversity
The Irish landscape provides a rich variety of natural, cultural and built heritage. Here, we outline a range of relevant Teagasc resources that address farmland biodiversity and the Irish countryside. These include an overview and some detail on current and recent research projects, as well as a collection of Teagasc leaflets and information booklets.
Teagasc Arrabawn Signpost Dairy Farm Walk | 11am - 1pm
Father and son duo Vincent and Conor O’Brien farm together in Tynagh, Loughrea, Co. Galway H62 VR02 with the help of Ivor Glennon. The O’Brien team are keen to ensure their farm is as sustainable as possible and recently invested in a state-of-the-art milking parlour and cow drafting system to provide a more efficient and safe working environment.
A relatively new addition to the dairy world, Conor joined his father on the farm three years ago. Vincent had just acquired an adjacent farm and they decided to begin increasing the herd numbers together. Although their passion clearly lies in dairy farming, the duo are conscious that maintaining a healthy work life balance is of the utmost importance.
Wednesday, 19 October
Improving Soil Health
Teagasc has a long history of soils research and is currently working at the cutting edge of soils research in association with national and international collaborators. The current Teagasc programme focuses on the chemical, physical and biological health of agricultural soils and the development of sustainable soil management advice which enhances soil functions including soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, productivity, and water purification and storage.
Click here to read about some of the work being carried out within the Soil Programme in Teagasc
Thursday, 20 October
Improving Water Quality
In Ireland all water policy and management is led by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and under this, the country has been set a target of achieving ‘good status’ for all its waters. However, despite a lot of good work over the last 20-30 years we are falling short in achieving this target and water quality has remained mainly static with no significant improvement being recorded. Updates will be provided on the work of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) to help improve water quality, and also on the latest from the Agricultural Catchments Programme.
Teagasc Tirlan Signpost Dairy Farm Walk | 11am
Join us on Thursday, 20 October at 11am on the farm of Steven Fitzgerald, Graigue, Aglish, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, P51 NP92 for a Practice Change for Profit Teagasc Tirlán Signpost Farm Walk. Attendees at the farm walk will get an insight into the facts and figures on the herd, closing for Autumn ’22 with clover, benefits to the farm and water quality with Multi species swards on this farm, how to maintain our hedgerows, recent farm buildings constructed on the farm and Tirlán will explain the Sustainability payment set up.
Teagasc Kerry Agribusiness Dairy Farm Walk | 11am
Join us on Thursday, 20 October at 11am on the farm of Gerry & Niall Moloney, Badgersfort, Crecora, Co. Limerick, V94 W1C9 for a Teagasc Kerry Agribusiness Signpost Farm Walk. Attendees at the farm walk will hear topics such as reducing nitrogen use; changing fertiliser type to reduce emissions and save money; breeding a more profitable and environmentally sustainable herd; and maintaining productivity by reducing emissions.
Friday, 21 October | 9:30am
How Teagasc can help farmers improve sustainability on their farms
On the Teagasc Signpost webinar series on Friday, 21 October at 9:30am Dr Tom O‘Dwyer, Head of the Teagasc Signpost Programme, will launch the Signpost Sustainability Report and discuss the progress being made on the Signpost farms. The Signpost Programme ‘Farmers for climate action’, which includes over 60 organisations and companies, and includes over 120 demonstration farmers across the range of farming enterprises.
College Open Days
The Teagasc Agricultural Colleges are hosting a series of open days at the colleges for prospective students with a theme of sustainable farming. It’s an opportunity to learn a little more about sustainability as well as entering a competition to win a prize in each college.
Find out more about the College Open Days