Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter July 2022
In this month’s newsletter we've a short article on improving nutrient efficiency on tillage farms by Mark Plunkett. We profile two Signpost farmers – pigs farmers Miriam & Mattie Moore, Co. Offaly & organic farmer Bill George, Co. Laois. We've our usual climate actions for the month of July & more
Issue 12 - July 2022
In this month’s newsletter we also have a video explanation of the ASSAP programme. In our research update we present some new data showing that projected urea has no impact on soil microbiome. The news from Signpost is that the first 66 Signpost Farm Sustainability Reports have been issued, setting out the baseline (2021) for these farmers, including social, economic and environmental sustainability indicators. On this month’s Environment Edge, Martina Harrington, Manager of the Future Beef Programme, will join Cathal and Deirdre to discuss sustainable beef production.
Reducing the impacts of high input costs on Tillage farms
Over the last 12 months fertiliser prices have reached unprecedented levels never seen before. Indications at present are that fertilisers will remain high for the remainder of 2022 due to high energy costs and the disruption to normal supply lines caused by conflict between Russia and Ukraine. These regions are major suppliers of all major nutrients (N, P, K & S) and especially potassium.
Climate Actions for July
Each month, we present climate actions that farmers can take to reduce gaseous emissions. These actions will be practical and timely. See below climate actions for the month of July.
Read the full Climate Actions for July here
Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme
New Teagasc study finds no impact of inhibitors on the soil microbiome
New research from Teagasc environment research centre, Johnstown Castle has demonstrated that there was no impact of urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), incorporated into protected urea fertiliser, on the structure and abundance of soil bacterial and fungal communities after 5 years of repeated application to an intensively managed grassland.
Photo: Johnstown Castle Dairy Unit
Signpost Programme Update
The 1st of the Sustainability Reports have been printed and posted to 66 Signpost Farmers. This will form the baseline (2021) of their sustainability journey.
The Environment Edge Podcast
With ever increasing pressure on beef farmers, how can we produce a quality product as efficiently as possible to make beef farming more profitable while also making it more environmentally and socially sustainable?
Martina Harrington, Manager of the Future Beef Programme joins Deirdre and Cathal on the latest Environment Edge podcast to discuss sustainable beef production.
Signpost Programme Partners
The Signpost Programme is a collaborative partnership of farmers, industry and State Agencies, working together for climate action.
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The Teagasc Signpost Programme e-Newsletter will issue monthly and you can read it here each month on on Teagasc Daily.