Grassland
Multi-species Mixes Increase Yield with Less Fertiliser, and Increase Drought Resilience
At Farming for a Better Future Open Day John Finn and Guylain Grange, Researchers at Teagasc, Johnstown Castle and Caroline Brophy, Trinity College Dublin summarised the ongoing research at Teagasc Johnstown Castle into multi-species grassland mixtures. Find out the promising results here
03 September 2022
Best Practice hedge cutting for our two hedge types
With the opening of the hedge cutting season on 1 September, best practice hedge cutting is more important than ever because of the role of hedges in biodiversity and carbon and the need to improve their condition. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist has more in Hedgerow Week
02 September 2022
DairyBeef500 Walk with Richard Long, Co. Waterford
Join the Teagasc DairyBeef500 team on Thursday, 8th September at 3pm on the farm of Richard Long, Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford. Eircode: E91 VH67. Find out more and Book your ticket here
02 September 2022
Grass10 Newsletter - 30th August 2022
This year’s Grassland Farmer of the Year competition has been extended until Friday 16th September for entries. The Grass10 team have details of this and more in this week's newsletter. Get advice on dealing with managing rotation during severe drought. Plus Grassland farmer of the Year farm walks
01 September 2022
Grassland Farmer of the Year - Dairy & Overall Winner - Colin Doherty
Join the Teagasc Grass10 team on Tuesday, 6 September at 11am on the farm of Colin Doherty, Adare, Co. Limerick, V94 K160. Colin is the Overall Winner and Dairy Category Winner of the 2021 Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition.
01 September 2022
New Compostable Film for weed control in newly planted hedges
New compostable film is available for use instead of plastic to protect newly planted hedges against weeds. The compostable film is starch based with additives from the dairy processing industry added. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist has more information for Hedgerow Week
01 September 2022
The Secret Life of Hedges
Hedges are ecosystems where native flora and fauna co-exist in harmony. To mark #HedgerowWeek2022 Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, reveals the birds, bats, bees, mammals, moths & butterflies, that occupy our hedgerows and the free food within, in The Secret Life of Hedges
31 August 2022
Key Metrics for Efficient Pasture-based Production Systems
On Stand No 3 at Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Teagasc specialists Joe Patton and Pearse Kelly and Teagasc Johnstown Castle Researcher David Wall, discuss Key Metrics for Efficient Pasture-based Production Systems. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily
31 August 2022
Technologies for Today and Tomorrow to Reduce Greenhouse Gas and Ammonia Emissions
On Stand No 2 at the Farming for a Better Future Open Day in Teagasc Johnstown Castle, Karl Richards and Gary Lanigan, Teagasc discuss the steps that farmers can take to reduce on-farm emissions. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily
31 August 2022
Farm Zero Carbon (FZC) Focus at Shinagh Dairy Farm Open Day
Can we achieve a climate neutral and profitable dairy farm? Join us at the Shinagh Open Day on Friday, 2 September at 11am and find out why we think so. John McNamara, Padraig French, Teagasc & Kevin Ahern, Manager, tell us more about Shinagh dairy farm and it's environmental & sustainability focus
31 August 2022
Supporting Sustainability on the Ground
On Stand No 4 at Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Johnstown Castle, Tom O'Dwyer and Pat Murphy, both Teagasc, discuss Supporting Sustainability on the Ground. They include the supports in place for farmers from Teagasc. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily
30 August 2022
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability on Irish Farms
On Stand No 1 at the Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Johnstown Castle, Karen Daly and David Wall, Teagasc, Crops Environment, and Land-use Research, discuss the Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability on Irish Farms. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily.
30 August 2022
The Importance of Hedgerows for Butterflies - Hedgerow Week 2022
There are 35 species of butterflies in Ireland - 23 of these breed on hedges. Over-management of hedges removes butterfly eggs, larvae and nectar sources for adult butterflies. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist and Jesmond Harding, Butterfly Conservation Ireland explain
30 August 2022
ACRES Hedge Actions - Hedgerow Week 2022
There are three hedge actions in the new agri environment scheme ACRES: coppicing, laying & planting hedges. It is important to understand what is involved in each action and the ongoing work required during the next five years. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist has details
29 August 2022
Building a brand in the west
To improve returns, farmers need to gain ‘market power’ by creating brands which reflect the true value of what they produce. Ólas Hill Farms is a great example, as John Noonan, Teagasc Westport advisor demonstrates
28 August 2022
Farmers are reducing fertiliser N use
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have just released their Fertiliser Sales data for the first three quarters of the current year. Here Seamus Kearney and Tom O'Dwyer from the Signpost programme examine the data
28 August 2022
Swards for the Future Conference & Workshop
Swards for the Future Conference & Workshop takes place at Teagasc Moorepark, Co. Cork on 8 & 9 September. It is an important and informative conference for anyone involved in the grassland industry including industry partners, farmers, co-op representatives, advisors and researchers.
27 August 2022
TResearch Autumn 2022
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. Clearing the air - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the agriculture sector is a priority for our researchers
27 August 2022
Johnstown Castle Open Day - Technologies for Today & Tomorrow
Join us in Johnstown Castle, the home of agricultural research in Co. Wexford for their open day on Tuesday next August 30th. On the day the Teagasc team will present farming technologies for today and tomorrow. Gates open at 10am.
26 August 2022
Grassland Farmer of the Year Drystock - Aidan Maguire Farm Walk
Join the Teagasc Grass10 team along with the Teagasc DairyBeef500 team on the evening of 31 August at 6.30pm on the farm of Aidan Maguire, Navan, Co. Meath. Aidan is the 2021 Grassland Farmer of the Year in the Drystock Enterprise Category.
26 August 2022
How will your acres score?
You can help address the challenges to our water, climate and biodiversity by joining ACRES (AgriClimate Rural Environment Scheme). Catherine Keena Environment specialist, Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme takes us through the Results-based payments system of ACRES
25 August 2022
Hedgerow Week 2022 - "Best Practice Hedge Cutting"
Hedgerow Week 2022 takes place from Friday, 26th August – Friday 2nd September, to coincide with the opening of the hedge cutting season on 1 September. The theme of Hedgerow Week 2022 is 'Best Practice Hedge Cutting' and consists of a series of public in person and virtual events. Find out more
25 August 2022
The honeybee is doing grand, but what about the other bees?
When people talk about bees, they are usually referring to honeybees and not the 20,000 other bee species in need of some love. Stephanie Maher, Teagasc biodiversity researcher, Johnstown Castle, educates us on the world of bees in this fascinating article, first published on RTÉ Brainstorm recently
25 August 2022
Soil fertility declining on Irish dairy farms
In 2021 Teagasc analysed 30,082 grassland soil samples, of which 21,049 were taken on dairy farms. We see that soil fertility declined on dairy farms for the second consecutive year. Here is a summary of the main changes for soil pH, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in 2021 on dairy farms
25 August 2022
Enter the 2022 Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition!
There is still time to enter this year’s Grassland Farmer of the Year competition, which recognises and acknowledges those dairy, beef and sheep farmers who are achieving high levels of grass utilisation in a sustainable manner. There is a new organic category in 2022. Closing date: 16 September.
24 August 2022
DairyBeef500 walks commence this autumn
Following on the highly successful Green Acres, the recently launched DairyBeef500 Campaign which aims to promote and demonstrate socially, environmentally and financially sustainable dairy-beef systems, sees the first of its on farm walks begin this autumn. Tommy Cox, DairyBeef500 advisor reports
24 August 2022
Grass10 Newsletter - 23rd August 2021
The Grass10 team has an action-packed newsletter this week. From Grassland Farmer competition to featured farmers, clover reporter and dairy & beef podcasts to the upcoming GFOTY Farm Walks and Swards for the Future Conference/Workshop. Plus the regular features and advice on Autumn grass management
24 August 2022
Prioritising quality grass for lambs on Malin Head
Tommy Mullin is a sheep farmer, farming close to the most Northerly point in Ireland at Bree, Malin Head, Co. Donegal. With a sheep flock of 400 lowland ewes, 180 horned ewes and more, we find out from Tommy Doherty, Drystock adviser, Teagasc Letterkenny how this farm manages grass quality
23 August 2022
Get lime out now to reduce expensive fertiliser demands in 2023
Liming of our soils continues to be a challenge with a 10 to 13% decline in samples with optimal soil pH on dairy, tillage and drystock farms sampled in 2021. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist emphasises the benefits of lime and why farmers should apply lime now
23 August 2022
Understanding the genetic blueprint of the grain aphid
By unravelling the DNA sequence of the English grain aphid, Teagasc is providing novel insights that support research into insecticide resistance and mechanisms of viral transmission. Teagasc researchers Stephen Byrne, Maximilian Schughart and Louise McNamara explain
23 August 2022