Grassland
Planning for upcoming winter
After the recent August heatwave winter may seem a long way off but it is important to plan for it in good time. Sheep Specialist Damian Costello advises on having adequate fodder, checking silage quality and preparing for winter housing of ewes.
23 August 2022
Climate Change Actions and Biodiversity on Newford Farm
Along with most farms in the country the Newford farm is putting increasing emphasis on climate actions and biodiversity. Here Michael Fagan gives an update on some of the measures currently being implemented.
22 August 2022
Growing Wild - Bird’s foot trefoil and Knapweed
Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist takes a closer look at some of our native Irish biodiversity to look out for in the countryside. Here she shares some interesting facts of nature about Bird’s foot trefoil and Common or black knapweed
21 August 2022
Contract Rearing of Replacement Heifers
What is contract rearing? What makes contract rearing attractive to dairy farmers? What makes contract rearing attractive to rearers? What information is available? Get all the answers here and at our upcoming open days starting on 1st September at 11am in Golden Co. Tipperary
21 August 2022
Water Quality - Phosphorus & ACRES
The protection of water quality from nutrient, sediment & pesticide losses and achieving ‘Good Status’ for all waters in Ireland is a key national goal. Since 2018, The Agricultural Sustainability Support & Advisory Service (ASSAP) is providing advice. Ivan Kelly, Teagasc Athenry Advisor has more
20 August 2022
Management tasks for suckler cow herds this autumn
Ring feeders in paddocks with sucklers is currently a common sight. The recent rain should kick-start growth. On moderately stocked farms with grass covers possibly run down it may be tricky to build covers into the autumn. Specialist Alan Dillon offers advice
19 August 2022
National Soil Fertility Trends
In 2021 Teagasc analysed a total 33,876 soil samples comprising dairy, drystock and tillage enterprises. 2021 shows that soil fertility declined on dairy farms for the second consecutive year. Lime use increased by ~ 50% compared to the average lime applied in Ireland over the last 10 years.
18 August 2022
The Clover Reporter and Research update
This week's clover reporter is Lawrence Sexton from Kilbrittain Co. Cork. Stephen Ryan from Dungarvan Co Waterford is the featured farmer. William Burchill, advisor on the Teagasc/ Dairygold joint programme discusses maintenance P and K requirements
17 August 2022
Latest information and updates from the Grass10 team
This update has pointers and advice from the Grass10 team in their weekly e-newsletter. It includes: PastureBase Ireland Dairy and Drystock figures; Predicted Grass Growth and Rainfall; Grass Dry Matter %; Grass10 Weekly Checklist; and information on the upcoming Swards for the Future Conference.
17 August 2022
Climate Actions for August
August climate advice includes using catch crops after cereal crops, applying lime and building up for autumn grass. There is also advice to empty slurry tanks, milk record and on feeding ration at grass. Get all the details below
17 August 2022
Newford 17 ½ months old in-spec Beef Heifers finished off grass without meal
In the current update from the Newford farm Michael Fagan has some detailed information on heifers slaughtered on August 4th off grass with no meal. There is also an update on the TB outbreak which has hit the farm. he also gives an update on how the 2022 calves are faring.
16 August 2022
Considering Organic Conversion on Drystock farms
Colm Kelly, Teagasc Advisor, Ballinasloe, answers the questions commonly asked by drystock farmers considering converting to organic farming. Questions like ... "Is treating animals for health issues banned?" and ... "Where can I sell animals?"
Get the facts here
16 August 2022
Growing wild - Privet and Lady’s Bedstraw
Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist takes a closer look at some of our native Irish biodiversity to look out for in the countryside. Here she shares some interesting facts of nature about Privet and Lady’s Bedstraw
14 August 2022
Forest fires – we can all help
As Forestry Advisor Steven Meyen writes this, Europe burns. Huge fires are destroying thousands of hectares of forests across Europe during this latest and not last heatwave. Mediterranean countries are worst affected but central & western European countries including Ireland are also suffering.
12 August 2022
Environment Newsletter - August 2022
The August edition of the Environment newsletter focuses on the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES). ACRES is the new Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) agri-environment scheme.
12 August 2022
Grass10 Newsletter - 9th August 2022
Get your weekly tips from the Grass10 team. It includes: PastureBase Ireland Dairy and Drystock figures; Predicted Grass Growth and Rainfall; P & K requirements; Grass10 featured farmer - Micheal Casey; The Clover Reporter with Trevor Boland; Autumn Grazing Targets; and more.
10 August 2022
Respect the power of the Sun
In current hot weather it is very important to take lots of drinks, stay indoors during periods of high temperatures and avoid exposure to the damaging effects of UV radiation from the sun. Farmers are one of the highest risk groups for skin cancer. Find some advice here.
10 August 2022
Water supply important in dry weather
The current hot, dry grazing conditions will result in an increase in the intake of water by dairy cows. A jump in intake will put pressure on water systems where trough reserve or size is poor. George Ramsbottom, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, discuses the importance of water supply and recommendations
09 August 2022
Meet Ruairi Cummins - Future Beef farmer, Co. Kilkenny
Ruairi is farming on 35Ha of owned land split into two main blocks in Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny. He also works off farm with a local suckler farmer. The whole farm is paddocked. Find out the changes to soil fertility that Ruairi is making on his farm this summer and how he is managing animal health
07 August 2022
Farming for a Better Future -Technologies for Today & Tomorrow
A major Teagasc Open Day is planned for Tuesday, 30th August at Teagasc Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford. This Open Day will demonstrate technologies and practices that can be adopted on farms to help maintain farm productivity and profitability and increase sustainability
05 August 2022
Review of Beef 2022 Open day
The Beef 2022 open day took place just a month ago on the 5th July. If you missed the open day tune into an episode of the beef edge podcast to get the key messages for your beef system. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist reviews key points from the day with a series of Beef Edge podcasts here
05 August 2022
Reseeding - Getting it right
The main advantage of reseeding grassland is it increases both the quantity and quality of grass grown, by somewhere in the region of 20- 40%, mostly in spring and autumn. At the cost it must be done right. Michael Donoghue, Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Tuam, covers all of the additional benefits here
04 August 2022
Teagasc Signpost Programme Newsletter August 2022
In this month’s newsletter we have an article encouraging all farmers to take just one action on their farm to reduce emissions this Autumn as well as a useful article on cover crops; 3 Signpost farmers profiled. Our climate actions focus on catch crops, liming, building Autumn grass and more here
04 August 2022
Taking the first step to reducing emissions on your farm
The EPA report released on the 21st July was stark. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from Agriculture (and other sectors) continues to rise. For 2021, emissions from Agriculture increased by 3% compared to 2020 levels. This is going in the wrong direction, say Siobhán Kavanagh & Karl Richards, Teagasc
04 August 2022
Swards for the Future Grassland conference launched
Teagasc are organising and hosting an exciting two-day conference and workshop on Thursday, 8th & Friday, 9th of September 2022 to explore Resilient Swards for the Future. The event will take place at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland, Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork
03 August 2022
Grass10 Newsletter - 2nd August 2022
The Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition 2022 has been launched! The Grass10 team bring us the details in this week's newsletter. Also get the regular PBI dairy & beef figures, grass growth predictions, Grass10 Weekly Checklist & tips, Grass10 Featured Farmer, Clover reporter and more here
03 August 2022
BETTER Sheep Farming with Francis Gonely
Francis Gonley and his family run an all-sheep farm on the outskirts of Sligo town. Since Francis joined the Teagasc BETTER farm programme in 2017, the lowland flock has greatly improved in terms of output per ewe. Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist outlines these improvements here
02 August 2022
Johnstown Castle Winter Milk Herd – Dry Cow Management
Ensuring autumn calving cows are in the correct condition for calving down will significantly reduce the risks of metabolic disorders and the increased workload and loss of production that goes with it. Dairy Specialist James Dunne outlines the dry cow practices in the Johnstown Castle research herd
01 August 2022
Dairy Start-up Farm in Ballindine, Co. Mayo
Donal Ronayne and his uncle Liam Trench started milking 205 heifers in 2021. Historically the farm was a suckler to beef enterprise. The conversion to dairying started in 2019 and a Farm Partnership was set-up. Donal Kelly, Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris talks about this great change on the farm
30 July 2022
Controlling weeds in the horse paddock
Teagasc Equine Specialist, Wendy Conlon explains how best to deal with certain noxious weeds, some of which can be deadly to horses.
28 July 2022