Grassland

New Teagasc ConnectEdProgramme Manager Appointed
Sheila Quinn has been appointed as the new manager of the Teagasc ConnectEd Programme. She will lead the development and delivery of the Programme which provides training and knowledge exchange programmes to the wider agri-food sector. Read more about Sheila Quinn and Teagasc ConnectEd here
29 June 2022

Future Beef Programme on Ken Gill’s Organic Farm
Ken Gill farms his autumn calving, suckler to beef, organic farm full-time in Clonbullogue, Co Offaly. Ken and his family hosted The Future Beef Programme farmer launch on his farm recently. Aisling Molloy, Teagasc Future Beef Programme advisor gives a full account of Ken's organic farming system
29 June 2022

Grass10 Newsletter - 28th June 2022
Rainfall brings opportunity (growth) and challenge (grazing conditions). In this week's newsletter the Grass10 team promote the 2021 GFOY Winner Farm Walk on Friday, 8th July on Sean O'Donnell's farm in Mayo. Get details of Beef 2022 at Grange, featured farmer, clover reporter, advice and more here
29 June 2022

Mineral Supplementation in Lambs
It is that time of year again when lambs are weaned and lamb performance takes a nose dive on many farms. What causes the drop-off in performance and is mineral supplementation the answer? Michael Gottstein Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer Department, Teagasc, discusses this complicated subject
28 June 2022

Meet Michael & Alex McCarthy, Signpost dairy farmers
We are farming in a partnership milking 170 cows on a grass based system. We farm 104 hectares. A major challenge we see coming at us over the next couple of years are the environmental challenges. As Signpost farmers we want to increase biodiversity on our farm. Read our June update here
28 June 2022

Production of beef from an all-grass forage diet
Did you know ?....Pasture-only production systems allow beef to be marketed as ‘grass-fed’, providing further high-value market opportunities for Irish beef. Edward O’Riordan, Peter Doyle, Mark McGee, Aidan Moloney & Paul Crosson, Teagasc Grange explain further. A taste of what to expect at Beef202
28 June 2022

Beef 2022 is Supporting sustainable beef farming
Come along to the Beef2022 open day at Teagasc Grange on July 5th and meet Teagasc specialists, researchers and advisors who will provide you with all the latest on all things Beef. Paul Crosson, Head of Beef Enterprise and Pearse Kelly, Head of Teagasc Drystock
Knowledge Transfer outline more here
27 June 2022

Silage effluent, storing silage & water quality
Silage effluent is highly pollutant to waterbodies and must be stored and collected according to best practice. An accidental discharge can have serious effects on a rivers ecology including fish kills for long distances downstream. Kieran Kenny, Teagasc ASSAP advisor, Roscommon has practical advice
27 June 2022

Saving our soil
Teagasc is engaged in an extensive range of research including national and international collaborations. Teagasc highlights the impacts of its latest research in "Research impact highlights in 2020". Soil is one such area as Teagasc researchers Michael Gaffney and Dheeraj Rathore outline here
26 June 2022

Using Protected Urea
Using protected urea in grassland results in lower nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions than CAN and lower ammonia losses than urea. This makes it the most sustainable fertiliser N source for meeting both greenhouse gas and ammonia loss emission commitments, as Sandra Hayes, Teagasc advisor reminds us here
26 June 2022

Alternative fodder crops and general advice
Cattle performance replies on having high quality forages and feed on the farm going into the coming winter. With this in mind, it is worth investigating the use of alternative crops such as Kale, Rape or Redstart to bolster the high quality feed available. John Crowley, Teagasc advisor has tips
26 June 2022

Meat Quality Village in Beef 2022
Our beef is regarded in many markets as a premium product because of our high forage diets, traceability and ever improving sustainability. Here, Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist introduces the Meat Quality Village, which is part of the Teagasc Beef 2022 open day at Grange on July 5th.
25 June 2022

Clonakilty Agricultural College Drystock Unit Farm Update - Spring 2022
David Hallisey, College Lecturer at Clonakilty Agricultural College gives an update from the Drystock unit for Spring 2022. David covers the suckler, sheep and calf-to-beef enterprises in the unit and also provides a grass update.
25 June 2022

Francis Nolan's Teagasc/Glanbia Open Source Future Farm Walk
Join us on Wednesday, 29th June at 11am on the farm of Francis Nolan, Knockalane, Muckalee, Co. Kilkenny, R93 A3W0 for a Teagasc/Glanbia Open Source Future Farm Walk. The walk topics will cover the farm, farmyard and labour - topics not to be missed. Book your ticket here
24 June 2022

Multi species swards: grazing trial at Johnstown Castle
Despite lower fertiliser nitrogen, dairy cattle on multi-species swards performed similarly to a herd on grass-clover, a Teagasc grazing trial shows. Aidan Lawless (Johnstown Castle), Mike Dineen (Moorepark), David Wall (Johnstown Castle) and John Finn (Johnstown Castle) discuss this research here
24 June 2022

Organic farming with Fergal Byrne
On Wednesday, 8th June 2022, Organic Sheep, Cereals and Beef Finishing farmer Fergal Byrne, Calverstown Little, Dunlavin, Co. Kildare hosted a Teagasc Organic Farm Walk. Fergal shares details about his organic farm here, which is very informative for anyone considering converting to organic farming
24 June 2022

When should breeding season end?
On many spring-calving herds, the aim is to align calving date to turnout date to try and match grass growth and demand. With the breeding season well underway in spring-calving suckler herds, farmers are now considering when to remove the stock bull. John Kilboyle, Teagasc Tuam Advisor has advice
24 June 2022

Minister McConalogue launches DairyBeef500 Campaign
DairyBeef500, a new programme focused on dairy beef production has been launched by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD. Dairy calf to beef demonstration farms have been selected throughout the country to illustrate key technologies. Read more details here
23 June 2022

Linear Biodiversity Habitats
Hedges, watercourses and field margins are important linear features that define the Irish farming landscape and provide food, shelter and movement corridors for our native wildlife. Linear Biodiversity Habitats featured in the June edition of the Teagasc Signpost e-newsletter. Find out more here
22 June 2022

Grass10 Newsletter - 21st June 2022
A week ago marked the 200th Edition of the Grass10 newsletter. The Grass10 newsletter has evolved significantly since the 1st edition and there is nothing else like it for farmers involved in grassland management. The Grass10 team look at the 2022 Grass Growth Curve to date, and more this week
22 June 2022

Summer Mastitis – Risk increasing
Summer mastitis is normally associated with dry cows and heifers in the summer months (late June-mid September). Up to now temperatures have been cool but in the last week conditions became more humid, fly numbers are on the rise, so risk has increased. Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist advises
22 June 2022

Meet the Farmer - Peadar O'Driscoll
Peadar O’Driscoll from Churchcross outside Skibbereen is a monitor farm in the Teagasc Carbery Joint Programme as well as being a SignPost farmer in the national SignPost programme. David Purcell, Teagasc Dairy Advisor, Skibbereen, West Cork, has an update from Peadar's farm
22 June 2022

BEEF2022 Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming
Teagasc Beef 2022 open day takes place on Tuesday 5th July in Teagasc Grange Co. Meath. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming’. Find out from Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist, all about what is happening on the day and why you should not miss this event
21 June 2022

Incorporating clover at Ballyhaise
In 2021 a new 5-year systems trial began looking at transitioning from high levels of Nitrogen (N) usage to low levels of imported N in Ballyhaise College. Donal Patton, Teagasc Ballyhaise gives an insight into this new research which looks at persistency of clover incorporated in grass swards
21 June 2022

Show Jessy your Farm Safety ideas and win!
Calling 4-12 year olds! Jessy the Sheep Dog, our Teagasc Farm Safety mascot, loves to help keep everyone safe on the farm so she wants to give 4 lucky winners a prize. Find out about the ‘Stay Safe with Jessy' art competition, how to enter and what you can win. Closing date for entries is 22 July
19 June 2022

Growing Wild - bluebells and guelder rose
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 bluebells and guelder rose
19 June 2022

New Teagasc Regional Reviews Published
Teagasc has published Reviews for each of the 12 Teagasc Advisory Regions. The reviews give an overview of the range of the agricultural and farming sectors in each region. The supporting advisory activities and education courses provided by Teagasc are also highlighted and available in the reviews.
19 June 2022

Meet Signpost and Future Beef farmer John Barry
John Barry farms with his father Jim in Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. His Teagasc Advisor is Michael Daly. John has an 80 cow suckling to store system, spring & autumn calving. He uses AI to breed replacements and quality export type weanlings but also uses a Charolais stock bull. Read more here
18 June 2022

It’s Time for Lime!
Weather conditions can be a major obstacle for spreading lime, especially during the latter half of the grazing season. Unfavourable weather conditions experienced in autumn hampers ability to get lime spread on the farm. Teagasc Kilrush, Advisor Niall Kerins gives advice on spreading lime earlier
18 June 2022

This is Beef Farming - Photo Competition
We know Irish beef farmers are passionate about what they do and we want to celebrate their hard work by giving away some prizes! Find out about the ‘This is Beef Farming’ photo competition, how you can enter and what you can win, here
17 June 2022