Grassland
Listen: Weekly Grass10 Update
For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses getting soil samples completed while ground conditions are good and he highlights the upcoming Nutrient Management Week on our social media channels.
18 January 2025
Finding the optimum forward speed when spreading slurry
As more farmers move to using Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) technologies, finding the most appropriate forward speed is necessary to ensure slurry is applied at the correct rate.
15 January 2025
More farmers required to use LESS
As slurry spreading is now permitted in Zone A, and the prohibited period for applications coming to an end in Zone B and Zone C in the not too distant future, more farmers will now be required to use Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) technologies for the coming year.
14 January 2025
Focus on soil fertility and review grassland performance now
As we enter 2025, assessing the soil fertility of your farm and reviewing your 2024 grassland performance are key before the busy spring period gets underway on Irish farms, John Maher, Joseph Dunphy and Niamh Doyle from the Teagasc Grass10 team tells us more.
07 January 2025
Soils samples, can you afford not to take them?
Kevin O’Hara, Drystock Advisor, highlights the importance of soil sampling and nutrient management plans for farmers to comply with fertiliser regulations.
03 January 2025
Plantain Power: Reducing Nitrate Leaching in Pasture Systems
A recent study from Teagasc has found that the incorporation of ribwort plantain into pasture can reduce nitrate leaching across a range of Irish soils.
08 December 2024
2024’s final grassland challenge
With cows returning indoors and the dust settling on the 2024 grazing year, the unforgiving nature of the year that’s been could have one final grassland management challenge to give – lower grass availability next February.
05 December 2024
Listen: Grass10 Update with Michael Carroll, Co. Limerick
For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures for the week.
01 December 2024
Grazing year winding down on Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms
A year blighted by grassland management challenges, stretching from saturated soils in the first quarter to reduced grass growth rates over the summer months, has ended on a positive note on the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farms. Sandra Hayes, Co-ordinator of the programme, tells us more.
29 November 2024
Adapting to climate change: More grass and more management
Ireland’s changing climate and the potential impacts it may have on grassland and crop production systems were discussed by Dr. Elodie Ruelle, Senior Research Officer in Teagasc Moorepark, at the recent convening of the Teagasc Signpost Conference and General Assembly.
26 November 2024
Bluetongue: What are the risks for Irish cattle farmers and what can we do about it?
At the recent National Beef Conference, Dr. Eoin Ryan, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) presented on 'Bluetongue: What are the risks for Irish cattle farmers and what can we do about it?'
25 November 2024
Lime - an old but gold technology
Although one of the older technologies available, the correction of soil pH through the application of lime to acidic soils still remains a practical nutrient management solution and is the foundation for addressing soil fertility challenges on Irish farms.
23 November 2024
Assessing farmers’ attitudes towards including a multi-species sward on their farm
Farmers’ motivations for sowing a multi-species sward and insights on their management experiences were gathered through a survey. In this article, Kate Purcell shares the key results of this work undertaken as part of her Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation Project.
06 November 2024
Silage: Both a Cost and an Asset - How Does Yours Stack Up?
John Galvin, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare, discusses the importance of silage quality testing to optimize livestock nutrition and manage winter feed costs effectively.
04 November 2024
Feed costs – current situation and future scenario analysis
As part of the recent Teagasc Grassland Climate Adaption Conference, Peter Doyle, Michael O’Donovan, Paul Crosson and Tomás Tubritt outlined the current cost of producing home-grown feeds on livestock farms and assessed how this may change into the future.
03 November 2024
Grazing advice: Setting up the farm for profitable milk production next spring
Providing advice on planning your remaining grazings, Grass10 Advisor at Teagasc, Joseph Dunphy shares key tips on setting up farm up for profitable milk production in 2025.
29 October 2024
Listen: Weekly Grass10 Update - with Brian Meade
On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures for the week.
25 October 2024
How weather patterns are changing, what are we adapting to?
As part of the recent Teagasc Grassland Climate Adaption Conference, Met Éireann’s Pádraig Flattery outlined how Ireland’s climate has changed and how it is likely to continue changing in the future.
21 October 2024
Closing up the farm this autumn
The two objectives of autumn grassland management are to keep grass in diet of the grazing animal and to close up the farm to have grass available in spring.
17 October 2024
Coping with climate change – conference hears of necessary grassland adaptions
The Grassland Climate Adaptation Conference, held today, Tuesday, 15 October, specifically focussed on the key challenges and adaptations which are required to materialise in Irish grassland systems in the years ahead.
15 October 2024
Grass10 October update for sheep farms
Teagasc Grass10 advisor, Niamh Doyle joins Ciaran Lynch on this episode of the OviCast podcast to share grass management tips for the month ahead.
15 October 2024
Autumn grassland management guidelines on sheep farms
Autumn is the starting point of the grassland year, writes Ciaran Lynch, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, who explains why the management and decisions made in this period have a direct effect on the quality and availability of grass the following spring.
15 October 2024
Adding clovers or herbs to sheep grazed swards
Philip Creighton and Lisa McGrane share details of research work undertaken at Teagasc Athenry, which examined how the addition of clovers or herbs to a sheep grazed sward impact upon animal and sward performance.
13 October 2024
Winter Feed 2024: What’s your Plan?
Paul Mullins, Education Officer, Teagasc Galway/Clare discusses strategies for managing potential winter feed shortages on farms in 2024 due to reduced grass growth and silage production.
12 October 2024
The October Grass10 Update
Grass10 Advisor, Niamh Doyle joins Catherine Egan on this episode of the Beef Edge podcast with grassland management tips for the month ahead.
08 October 2024
Applying the principles of integrated pest management to dock control
Are docks an issue in your grassland? Teagasc Advisor in Tralee, Eamonn Dempsey fills us in on why chemical control shouldn’t be your first port of call, but instead the principles of integrated pest management should be applied.
06 October 2024
Weekly Grass 10 Update: Preparing for Winter Grazing
For this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures for the week.
04 October 2024
Watch: Maximising grazing under an organic dairy farming system
Kevin O’Hanlon, Manager of Pollard’s Organic Farm in Co. Wexford, was crowned the winner of the Organic Category of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year in 2023. In recognition of this award, he recently hosted a virtual farm walk.
30 September 2024
Winter feed 2024: Act now if supplies are tight
More dairy and drystock farms than usual have reported winter feed budget shortages, potentially leading to a greater risk of feed problems next spring. Dr Joe Patton, Teagasc Head of Dairy Knowledge Transfer, shares five key actions these farmers could take.
28 September 2024
Slurry Spreading - Advice for Farmers and Slurry Contractors
As the slurry spreading season comes to a close across the country over the coming days, Noel Meehan and Sinead Devaney of the Teagasc ASSAP Programme explain why it is very important that farmers and agricultural contractors apply slurry very carefully so as to prevent nutrient losses to water.
27 September 2024