Grassland

Let's Talk Dairy - Steps to Making Quality Silage
On this episode of Let's Talk Dairy which took place on Thursday, 19th May, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist discusses the steps to making quality silage.
30 May 2022

The Clover Reporter with Ger Pardy
The Clover Reporter in the Grass10 enewsletter will give weekly reports and videos from farmers who have a lot of clover established on their farms. This week The Clover Reporter is Ger Pardy, a dairy farmer in Co. Offaly.
28 May 2022

The Signpost Series - Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond
On this episode of The Signpost Series which took place on Friday, 13th May, Pat Murphy, Head of Environment KT, Teagasc was joined by Ted Massey & Leanne Roache, Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) Nitrates Division to discuss Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme and beyond.
28 May 2022

Silage walls: consider safety and capacity
Herd size has increased on many farms, but in many cases there hasn’t been a corresponding investment in silage storage. Silage pits on some farms are dangerously high. Farm Buildings and Infrastructure Specialist Tom Fallon has some advice on silage pit safety and capacity
27 May 2022

Teagasc Signpost Future Beef Farmers in Waterford
Eamon McCarthy and his son Donnchadh operate a bull beef finishing system, farming near Glendine, Youghal, Co. Waterford. Part of the farm is in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). They have a suckling to beef enterprise also. Catriona Foley and Aisling Molloy, Teagasc tell us more
26 May 2022

Control Grass Quality and Boost Profits
There is an old saying that “A wet and windy May fills the barn with corn and hay” and this certainly true this year. Grass growth rates have shown a 20% increase in the last week. High grass growth can be challenging for farmers. Teagasc Advisor Kay O'Connell has some advice on managing this growth
26 May 2022

Fertiliser Spreader - Tray test and field procedure Factsheet
Teagasc recently published a compendium of 20 factsheets providing the latest technical advice on soils, nutrients and fertiliser. The sixteenth of these is about the Fertiliser Spreader - Tray test and field procedure and can be read here. All 20 will be published here on Teagasc Daily
25 May 2022

Newford Notes - Week of 16th May 2022
Breeding season began on Wednesday the 20th of April and 100% AI is being used on the farm again in 2022. Michael Fagan Technician at Newford Suckler Demonstration Farm, Athenry outlines breeding details for the farm. He discusses some recent cattle weighings and reseeding with a multispecies mix
25 May 2022

Grass10 Newsletter - 24th May 2022
The Grass10 e-Newsletter features; Grass10 featured farmer Sean O'Donnell, Co. Mayo, the clover reporter with Ger Pardy, Co. Offaly; a look back on the Getting to Grips with the Summer Wedge webinar plus Grass10 weekly tips and checklist; grass growth predictions, and more here
25 May 2022

Grass silage – why high feed value is essential
The production of high feed-value silage should always be the objective of producers who feed silage to lactating dairy cows, growing and finishing beef cattle, and pregnant ewes. For me, the target for high feed-value silage is a DMD of greater than 75% writes Dr. Tim Keady, Teagasc researcher
25 May 2022

New Teagasc study finds no impact of inhibitors on the soil microbiome
New research from Teagasc 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 repeated application
24 May 2022

Maximising lamb performance
Michael Gottstein, Head of Teagasc Sheep Knowledge Transfer Programme, summarises the five key management tips that sheep farmers should be taking into consideration at this time of year to maximise the performance of their lambs
24 May 2022

Making enough quality grass silage for dairy farms in 2022
With fertilizer Nitrogen prices at very high levels, our Teagasc dairy advisory staff have been receiving many queries this spring on the best strategy to keep the cost of silage down. Joe Patton, Head of Dairy KT, Teagasc has advice on fertiliser application and silage quality to address these
24 May 2022

Lambing review and planning ahead in the South East
Tim & Richard Sheil farm in partnership with their parents Terry & Olwen at Coolree, near Kiltealy on the Wexford/Carlow border in the shadow of the Blackstairs Mountain. James Doran, Teagasc advisor reviews how lambing went and takes a look at grazing season plans
24 May 2022

Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming
The official launch of the Teagasc Beef2022 Open Day, themed Supporting Sustainable Beef Farming and planned for Tuesday, 5th July, took place at the Teagasc, Animal & Grassland, Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath, today Monday, 23 May. The Beef2022 Open Day is supported by FBD Trust
23 May 2022

Getting cows back in calf
Pauline O'Driscoll, Teagasc Dairy Advisor, Skibbereen, discusses the importance of nutrition for breeding, EBI and getting cows back in calf. While discussing the breeding season she has tips on targets, plans and goals and she lists bull selection targets to keep in mind
23 May 2022

The Jackson Organic Farm
In 2015 Ross and Amy Jackson began conversion to organic farming and now farm a cereal enterprise of malting barley and oats, and a sheep enterprise. In April they held an organic farm walk on their farm at Lacka, Carrig, Co.Tipperary. We catch up with them here to find out about their organic farm
22 May 2022

Fodder Budget – Planning for winter 2022
As feed prices are anticipated to remain strong next winter, it’s very important that farmers calculate the silage stock in their farmyards. Advisor Eddie Webb gives advice and guidance on the completion of a fodder budget as the best way to forward plan
21 May 2022

Climate Actions for May
As we progress through the latter half of May it's time to check to see if we are meeting our Signpost climate action targets for May; Using protected urea, grazing at 8-10cm, targeting a late May silage cut, manage silage effluent, right clover incorporation conditions, applying sulphur to cereals
21 May 2022

How farmers can help bees on World Bee Day
It's #WorldBeeDay. Bees need food all year round, requiring a diversity of flowering plants in the landscape. Farmers can help bees by allowing space for wildflowers to grow and flower within hedgerows and field margins, around farmyards, along farm roadways and in field corners. Learn more here
20 May 2022

Additives reducing methane emissions
The ‘METH-ABATE’ project aims to identify additives from a range of sources in order to reduce methane emissions. Emily Roskam and Sinéad Waters, Teagasc Grange Researchers enlighten us. Sinead Waters also presented on the role of feed additives in reducing methane emissions in a Signpost video here
19 May 2022

Ireland to host European Dairy Farmers Congress in June
The 30th European Dairy Farmers Conference,will take place from 28-30th June in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork. The theme of the conference is ‘Sustainable Dairying – The Irish Story’. Over 350 delegates from more than 28 countries are expected to attend the three day event. Read more here
19 May 2022

Grass10 Newsletter - 17th May 2022
In this week's newsletter get the regular Grass10 weekly tips, grass growth figures plus a chance to look back on the webinar on grass wedge using PastureBase Ireland. Peter Doyle, Teagasc Grange returns as The Clover Reporter and this week's Grass10 featured farmer is John and Brendan Walsh
18 May 2022

Selecting a suitable fencer for your cattle fencing system
With rising costs, many farmers are considering implementing a paddock system or even putting up a few strip wires. Improving grazing infrastructure on farm allows better control of grass, increased grass growth and improved animal performance. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist has advice
18 May 2022

Making more use of AI on Future Beef farm
Recently Brian Daly, Teagasc advisor Roscommon caught up with Olivia Hynes. Olivia, is a full-time beef and sheep farmer from outside Four Roads, Roscommon and is part of the Teagasc Future Beef programme. He started off by asking Olivia how the current crop of calves born this spring are doing.
17 May 2022

Identifying poor performing sheep in your flock
Every year ewes drop out of flocks for a variety reasons including mastitis, prolapse etc. However, invariably some ewes slip through the cracks and despite underperforming are kept on for a further year. Here Teagasc researcher Frank Campion has some advice on identifying underperforming ewes.
17 May 2022

Growing Wild - dandelion and greater stitchwort
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 Dandelion and Greater Stitchwort
15 May 2022

Fertiliser Spreader – Basic Setup and Calibration Factsheet
Teagasc recently published a compendium of 20 factsheets providing the latest technical advice on soils, nutrients and fertiliser. The fifteenth of these is about the Fertiliser Spreader – Basic Setup and Calibration and can be read here. All 20 will be published here on Teagasc Daily
15 May 2022

How to reduce Nitrogen losses at farm level?
Diffuse nitrogen (N) loss is a key pressure on water quality. Losses typically occur in ‘light’ free draining soils, which water can easily permeate through. Teagasc Advisor Mary Roache has advice on ways to minimise N leaching on your farm and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)
14 May 2022

Today's Farm - May/June 2022
The May/June edition of our bi-monthly magazine is now available online. The main focus of this edition is on Teagasc Grange research and previews the BEEF2022 Open Day. It also has articles on the upcoming Sheep Open Day; heart health; butterflies and moths; fodder budgets; silage walls and more.
13 May 2022