Grassland
Podcast: Weekly Grass10 Update
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.
03 May 2024
Target quality silage for sheep farms
Damian Costello, Sheep Specialist, shares key advice to ensure you produce enough high-quality silage for your ewes next winter.
30 April 2024
Should I bulk up silage in the first cut?
After a long winter that exhausted silage stocks on many farms, the temptation is to ‘bulk up’ the first cut of silage. However, this may prove to be a false economy.
26 April 2024
Adjusting nitrogen applications on white clover swards
When sufficient quantities of white clover are present within grassland swards, farmers can tailor their nitrogen application programmes to make full use of the clover plant’s ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere – thus reducing chemical nitrogen usage and saving on costs.
25 April 2024
The milk production benefits of incorporating white clover in grass swards
Since 2013, researchers in Teagasc Moorepark and Clonakilty have been looking at the benefits incorporating white clover into grass swards can bring. Along with reducing the requirement for chemical nitrogen, milk production benefits have been witnessed.
24 April 2024
Tips on establishing grass/white clover swards
The inclusion of white clover in grassland swards brings many benefits - from nitrogen fixation and the resulting reduction in chemical nitrogen requirements, increased herbage quality and dry matter intake, and higher milk production and live weight gain.
23 April 2024
50 years in the making
Since taking over the farm at the age of 15, Billy Gilmore has focused firmly on grass as the key driver of his farming business in Cortoon, Tuam, Co. Galway.
22 April 2024
Grass10 Clover Week commences
This week is Teagasc Grass10 Clover and Spring Grazing Management social media week - a full focus week of information on spring grazing management, strategies for feed conservation in 2024 and increasing the role of clover on farm.
22 April 2024
Extension to Nitrates Derogation application and Dairy Banding deadline
Extensions to the deadlines to submit Nitrates Derogation applications for 2024 and for dairy farmers to confirm their 2024 dairy excretion rate band were today announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D.
17 April 2024
Making a start at grazing – small numbers, large areas
Turnout has been delayed on many beef farms across the country. With a turnaround in the weather forecast, Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager, provides some key tips on managing the transition back to grass.
16 April 2024
Close up fields now for quality silage in May
John Galvin, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, discusses the challenges faced by farmers due to excessive rainfall and poor weather conditions impacting silage making, emphasising the importance of planning and quality silage production to meet livestock needs.
14 April 2024
Weekly grazing management update from Grass10
On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, including: dry matter percentages and predicted grass growth; and rainfall and soil temperatures for this week.
11 April 2024
Winner of Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year crowned
The Overall Winner of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year 2023 is Patrick O’Neill from Co. Longford.
11 April 2024
Details of Fodder Transport Support Measure revealed
As part of the meeting of the National Fodder and Feed Security Committee, today, April 9, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D, revealed details of a measure to support the transport of fodder to areas where supplies are running tight.
09 April 2024
Maintaining positive wellbeing during this challenging spring weather
Finola Colgan, Development Officer at Mental Health Ireland, and Francis Bligh, Health and Safety Specialist at Teagasc, give advice on maintaining positive wellbeing during this challenging spring weather.
09 April 2024
Protected Urea delivers both cost savings and reduces greenhouse gasses
Alan Nolan, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Ballinrobe, focuses on how protected urea is instrumental in achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while enhancing nitrogen efficiency and reducing costs.
09 April 2024
Supporting farmers through this difficult period
Following a difficult spring and no immediate respite from the weather challenges being faced at farm level, Teagasc has moved to introduce a number of measures to support farmers.
08 April 2024
Preparing to get nitrogen applications back on track
Along with the associated grazing challenges, the wet spring has limited the opportunities for both organic and artificial fertiliser applications on many farms.
08 April 2024
Springing into Organics: A Clover Grazing Guide
Clodagh Morgan, Walsh Scholar, Teagasc Galway/Clare, discusses the role of clover in enhancing soil fertility, biodiversity, and sustainability.
08 April 2024
Management advice as the difficult spring moves into April
With weather continuing to make management difficult on farms and considerably more rain on the way, the Teagasc Grass10 team has offered some key advice to farmers as part of its weekly newsletter.
04 April 2024
Grass10 spring farm walks
A series of 12 clover spring farm walks will take place on farms nationally, from Kerry to Donegal, from April 3 to April 17.
02 April 2024
Management of ewes and lambs post turnout - grouping up to kick-start rotational grazing
Damian Costello and Philip Creighton, Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Programme, Mellows Centre, Athenry, offer practical advice on managing spring grass on sheep farms.
02 April 2024
In clover with a strategy to cut nitrogen usage
Clare dairy farmer Diarmaid Fitzgerald has established clover on two thirds of the family farm as part of a strategy to reduce N fertiliser usage. John Maher tells us more.
31 March 2024
Advisory messages from the National Fodder and Food Security Committee meeting
An online meeting of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee (NFFSC) took place on Friday, March 29, at the request of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD.
29 March 2024
Grazing at a standstill after further rainfall
On account of continuous rainfall, grazing has ground to a halt on many farms. The Teagasc Grass10 offers some key advice in dealing with this challenge.
28 March 2024
MoSt predicted grass growth in PastureBase Ireland
PastureBase Ireland is a grassland decision support tool available to all farmers in Ireland. Ciarán Hearn, Michael O’Donovan and Elodie Ruelle of the Teagasc Moorepark Grassland Department tells us on its latest developments.
25 March 2024
Grazing update with farmer David Dolan, Co. Mayo
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 .
22 March 2024
The 3 checks of managing pasture on your farm during March
On the latest Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses PastureBase data, Dry Matter % and Predicted grass growth, rainfall & soil temperatures for the week.
18 March 2024
Silage quality improvements - Ten point plan
On dairy calf to beef farms all animals are priority stock. It is essential that all animals are gaining weight every day. As silage can make up to at least 1/4 of the annual diet on these farms, animals should be fed very high quality silage during the winter housing period.
16 March 2024
Establishment systems for red clover
Red clover is a relatively new crop to many and, as a result, farmers may be questioning the most appropriate system for establishing this crop over the coming months.
11 March 2024