Grassland
High Genetic Merit Belclare Sires Having the Desired Effect
Francis Gonley and his family run an all sheep farm on the outskirts of Sligo town. The farm is part of the Teagasc BETTER Farm Sheep Programme. Damian Costello, Teagasc Sheep Specialist, reports the latest on sheep performance and farm plan progress.
07 August 2021
Growth Watch: Building Bank of Autumn Grass Starts Now
James Fitzgerald and Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, give advice on using the break in weather to boost on growth in August and build grass reserves on your farm. They also get updates from farmers Ciaran Bartley, Co. Limerick, and Peter Byrne, Co. Kildare.
06 August 2021
Signpost Programme Update
Our demonstration farmers are currently engaging with the National Farm Survey (NFS) recorders. This month's research update is on the importance of getting soil pH right. Take a look at the warming stripes for Ireland from 1901 to 2020
06 August 2021
Environment Newsletter - August 2021
The latest edition of the Environment newsletter has information on: Low-input grassland; Message from Signpost - Why do farmers need to engage with climate action?; and Message from ASSAP - Tillage cover/catch crops can help water quality
06 August 2021
Five reasons for farmers to engage with climate actions
Climate change is perhaps the greatest environmental challenge facing the world right now. Climate change is already happening with increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels. Irish Agriculture contributes to 35% of the greenhouse gases produced in Ireland.
04 August 2021
Why farm soils cause greenhouse gas emissions - and how to fix it
Hands up who is interested in soil? Anyone? Anyone at all? Tumbleweeds might roll past unless you are addressing a room full of avid gardeners and land managers. This article by Rosie O'Neill, Teagasc Walsh Scholar first appeared on RTÉ Brainstorm.
01 August 2021
Soil Sealing in Ireland
The July Map of the Month looks at the important issue of soil sealing in Ireland. Soil sealing is where the ground is covered with an artificial impervious layer - such as concrete. The map was produced as part of the new Terrain-AI project.
31 July 2021
Reseeding: The final piece of the jigsaw in Co. Carlow
Shane Cranny operates a calf to beef system in Myshall, Co. Carlow, where 70 autumn-born Holstein calves are purchased annually. Here Seán Cummins, Teagasc Green Acres Advisor shares some insight into Shane's farm and we get in-depth reseeding information from Shane himself in a short video
31 July 2021
Growth Watch: Rain to give much needed respite, but challenges persist
The extended dry spell has posed many challenges to the farmers in the Teagasc Green Acres Programme. James Fitzgerald & Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisors, give advice on dealing with cattle in different weather conditions. They also get farm updates from JP Hammersley & Irvine Allen.
30 July 2021
Soil health physical examination
TEAGASC researchers at Johnstown Castle and Oak Park, along with collaborators from UCD, have developed soil physical health tools to use at field or national monitoring network scales. Research Officers Owen Fenton, Dermot Forristal & Giulia Bondi bring us fascinating insight into Soil Health here
30 July 2021
Nitrogen Loss to Water in Agricultural Catchments
Every four years the Nitrates Directive is reviewed and changes are made to the regulations. 2021 is such a year. In Teagasc, the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) studies water quality in 6 contrasting catchments across the country. Edward Burgess ACP, discusses some ACP study results here
29 July 2021
Fertiliser advice under prolonged dry soil conditions
Over the last 6 to 7 weeks soil moisture deficits (SMD) have continued to increase due to low rainfall in many parts of the country. At SMD above 50 mm growth becomes restricted. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist discusses Fertiliser N Application decisions in dry conditions
28 July 2021
Planning in preparation for weaning- how to prevent pneumonia?
With spring calving herds weaning calves in September-October, now is the time to plan your vaccination programme. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist, highlights that the number one cause of mortality in weanlings in 2020 was pneumonia and she has advice to prevent it on your farm here
28 July 2021
Quarantine drench – Avoid bringing resistant worms on to your farm
At this time of year a lot of sheep move between farms, whether its rams, breeding females or store lambs. Any new sheep entering flocks pose a potential biosecurity risk, in particular the risk of bringing resistant worms with them. Ciaran Lynch & Dr Orla Keane Teagasc discuss the quarantine drench
27 July 2021
Teagasc Green Acres Newsletter Issue 4
This issue of the Teagasc Green Acres Calf to Beef Programme e-Newsletter has an update on Shane Cranny's farm; Key management tips; Calf mortality - a cost to the system and Antibiotic usage. The Green Acres Calf to Beef e-Newsletter issues fortnightly. See it here
26 July 2021
Winning the 2nd half - how do cows experience your farm?
A lot happens in the first 150 days of the cow’s lactation but to a large extent the game is decided in the second half. How can we win the second half? Tom Fallon, Farm Buildings & Infrastructure Specialist wants to achieve five in a row (lactations for all cows) and has tips for achieving this
26 July 2021
A day in the life of a young dairy farmer - Laura Hannon
On Wednesday 14th July, Laura Hannon hosted an Instagram takeover on the Teagasc account to give insight into a day in the life of a young dairy farmer. She gave an overview of her story, educational background and how she got into dairy farming. Watch as Laura takes you through her daily farm tasks
25 July 2021
Growth Watch: Complete heavier machinery work while ground conditions allow
The advice from the GreenAcres Advisors, Seán Cummins and James Fitzgerald, this week is to complete heavier machinery work, like spreading lime, while ground conditions allow. They bring us the Green Acres Growth Watch from the farms of Jarlath Ruane, Co. Mayo and Aidan Maguire, Co. Meath
24 July 2021
Safety at Silage Appeal
During the hot weather of Farm Safety Week coinciding with peak harvesting and transporting of silage on Irish farms, Brendan Garry, Teagasc Ballinrobe issues a timely safety at silage appeal. There is extra machinery on our roads and farms so extra caution is needed by all parties.
22 July 2021
Taking Care in the Countryside
Irish farmers work very hard each day, managing their animals & crops. This is done while also maintaining habitats, protecting watercourses & supporting their communities. Teagasc Health & Safety Specialists John McNamara & Francis Bligh have advice for farmers on how to keep the countryside safe.
22 July 2021
Heat Stress in Cattle
Compared to other animals cattle cannot dissipate their heat load very well. Cattle do not sweat effectively and rely on respiration to cool down. Dr. Bernadette Earley, Teagasc Grange Researcher has produced a timely fact sheet to help farmers manage cattle on these hot days. Read it here
21 July 2021
Know your blind spots
Up to 50% of fatalities in agriculture involve a farm vehicle or machinery. Serena Gibbons, Education Officer, Teagasc Athenry talks about blind spots around tractors and has top tips to staying safe and making our farms safer when it comes to working with tractors
21 July 2021
Farming Safely with Farm Machinery
Nearly half of farm accidents are caused by tractors, farm vehicles and machinery. Inexperienced operators, lack of concentration, human error, time pressure and unguarded parts like PTO shaft are the main causes of accidents. Teagasc Machinery Specialist, Francis Quigley has more here
20 July 2021
On-farm Steps to Benefit the Environment
Climate change and the Environment are real and urgent topics which will be with us for a long time to come. In this short video Peter Comer, Mayo ASSAP Advisor looks at a few of the "heavy hitters" that farmers can adopt right now which will have a significant positive impact on the environment
18 July 2021
Managing Oversown Clover
Over-sown clover needs careful management this time of the year to ensure good establishment and persistency. Watch as Mike Egan, Teagasc researcher at Moorepark has good practical advice in this Teagasc Signpost video, on grazing and fertiliser management of over-sown clover in the grass sward
17 July 2021
Growth Watch: Focus turns to second-cut silage
Excellent quality silage plays a crucial role in the nutrition of both weanling & finishing stock on calf to beef farms. Séan Cummins, Teagasc GreenAcres Advisor has some advice on second-cut silage. Seán also caught up with Peter O’Hanrahan & Richard Long to get an update on their grass situation.
16 July 2021
REAP Margins fencing date approaches
Aoife Leader, Teagasc Walsh Scholar, highlights how farmers can maintain and enhance field margins for farmland biodiversity bearing in mind that farmers availing of the REAP scheme may choose to fence these margins from livestock. For REAP this fencing must be in place by 15th July 2021. See more
14 July 2021
Clonakilty Agricultural College Open Day
Clonakilty Agricultural College wishes to welcome you to their 2021 Covid-19 compliant Open Day taking place Thursday 15th July. The Guided Tours will run from 11am to 3pm and your place on the tour must be booked in advance. See more details here
14 July 2021
Best practice management of dairy calves in their first season at grass
Trials at Teagasc Johnstown Castle show performance of young dairy-bred beef calves in the first summer at grass can have a big impact on their subsequent lifetime performance. It is essential then that they meet their target daily gains during the summer. Martina Harrington Beef Specialist has more
14 July 2021
Breaking the Pathway of Phosphorus and Sediment entering Waterways
When farmers are applying fertilisers, cultivating, grazing or draining land close to watercourses, careful, site specific land management can minimise the risk of Phosphorus and sediment loss and help improve water quality. Ivan Kelly, ASSAP Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare has good advice here
13 July 2021