Grassland
High levels of herbage production and animal performance from red clover
Red clover can contribute substantially to organic, low-input and conventional animal production systems due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and support of high animal performance.
21 July 2023
Teagasc Fodder Survey July 2023
National situation on target, but 15% of farms have deficits to make-up with second cuts
19 July 2023
Lime Application and Clover Establishment - Sustainable Actions
Anne O’ Malley, Business & Technology Advisor, Teagasc Ballina, tells us more about two sustainable actions, lime application and clover establishment.
10 July 2023
New grass and clover genetic improvement programme launched
Teagasc and Goldcrop have signed a long-term grass and clover genetic improvement agreement, today, 4 July, at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day. The new breeding and commercialisation collaboration will be called Pasture Innovations.
04 July 2023
Work Organisation for Farmer Health and Safety video launched
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D. today, Tuesday, 4th July, launched a ‘Work Organisation for Farmer Health and Safety’ video at the Moorepark Dairy Open Day in Fermoy, Co. Cork.
04 July 2023
White clover is a second-half player
July 1st is the half time whistle in the grazing calendar. The Grass10 blueprint to grow 14t DM/ha and achieve 10 grazings per paddock is now at the half way mark, John Douglas, Grass10 Advisor, tells us more.
03 July 2023
Where to next for grasslands?
Grasslands are a key pillar of Irish dairy production and the composition of Irish grasslands have changed over recent years, increasing in complexity from single-species grass swards to multi-species swards, Ciarán Hearn and Tomás Tubritt tell us more.
02 July 2023
Grass10: Refocus on mid-season grazing targets
Recent rainfall has helped reduce soil moisture deficits in most areas. However, some areas are still in a high soil moisture deficit. This week’s Grass10 newsletter focuses on achieving mid-season grazing targets now that grass growth rates have recovered for many.
28 June 2023
Your ACRES Plan
Many of the 46,000 farmers who applied for ACRES last November had their applications approved in late March. Once you were approved you were effectively a scheme participant since the 1st of January and the contracted period will run for 5 years until the 31st of December 2027.
26 June 2023
Important new study shows the area of drained grassland peat soils is grossly overestimated
The land-use sector in Ireland is estimated in the national greenhouse gas inventory to be a major source of emissions that are projected to rise to 11.1 million Tonnes CO2 eq per year by 2030*.
23 June 2023
Managing the exit from ‘green drought’
Rainfall was welcome in all areas last week to lower soil moisture deficits (SMD). Some areas received more rainfall than others. Further rainfall is predicted over the next seven days.
21 June 2023
Watch: Higher milk and solids yields from grass-white clover swards at Moorepark
Aine Murray's research is looking at the herbage and milk performance of three different groups of cows, comparing grass-only swards to grass/clover swards at different nitrogen rates.
13 June 2023
Management of multispecies swards
The Multi Species Sward Measure, introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, aimed to incentivise farmers to sow a multispecies sward, with a payment rate of €300/ha for crop establishment. Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc Advisor, tells us more.
13 June 2023
Protect average farm cover as 'green drought' takes hold
Following a prolonged period of dry weather, many areas are experiencing a decline in the daily grass growth rates being recorded.
07 June 2023
When do you reduce chemical fertiliser in a grass clover sward?
Dr. Deirdre Hennessy features on this edition of the Environment Edge podcast, where she speaks about the nutrient management of grass clover swards.
05 June 2023
Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition launched
The Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition for 2023 was officially launched in the Teagasc Agricultural and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD.
02 June 2023
Importance of sulphur for grass and crop production
Sulphur and the soil's sulphur supply depend on soil type and soil organic matter levels.
02 June 2023
Fertiliser for second cut silage
As first cut silage is currently underway or just completed, now is a good time to assess the nutrient requirements to support second cut silage later in the season. Eddie Webb, B&T Soils & Environment Advisor, tells us more.
02 June 2023
Grass10: Managing through the current dry period
With high temperatures and very little rainfall expected for the next 10 days, this week’s Grass10 newsletter focuses on managing through the current dry spell.
31 May 2023
Awards for top grassland farmers
The Grassland Farmer of the Year competition is now in its sixth year and rewards the top grassland farmers in the country who are growing and utilising more grass on their farms in a sustainable manner.
24 May 2023
Meet the finalists as Grassland Farmer of the Year to be crowned this week
The winner of the Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition will be crowned tomorrow, May 24, in Teagasc Moorepark.
23 May 2023
Grass10: Time to act as growth passes demand
Growth rates on both dairy and beef farms have passed demand this week.
17 May 2023
Nutrient management of white clover swards
The benefits of white clover tend to occur from May onwards, as sward white clover content increases.
16 May 2023
Making quality silage to offset the rising meal price
It is difficult to predict next winter’s concentrate prices. Beef farmers who have been growing or finishing cattle will need to offset the rising meal price by improving the quality of silage they make, which will allow them to feed less meal per head, while still achieving target growth rates.
16 May 2023
Have you applied for the multispecies sward measure?
Multispecies swards are swards that have a variety of plants including grasses, clovers, brassicas and herbs, explains Ivan Kelly, B&T Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare.
14 May 2023
Watch: Selection, establishment and nutrient management of clover swards
To help promote and establish more clover on farms, the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign and Clover 150 Programme held a series of farm walks over the month of April.
13 May 2023
Taking the opportunity to reseed on Teagasc/Tirlán Future farms
Sandra Hayes, co-ordinator of the Teagasc/Tirlán Future Farm Programme, outlines the progress farmers are making with grazing and reseeding in the most recent Teagasc/Tirlan Future Farm Update.
09 May 2023
Agriculture’s role in biomethane production
Biomethane is a carbon neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste, which is produced through anaerobic digestion (AD).
06 May 2023
Setting the sights on milking quality silage in Co. Mayo
Donal Ronayne is in his third year of milk production, milking a herd of 194 spring-calving cows in south Mayo.
06 May 2023
Have you set your grazing targets for the next 100 days?
Grassland farmers are reminded to stick to the mid-season grazing targets to optimise profit from grass; the main grazing goal for the next 100 days is to graze covers of 1,300-1,400kg DM/ha.
03 May 2023