Horticulture
Potato Newsletter February 2022
The recent Teagasc Crop Costs and Returns booklet is interesting, if not scary, reading for many growers. All costs including fertiliser, seed, diesel, parts etc. will be higher this year than 2021 increasing pressure on margins for the 2022 crop. The February Teagasc Potato Newsletter has advice
04 February 2022
New Appointment to Teagasc Authority
Donald Scully has been appointed to the Teagasc Authority for a five-year term by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD. Donald Scully is a member of the ICMSA executive committee and is a dairy farmer from Cherryhill House, Ballyhyland, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
03 February 2022
Teagasc & NUI Galway partner new BSc Agricultural Science degree in the West
2021 saw the launch of a brand new BSc in Agricultural Science at the National University of Ireland Galway with a strong focus on Sustainable Agriculture. Teagasc and NUI Galway have announced a partnership to deliver on the huge demand for an Agricultural Degree programme in the West of Ireland.
20 January 2022
The importance of taking a proper soil sample
Your soil sample forms the basis of your decisions on where to apply slurry, FYM, lime and chemical forms of Phosphorous and Potassium on the farm. Martina Harrington, Teagasc Beef Specialist advises on how to take a representative soil sample and outlines the benefits of getting it right
19 January 2022
Aiming for success in market gardening
John Mulhern, principal at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens profiles a student, Peter Kelleher, who is entering a second career in the fascinating world of horticulture.
18 January 2022
Cork Student wins Teagasc award at BTYSTE 2022 – Potential of nematodes to replace pesticides
Johannah Pigott, a Transition Year student from Colaiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co. Cork, is the winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2022 (BTYSTE). Johannah’s project looked at the potential of nematodes to replace chemical pesticides.
14 January 2022
Teagasc at BTYSTE: Breeding potatoes for the future
We Irish love our potatoes. Ireland’s average annual potato consumption is 85kg per person – two-and-a-half times higher than the world average. Find out about Teagasc potato research into breeding potatoes, including the rooster variety from Teagasc researchers Catriona Boyle and Denis Griffin
14 January 2022
Teagasc at BTYSTE: Reducing food waste
Teagasc is at the virtual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2022. Teagasc Researchers Muireann Egan and Catriona Boyle tell us about the research work of Teagasc horticultural scientists and food scientists in reducing food waste. You can visit the Teagasc stand here too
12 January 2022
Shelf Life of Food Products
The shelf life of a food product refers to the length of time for which it can be stored, under specified conditions, while remaining in optimum condition and safe for consumption. Find out about factors affecting shelf life, legal requirements for shelf life, use-by dates, and best-before dates.
09 January 2022
Diversified Farmers' Guide to Social Media
Diversified businesses looking to bring in new customers need to create a social media strategy that is narrowly focused on their target audience to avoid wasting time and money. Many businesses are now aware of the need have an online presence. Follow the guidelines given here
05 January 2022
The new super berry
Work carried out on the new and popular ‘Malling Centenary’ strawberry variety has allowed Teagasc researchers to gain a better insight into the fruit’s promising potential. Eamonn Kehoe, Soft Fruit Specialist, Horticulture Development Department Teagasc Food Research Centre, has the juicy details
03 January 2022
Unearthing the value of Irish fruit and vegetables
Policies reflecting the link between food and health present opportunities for the Irish horticulture sector to generate both economic and societal benefits. Dermot Callaghan, Head of Horticulture Development Department, Teagasc, provides more information.
01 January 2022
TResearch Autumn/Winter 2021
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. The Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of TResearch magazine brings a new look. We’ve put the people who carry out our cutting-edge research front and centre.
31 December 2021
Unearthing a medieval town
For the final Map of the Month of the year 2021, we take a closer look the abandoned town of Newtown near Jerpoint Abbey, Co. Kilkenny, which according to local legend is the resting place of St. Nicholas. This map by Daniel O'Mahony, Walsh Scholar looks at how technology revolutionised archaeology.
29 December 2021
Pots of glorious winter colour
The ingredients are simple but the effect can be impressive. Choose plants for colour and texture and they’ll see you through until late spring. Chris Heavey Lecturer at the Teagasc College at the National Botanic Gardens has tips for our winter flower planting displays and pots
25 December 2021
International Stakeholder Workshop on Best Practice for the Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems
A new report on Best Practice for the Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems was published recently by the HUPLANTcontrol COST action; Control of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Plant Production Systems, with the report publication coordinated by Teagasc
23 December 2021
Are you competent to operate a chainsaw safely?
Inevitably, some on-farm trees will have blown down following Storm Barra. Why not check out advice on operating a chainsaw safely on the Teagasc Forestry website page, before considering any clean-up activities? John Casey, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer provides chainsaw guidance here
10 December 2021
Advice for Farmers facing Storm Barra
Met Eireann have issued a Status Red, Orange and Yellow - Wind warning for Ireland. Storms are becoming a more frequent occurance in Ireland bringing a mixture of wind, rain and sometimes snow. Teagasc has advice here for farmers facing the current Storm Barra this Tuesday and Wednesday
07 December 2021
A day in the life: Andrea Uccello, Teagasc Researcher
Andrea Uccello is from Italy and he began working for Teagasc in July 2021. A Day in the Life... video tells how he studied Forest Science in Florence (Italy), embarked on his research journey and went on to work in the mushroom industry. Find out more about Andrea's interesting work training robots
01 December 2021
A day in the life: Caoileann Murphy, Teagasc Researcher
Caoileann Murphy began working with Teagasc in March 2021. A Day in the Life... video tells how she became fascinated with nutrition about age eight when she picked up a healthy eating leaflet in the waiting room of the dentist surgery. Caoileann said "That was it, I was hooked". Find out more
23 November 2021
Safe and sustainable irrigation water options for fruit and vegetable production
It is predicted that climate change will have an impact on our fruit & vegetable producers in Ireland. Teagasc, along with partners in TU Dublin & UCD, has recently started a DAFM funded project called HortAssure which focuses on microbial & chemical safety in fruit and vegetable production.
10 November 2021
Creating Our Future
I’m sure you have seen or heard ads for the Creating Our Future initiative, which is a campaign being run by the government of Ireland to find out from the public what they think we should be doing scientific research on in the future.
09 November 2021
Digesting the Research- How do fruit and veg affect our digestive system?
Every cell in our body requires fuel to function. When we eat food, we get energy from carbohydrates, fats and proteins – these are called macronutrients. On top of that, food, especially fruit and veg, have a number of other micronutrients. Find out What’s New in Fruit & Veg from Teagasc scientists
09 November 2021
Agriculture Climate Targets Challenging but Achievable
Teagasc is committed to continue its research and advisory programme supporting farmers to meet the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions set in the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
07 November 2021
Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load
Last week was European Week for Safety & Health at Work themed: ‘Healthy Workplaces Lighten the Load’ - part of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2020-22. Francis Bligh & John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialists take this opportunity to advise on avoiding work-related injury on the farm
02 November 2021
Halloween - What do you know?
With Halloween upon us, Teagasc Daily asks the question: What do you know about pumpkins, bats and turnips? On Oíche Shamhna (Halloween night) long before pumpkin carving, the humble turnip was traditionally carved out. And hear what Éanna Ní Lamhna has to say on bats on the Environment Edge podcast
31 October 2021
The Signpost Series - Implications of climate neutrality for agriculture, land use & forestry in Ireland
On this episode of The Signpost Series, which took place on Friday, 8 October, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department was joined by Dr. David Styles, University of Limerick to discuss the implications of climate neutrality for agriculture, land use & forestry in Ireland.
23 October 2021
Do health when you are Young
On the final day of Ag Mental Health Week John McNamara, Teagasc Health & Safety Specialist looks at the health priorities of young farmers & advises that the younger the age that you start adopting health gain practices the better. He discusses Irish research in the last of his four articles
16 October 2021
Plastic recycling and investigations into packaging and shelf life of horticultural produce - Webinar
Dónall Flanagan, Teagasc Horticulture Development Dept hosted a recent webinar which focused on plastic recycling, investigations into packaging and shelf life of horticultural produce. Dónall was joined by Francis Peters, KDI Recycling; Jesus Maria Frias Celayeta, TUD and Lael Walsh, Teagasc
16 October 2021
Securing Positive Mental Health in Farming
Ag Mental Health Week runs to Saturday, Oct 16. This week Teagasc Daily brings you short articles from John McNamara, Teagasc Health & Safety Specialist, reminding farmers and all working in agriculture of the importance of mental health awareness. Article 3 focus is: Securing Positive Mental Health
14 October 2021