Today's Farm - January/February 2022
The January/February edition of our bi-monthly magazine is now available online. The main focus of this edition is weighing up your fertiliser options. It also has articles on the Future Beef Programme; forming a Registered Farm Partnership; and market gardening.
Today's Farm, the popular bi-monthly magazine has an excellent selection of articles covering a wide range of enterprises. Farmers from various parts of the country are profiled and all have interesting stories to tell.
View it here: Today's Farm - January/February 2022 (PDF)
The main enterprises of dairy, beef, sheep and crops are covered. Also in this edition are interesting articles on:
- Big future for Future Beef
Future Beef is the new Teagasc suckler beef demonstration farm programme. It consists of a network of 24 demonstration farms positioned right across the island supported by three experienced advisors. Each farm is typical of their region in terms of farm size, soil type, production system, stock numbers etc. In this article, Martina Harrington, Future Beef Programme Manager, Teagasc gives an overview of the programme and profiles one of the Future Beef farmers, Ed Curtin who is based in Meelin, Co Cork. - What sheep farmers can do about high feed and fertiliser costs
Fertiliser and feed are two of the biggest direct (variable) costs on sheep farms. Feed prices have been rising steadily over the last year and the price rises do not show any signs of abating. Fertiliser nitrogen prices will be multiples of what farmers paid in the spring and summer of 2021. In this article, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc focuses on some of the steps that can be taken on sheep farms to reduce the reliance on purchased feed and fertiliser, and identify alternatives that will help underpin animal performance and farm profitability. - Get more slurry nutrients to save costs in 2022
In this article, Patrick Forrestal, David Wall, Richie Hackett, Teagasc Researchers and William Burchill, Teagasc-Dairygold Joint Programme provide tips to control costs by helping you up your game on slurry/manure management for 2022, be it in grassland or arable cropping. - How much P and K is required for cereals?
Completing a farm fertiliser plan based on recent soil analysis is the first step in calculating crop P and K requirements for 2022. This task is essential if you aim to protect your cereal margins. In this article, Mark Plunkett, Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist, Teagasc discusses the role of P and K; Soil P and K index strategy in 2022; and P and K advice. - Time to move if forming a Registered Farm Partnership
Registered Farm Partnership (RFP) is an excellent arrangement to bring a young person into the family farm business without having to immediately sign over the land. Keep an eye on the February 11 deadline. In this article, Gordon Peppard, Collaborative Farming Specialist, Teagasc outlines six key steps in completing an RFP application. - Aiming for success in market gardening
John Mulhern, principal at the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens profiles a student who is entering a second career in the fascinating world of horticulture. Peter Kelleher is a part-time student in the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture. Peter served in the Defence Forces (DF) for 20 years and retired in 2019. Peter aims to establish a profitable, sustainable market garden producing high-quality niche vegetables at a fair price for him and the consumer