Sheep
Supporting Sustainability on the Ground
On Stand No 4 at Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Johnstown Castle, Tom O'Dwyer and Pat Murphy, both Teagasc, discuss Supporting Sustainability on the Ground. They include the supports in place for farmers from Teagasc. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily
30 August 2022
Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability on Irish Farms
On Stand No 1 at the Farming for a Better Future Open Day at Johnstown Castle, Karen Daly and David Wall, Teagasc, Crops Environment, and Land-use Research, discuss the Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainability on Irish Farms. View the live boards and presentations here on Teagasc Daily.
30 August 2022
The Importance of Hedgerows for Butterflies - Hedgerow Week 2022
There are 35 species of butterflies in Ireland - 23 of these breed on hedges. Over-management of hedges removes butterfly eggs, larvae and nectar sources for adult butterflies. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist and Jesmond Harding, Butterfly Conservation Ireland explain
30 August 2022
ACRES Hedge Actions - Hedgerow Week 2022
There are three hedge actions in the new agri environment scheme ACRES: coppicing, laying & planting hedges. It is important to understand what is involved in each action and the ongoing work required during the next five years. Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist has details
29 August 2022
Building a brand in the west
To improve returns, farmers need to gain ‘market power’ by creating brands which reflect the true value of what they produce. Ólas Hill Farms is a great example, as John Noonan, Teagasc Westport advisor demonstrates
28 August 2022
Farmers are reducing fertiliser N use
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have just released their Fertiliser Sales data for the first three quarters of the current year. Here Seamus Kearney and Tom O'Dwyer from the Signpost programme examine the data
28 August 2022
Swards for the Future Conference & Workshop
Swards for the Future Conference & Workshop takes place at Teagasc Moorepark, Co. Cork on 8 & 9 September. It is an important and informative conference for anyone involved in the grassland industry including industry partners, farmers, co-op representatives, advisors and researchers.
27 August 2022
TResearch Autumn 2022
TResearch is an official science publication of Teagasc. It aims to disseminate the results of the organisation’s research to a broad audience. Clearing the air - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the agriculture sector is a priority for our researchers
27 August 2022
Johnstown Castle Open Day - Technologies for Today & Tomorrow
Join us in Johnstown Castle, the home of agricultural research in Co. Wexford for their open day on Tuesday next August 30th. On the day the Teagasc team will present farming technologies for today and tomorrow. Gates open at 10am.
26 August 2022
Grassland Farmer of the Year Drystock - Aidan Maguire Farm Walk
Join the Teagasc Grass10 team along with the Teagasc DairyBeef500 team on the evening of 31 August at 6.30pm on the farm of Aidan Maguire, Navan, Co. Meath. Aidan is the 2021 Grassland Farmer of the Year in the Drystock Enterprise Category.
26 August 2022
How will your acres score?
You can help address the challenges to our water, climate and biodiversity by joining ACRES (AgriClimate Rural Environment Scheme). Catherine Keena Environment specialist, Teagasc Crops, Environment and Land Use Programme takes us through the Results-based payments system of ACRES
25 August 2022
Hedgerow Week 2022 - "Best Practice Hedge Cutting"
Hedgerow Week 2022 takes place from Friday, 26th August – Friday 2nd September, to coincide with the opening of the hedge cutting season on 1 September. The theme of Hedgerow Week 2022 is 'Best Practice Hedge Cutting' and consists of a series of public in person and virtual events. Find out more
25 August 2022
Enter the 2022 Grassland Farmer of the Year Competition!
There is still time to enter this year’s Grassland Farmer of the Year competition, which recognises and acknowledges those dairy, beef and sheep farmers who are achieving high levels of grass utilisation in a sustainable manner. There is a new organic category in 2022. Closing date: 16 September.
24 August 2022
Grass10 Newsletter - 23rd August 2021
The Grass10 team has an action-packed newsletter this week. From Grassland Farmer competition to featured farmers, clover reporter and dairy & beef podcasts to the upcoming GFOTY Farm Walks and Swards for the Future Conference/Workshop. Plus the regular features and advice on Autumn grass management
24 August 2022
Prioritising quality grass for lambs on Malin Head
Tommy Mullin is a sheep farmer, farming close to the most Northerly point in Ireland at Bree, Malin Head, Co. Donegal. With a sheep flock of 400 lowland ewes, 180 horned ewes and more, we find out from Tommy Doherty, Drystock adviser, Teagasc Letterkenny how this farm manages grass quality
23 August 2022
Get lime out now to reduce expensive fertiliser demands in 2023
Liming of our soils continues to be a challenge with a 10 to 13% decline in samples with optimal soil pH on dairy, tillage and drystock farms sampled in 2021. Mark Plunkett, Teagasc Soil & Plant Nutrition Specialist emphasises the benefits of lime and why farmers should apply lime now
23 August 2022
Planning for upcoming winter
After the recent August heatwave winter may seem a long way off but it is important to plan for it in good time. Sheep Specialist Damian Costello advises on having adequate fodder, checking silage quality and preparing for winter housing of ewes.
23 August 2022
Water Quality - Phosphorus & ACRES
The protection of water quality from nutrient, sediment & pesticide losses and achieving ‘Good Status’ for all waters in Ireland is a key national goal. Since 2018, The Agricultural Sustainability Support & Advisory Service (ASSAP) is providing advice. Ivan Kelly, Teagasc Athenry Advisor has more
20 August 2022
National Soil Fertility Trends
In 2021 Teagasc analysed a total 33,876 soil samples comprising dairy, drystock and tillage enterprises. 2021 shows that soil fertility declined on dairy farms for the second consecutive year. Lime use increased by ~ 50% compared to the average lime applied in Ireland over the last 10 years.
18 August 2022
Culling Ewes and Drafting Lambs for Sale
Over the summer there is a lot of movement of sheep out the farm gate either with culling ewes and rams in advance of next breeding season or drafting lambs for sale as they reach suitability for the market. Advisor Eamonn Dempsey has some advise on these tasks
17 August 2022
The Clover Reporter and Research update
This week's clover reporter is Lawrence Sexton from Kilbrittain Co. Cork. Stephen Ryan from Dungarvan Co Waterford is the featured farmer. William Burchill, advisor on the Teagasc/ Dairygold joint programme discusses maintenance P and K requirements
17 August 2022
Latest information and updates from the Grass10 team
This update has pointers and advice from the Grass10 team in their weekly e-newsletter. It includes: PastureBase Ireland Dairy and Drystock figures; Predicted Grass Growth and Rainfall; Grass Dry Matter %; Grass10 Weekly Checklist; and information on the upcoming Swards for the Future Conference.
17 August 2022
Climate Actions for August
August climate advice includes using catch crops after cereal crops, applying lime and building up for autumn grass. There is also advice to empty slurry tanks, milk record and on feeding ration at grass. Get all the details below
17 August 2022
Three steps to slowing down the development of Anthelmintic Resistance on Sheep farms
Anthelmintic resistance is a major and growing problem on Irish sheep farms. Head of Sheep Michael Gottstein outlines the actions that sheep farmers should take to slow down the development of Anthelmintic Resistance.
16 August 2022
Considering Organic Conversion on Drystock farms
Colm Kelly, Teagasc Advisor, Ballinasloe, answers the questions commonly asked by drystock farmers considering converting to organic farming. Questions like ... "Is treating animals for health issues banned?" and ... "Where can I sell animals?"
Get the facts here
16 August 2022
Weaning and Cobalt Supplementation of Lambs
Trace element deficiency can be an issue in some sheep producing areas and it is known that the concentration of trace elements vary significantly during the grazing season. The main trace elements of concern in sheep production are cobalt copper, iodine and selenium.
14 August 2022
Do you listen to podcasts?
Podcasts are audio shows that anyone with an iPhone, Android phone or computer can listen to. You can listen anywhere and anytime. Teagasc offer a full suite of free podcasts tailored to your enterprise. We'd like to hear your opinion on our podcasts
13 August 2022
Pointers for Sheep Farmers in Hot Weather
The current high temperatures being experienced will put pressure on livestock and operators alike. Sheep specialist Ciaran Lynch gives a couple of points to consider in the short term:
12 August 2022
Forest fires – we can all help
As Forestry Advisor Steven Meyen writes this, Europe burns. Huge fires are destroying thousands of hectares of forests across Europe during this latest and not last heatwave. Mediterranean countries are worst affected but central & western European countries including Ireland are also suffering.
12 August 2022
Rural Diversification
Many farmers and rural dwellers are interested in enterprise diversification. While diversification may not be practicable for every farmer, well planned and seasoned projects can create new sources of income for farmers. Seámus Lordan, Teagasc Advisor, Macroom has interesting advice.
12 August 2022