Teagasc Tillage Signpost Farm Walk

A Teagasc Tillage Signpost farm walk took place on the farm of Tom Tierney yesterday, Thursday, 23 September 2021. The opportunity was used to introduce the Signpost Tillage programme to the two Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon TD.

Organised by the Teagasc advisory service in County Kildare, over 100 tillage farmers and members of the trade also attended the event on the farm of conservation agriculture farmer, Tom Tierney.

Speaking at the event Teagasc Business and Technology Tillage advisor, Ivan Whitten said: “The importance of soil health, improving water quality and biodiversity, while building resilience into a tillage farming system to cope with changing weather patterns, was outlined by speakers from Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Irish Grain Growers Association and local tillage farmers Tom Tierney and Robert Wilson Wright.”

Details on the proposed Nitrates and Eco Scheme were addressed. These should help and will encourage Irish tillage farmers to farm in a more sustainable way. This could involve using GPS technologies, limiting artificial nitrogen input, planting native Irish trees with recognition of non-productive areas and landscapes on Irish tillage farms.

Tom Tierney plans to use the Signpost Tillage programme to further reduce artificial fertilisers and pesticides while enhancing bio-diversity, while still maintaining a profitable business model.

The Signpost Programme is a collaborative partnership of farmers, industry and State Agencies, working together for climate action.

For more details on the Signpost Programme visit www.teagasc.ie/signpost