16 July 2024

Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Open Day

A major Teagasc Open Day took place today, Tuesday, 16 July at the Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford. James Browne T.D. Minister of State at the Department of Justice opened the event at the first stand.

“the many actions for sustainable and resilient farm systems spread across soil health, soil fertility, soil carbon sequestration, biodiversity, gaseous emissions and water quality, were on display at Johnstown castle today.”

Teagasc Director, Professor Frank O’Mara said; “All the key benchmarks and indicators (KPIs) for sustainable farming systems, and how Irish farms can reach these were discussed today. Teagasc has identified the technologies and farming practices that are important to help farms to become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Technology will play a very big role in meeting the challenges, and there is a large research programme at Johnstown Castle and other Teagasc centres to develop and adapt the technologies.”

All the latest research and advice to support farmers on their journey to more sustainable farming were displayed. Dr Karen Daly, acting Head of the Teagasc Environment, Soils and Land Use Research Centre said; “the many actions for sustainable and resilient farm systems spread across soil health, soil fertility, soil carbon sequestration, biodiversity, gaseous emissions and water quality, were on display at Johnstown castle today. All of the actions are scientifically robust, to give farmers the confidence for adoption out on their own farms.”

Dr David Wall, Enterprise Leader at Johnstown Castle said; “We are asking each farmer to identify and implement the best solution for their farm business from a range of possible measures and look at the supports available from the Teagasc Advisory Service and other professionals.”

Emissions

Continued improvements in grazing management, breeding of efficient animals, reducing the age of slaughter and increasing home-grown feed supplementation will lead to further reductions in emissions. In addition to these proven technologies for improving livestock production systems, newly emerging technologies are being tested for Irish systems such as feed additives for reducing biogenic methane and breeding of lower methane emitting animals in future, hold the potential to reduce emission further over time.

Water quality

Agriculture has a significant role to play in helping achieve good water quality targets and the Teagasc Better Farming for Water campaign has a clear objective to reduce nutrient and sediment loss to water through its 8-Actions for change focussing on nutrient management, farmyard management and land management. Good nutrient management planning is a major corner stone to reducing diffuse nutrient losses.

A comprehensive booklet – Farming for a Better Future’ containing all the information presented at the event is available at https://www.teagasc.ie/Farming-for-a-better-future