Future Beef Programme
Type Media Article
By Thomas Gleeson, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc, Galway/Clare Unit
The Teagasc Future Beef Programme was officially launched on Monday 6th December 2021. The aim of this programme is to demonstrate to beef farmers how they can produce a quality product as efficiently as possible to make beef farming more profitable while also making it more environmentally sustainable.
The key objectives of this programme are to:
- Create more sustainable and profitable farms
- To reduce GHG & ammonia emissions
- Improve water quality
- Improve biodiversity
In this Programme there are 22 demonstration farms nationwide, two of which are located in the Teagasc Galway/Clare Area unit. James Skehan is in south east Clare in a townland called Ballynevin, nuzzled between the towns of Killaloe and O’Briensbridge.
James farms 34 hectares with his wife Joanne and two small children. They both work off farm. Their farm is fragmented with heavy and light soils. They keep 24 spring calving suckler cows and bring 30 young stock to stores. James’s father Batt is invaluable for on farm support. Their focus now is labour efficiency, financial viability and to setup their farm as a sustainable complementary way of life.
The farms selected are representative of their region from farm size, soil type, system, stock numbers etc. They face the same challenges as their neighbours and are therefore more relatable. All have a very positive attitude towards suckler farming. They are willing to take on new technologies and develop efficiencies to improve profitability and reduce the negative effects of agriculture on the environment around them.
Performance on the farms participating in the Programme will be recorded throughout the year. Monitoring the farms will allow us to measure the impact of improved technical efficiency on profitability and the environment. All results will be communicated though the Future Beef website, social media, discussion group visits and farm walks.
For more information please visit https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/