Climate Adaptation Conference

Managing grassland to adapt to climate challenges - The new reality

Download Publication (PDF)

Irish grassland systems are experiencing challenges due to climate change. The incidence of intense precipitation events, soil moisture deficits and droughts and prolonged winter conditions are becoming increasingly frequent resulting in challenging conditions for Irish farmers.

Feed deficits, resulting in the need to house animals for longer due to severe weather and soil conditions and moisture deficits/drought conditions mid-season, are becoming more frequent.

The conference covered the following topics:

Impacts of changing weather patterns

How weather patterns are changing, what are we adapting to? - Pádraig Flattery, Met Éireann
Feed costs – Current situation and future scenario analysis - Peter Doyle, Michael O’Donovan, Paul Crosson and Tomás Tubritt, Teagasc
Grass growth and grazing management efficiency trends from PastureBase Ireland grassland farms - Michael O’Donovan, Ciarán Hearn and Anne Geoghegan, Teagasc

Climate adaptation challenges

The grazing cow – A carbon paradox - Luc Delaby (INRAe)
Grass growth to 2040 and beyond: the challenges ahead 25 - Elodie Ruelle, Teagasc

New species and the challenges

Breeding for Climate Change - Alan Stewart, PGG Wrighton Seeds, New Zealand
Plantain and multispecies swards – their role in adaptation - Ellen Fitzpatrick, Brendan Horan, Kevin Dolan and Philip Creighton, Teagasc
Grass-clover swards – adapting to the climate challenges - Michael Egan, Teagasc, Mark Bateman, Dairy farmer and Caitlin Looney, Teagasc

Moorepark grassland studies

Plantain grazing trial - Tomas Tubritt, Teagasc
Grassland nutrition – Plantain and clover impacts - Michael Dineen and Eoin Wims, Teagasc
White clover cultivar evaluation - Ciara Carroll, Teagasc
Moorepark grass-clover trial - Áine Murray, Teagasc
Red clover evaluation trials - Sinead Kearney and Peter Doyle, Teagasc
Initiatives on climate adaptation on Moorepark Farm - Jonathan Herron and Rachel Murphy, Teagasc