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IGA event hears of ‘toughest year on record’ for growing grass
This year (2024) to date has been described as “the toughest year on record” for growing grass at a recent farm walk which took place in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. Speaking at the Irish Grassland...
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Grass growth rates see no improvement this week
Frustration continues among farmers, as summer grass growth rates fail to reach peak levels week after week as the period of stagnation continues. The cold spell of weather has caused grass growth...
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Dealing with stomach worms affecting the thrive of lambs
The control of stomach worms in lambs is essential to meet performance targets and to aid in the thrive of lambs out on grass. Stomach worms are one of the major production-limiting diseases of...
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Soil management will play key role in future of sustainable farming – UGS
Ulster Grassland Society (UGS) president, John Egerton, has confirmed the key role that soil management will play on farms in delivering a more sustainable future for agriculture. The Co. Fermanagh...
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Protected urea sales continue to grow in Northern Ireland
United Feeds has confirmed that protected urea accounted for 50% of all nitrogen (N) sold by the business over the past three years. “We have grown the protected urea business from a standing start in...
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Opinion: Need to develop blight-resistant potatoes a priority
The goal of breeding blight-resistant potatoes has been a much discussed issue, going back over many years. Some breeders have pushed the boat in this direction and came up with new varieties that...
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Reducing enteric methane emissions through 3-NOP
Reducing enteric methane emissions has been an area of concern for the dairy sector over the last few years as different methods are constantly being researched and explored. The Environmental...
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Winter barley crops feel the impact of blustery conditions
Teagasc tillage specialist, Shay Phelan has confirmed that some winter barley crops have experienced a degree of lodging with the return of wet and blustery conditions. Phelan said: “The rain was...
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Govt response to Food Vision Tillage Report expected in autumn
A response from the government to the Food Vision Tillage Group Report is now expected in the autumn. It may tie-in with Budget 2025, planned for October. Such an approach will not go down well with...
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Watch: Are you thinking of restoring dry stone walls?
The tradition of building dry stone walls in Ireland is synonymous with our rural and green landscape and dates back thousands of years as far as the Neolithic period. It is estimated that there are...
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Tenders sought for soil sampling and analysis programme
Tenders have been sought for the provision of a soil sampling and analysis programme for the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM). This is a one year contract and is expected to cost...
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How effective is protected urea in grassland swards?
Protected urea is urea nitrogen (N) fertiliser made safe from ammonia loss through the addition of a urease inhibitor. Despite the fact that protected urea can grow more grass than either calcium...
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How farmers can manage cash flow after a tough spring
Over the course of the last couple of months, many farmers have encountered various problems as a result of poor weather conditions, which in turn has put a cash flow strain on farms. Last winter was...
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‘Uncontrollable’ grass weeds remain major challenge
Teagasc has confirmed that the challenge of ‘uncontrollable grass weeds’ within crops remains a major challenge for tillage farmers. This is particularly so, where the use of minimum cultivation...
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of cow-calf contact?
A recent study carried out by Teagasc saw two different cow-calf contact (CCC) systems compared to the more conventional calf rearing system in Ireland. On the vast majority of Irish dairy farms, cows...
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Reminder that milder winters means increase in Lyme disease risk
With much milder winters, farmers should beware of the increasing numbers and geographic spread of ticks, due to the risk of Lyme disease, according to Teagasc beef specialist, Aidan Murray. Ticks...
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Upcoming open day at Salesian Agricultural College
Salesian Agricultural College will host an open day on Saturday, June 22, to give prospective students an overview of the courses the college has to offer. Situated on a 620ac farm in Pallaskenry, Co....
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Bank of Ireland and Aurivo team up to launch ‘sustainability’ loans
The Sligo based Aurivo Co-op has teamed up with Bank of Ireland to launch a sustainability linked loans product for its members. The Enviroflex scheme was first launched by Bank of Ireland last...
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Are your farm roadways allowing for optimal cow flow?
The upkeep of farm roadways to allow for sufficient cow flow is an essential element of grazing, grass utilisation and the overall grazing rotation on dairy farms. An optimal cow flow on your farm...
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Farm walk to examine rainwater management for water quality
A farm walk organised by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is set to focus on the management of rainwater as a way to improve water quality. The event will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, June 19)...
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Watch: Waterford farming family trust the system
The Claxton farming family from Co. Waterford have put their trust in the Censortec system after a difficult spring. Following poor weather the last number of months, many farmers may be looking at...
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Liming extension: Opportunity to correct your soil fertility
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue announced on June 12 that under the National Liming Programme, there will be a further extension to the date in which lime can be...
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Tillage: Spring barley crops hit bump in the road
Teagasc has confirmed a slowdown in the development of many spring barley crops, with soil compaction being the main culprit. The key symptom to look out for is a distinct yellowing of fields. The...
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Conference examines impact of stress on farmers’ wellbeing
Researchers found that frequent stress does not automatically result in poor wellbeing for farmers, a conference in Dublin has heard. The 2024 BeSafe Conference, held at Teagasc Ashtown, brought...
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Teagasc issues ‘red alert’ potato blight warning
Teagasc is urging all Irish potato growers to fundamentally change their potato blight spraying programmes with immediate effect. This reflects the growing influence of resistant blight populations,...
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Enterprise Ireland: Food and drink companies invest €165m in research
Investment in research and development activities by companies in the Irish food and drink sector supported by Enterprise Ireland has reached €165 million in 2023. Last year, 123 food and drink...
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Farming for the future open farm walk and talk
As part of Tirlan’s work to improve water quality and to support the retention of Ireland’s Nitrates Derogation, it recently launched the ‘Farming for Water: River Slaney Project’. The project address...
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Met Éireann issues advisory for potato blight
Met Éireann has today (Wednesday, June 19) issued a Status Yellow advisory for potato blight in several counties over the coming days. Weather conditions conducive to spread of blight are expected to...
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BEEF2024 to focus on increasing profitability
Teagasc are delighted to invite all beef farmers and stakeholders in the Irish beef industry to the National Beef Open Day ‘BEEF2024’ which takes place on Wednesday, 26th June in Teagasc, Grange, Co....
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No ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to reducing agri-emissions – expert
The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) is identifying the most cost-effective pathway to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and agri-emissions, and to enhance cabron sequestrations. This was one of the key...
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Land in Wexford had nearly double its yearly P loss after day of rain
Nearly double the annual phosphorous (P) loss on an area of land in Co. Wexford occurred after one night of rain. On May 21 this year, David Ryan of the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP)...
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Farm org inclusion in carbon farming working group is under review
The inclusion of Irish farm organisations in the carbon farming working group is currently being considered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Minister for Agriculture, Food...
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Slurry: ‘Full compliance’ required to prevent nutrient loss – minister
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has said that “full compliance” is required in regards to spreading slurry in order to help reduce the loss of nutrients from agricultural land....
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Carbon farming: ‘We must be able to measure carbon accurately’
“We must be able to measure carbon accurately.” That’s according to director of Teagasc, Prof. Frank O’Mara who addressed the Teagasc Counting Carbon: Science and Practice Conference in Ashtown,...
View ArticleThe Farming Week: Green Party leader steps down, Nature Restoration Law...
Francess McDonnell, Aisling O’Brien and Louise Hickey bring you the biggest stories of the week in Irish agriculture from Agriland, which this week includes: Tirlán seeking voluntary redundancies and...
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‘Uncertainty’ in Ireland’s soil carbon sequestration approach
According to the paper presented at the Teagasc ‘Counting Carbon: Science and Practice Conference‘ this week, Ireland currently uses an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 1 approach...
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Are daddy long-legs threatening your farm?
A recent study by Teagasc has highlighted the agricultural threat posed by crane fly larvae (leatherjackets), more commonly known as ‘daddy long-legs’ when fully grown. These larvae damage grazing...
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‘Significant knowledge gap’ among stakeholders on carbon farming
A stakeholder conference on carbon farming has heard that there is a “significant knowledge gap” among farmers, landowners, and agri-food stakeholders around the topic. Teagasc’s Counting Carbon:...
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Ireland signs agri-food cooperation agreement with Vietnam
Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding for enhanced cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment. The agreement was signed on behalf of Ireland by Minister of State at the...
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ABP Longford event to focus on reseeding and calf to beef
The team from ABP Food Group’s sustainability initiative, the Advantage Beef Programme, is set to host a farm walk in Co. Longford on Wednesday, July 3. The event will take place in Moydow, Co....
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What can farmers do to secure the next derogation?
The ‘Farming for the Future’ open farm walk and talk event which took place on Donal Kavanagh’s farm in Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, highlighted the measures that can be taken on farm level to maintain...
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Tillage: IPM can play a critical role in preventing blight
Potato growers have been reminded that the use of fungicides is not the only weapon in their armoury when it comes to preventing blight. Integrated pest management (IPM) techniques can also be...
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Opinion: Potato blight awareness campaign is a priority
It is obvious to me that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) will have to fund a potato blight public awareness campaign in 2024. The background to the proposed initiative is as...
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Women in agriculture are the ‘backbone’ of many farms – co-op
The inaugural meeting of the Barryroe Co-op/Carbery Female Farming Seminar brought together women in agriculture to share experiences, tips, ideas and success stories. The event, which was held in...
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Study: 54% of farmers do not know how to contact mental health clinics
Over 50% of farmers do not know how to contact a local mental health clinic and 25% do not know where to go to receive mental health services, according to a new study launched today (Tuesday, June...
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Beef2024 open day kicks off at Teagasc Grange
Beef farmers and stakeholders in the Irish beef industry are set to flock to the national biennial beef open day ‘BEEF2024’, which takes place today (Wednesday, June 26), at Teagasc, Grange, Co....
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Beef2024: ‘Urgent need’ for beef with low environmental impact
There is an “urgent need” for the beef sector to address consumer and policy demands for food with low environmental impacts, according to Prof. Frank O’Mara, director of Teagasc. Prof. O’Mara...
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Net margins of different beef systems outlined at BEEF2024
The net margins from a range of different beef production systems have been outlined at the Teagasc open day BEEF2024 which is taking place at Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath today, Wednesday, June 26. The...
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New MEPs have ‘vital role’ in blocking Mercosur deal – Gorman
The Beef2024 open day at Teagasc’s beef research centre at Grange, Co. Meath has heard that Ireland’s new crop of MEPs have a “vital role” in blocking the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement and “supporting...
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Beef2024: Silage costing €50/bale to make this year
Round bale silage is costing over €50/bale to produce this year when land costs are taken into account, according to Teagasc. The table with financial information was included in the handbook which...
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