30 December 2024
Part one: A beef recap of 2024
Throughout the year, Teagasc hosted a number of beef events, compiled publications and issued various technical updates. In the first of a three part series, Teagasc Beef Specialist, Catherine Egan takes a look back at some of the main highlights.
BEEF2024 – Securing your Future in Beef Farming
The focus of BEEF2024, the Teagasc National Beef Open Day held in Teagasc Grange, was on the application of technologies that will help beef farmers increase the profitability and environmental sustainability of their family farm businesses. Technologies in relation to grazing management, animal nutrition, beef genetics, reproductive management, animal health and welfare, and farm planning were discussed as essentials to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the Irish beef sector.
In the below video, Pearse Kelly, Head of Drystock Knowledge Transfer, and Dr. Paul Crosson, Beef Enterprise Leader at Teagasc Grange, go through the first stand at BEEF2024, which focused on securing your future in beef farming:
The key factors underpinning viable and sustainable beef farming were also discussed by Dr. Mark McGee, Teagasc Research Officer, and Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist, at the second stand at BEEF2024.
For more information on BEEF2024, visit here.
National Beef Conference 2024
The year’s Teagasc National Beef Conference was titled ‘Sustainable Beef Farming: Pathways to a greener future’. It took place on Tuesday, 19 November at The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
Comprising of two key sessions, the first centred on the topic of ‘Innovating for Efficiency: Smart farming in the Irish beef sector’, and featured presentations on red and white clover, practical nutrient management solutions and controlling pneumonia in suckler weanlings.
The second session moved to the topic of ‘Harnessing Innovation: Future proofing Irish beef farming’, and contained key presentations on bluetongue, the innovations on Future Beef farms and staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year.
For more information and to recap on the Teagasc National Beef Conference, click here.
Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards
The Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards were launched in 2024 to promote environmentally sustainable farming. The awards highlighted the progress farmers are making to lighten the load of farming on the environment, while continuing to produce high-quality, nutritious food, in a profitable manner.
The awards recognised farmers who are operating sustainable, profitable farming systems, whilst incorporating the latest scientific developments and technologies on their farms. These actions are reducing their gaseous emissions (greenhouse gases and ammonia), improving water quality, enhancing biodiversity, and improving soil health and carbon. A number of beef farmers received awards on the night, included Future Beef Programme participants Shane Keaveney and Ken Gill, and DairyBeef 500 participant Aidan Maguire.
Shane Keaveney was crowed the Suckler Beef Enterprise winner of the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards. Learn more about his beef farming enterprise in the below video:
Also read: How this suckler farmer is going the extra mile to protect water quality
Ken Gill was crowned the Enhancing Biodiversity Category Winner of the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards. Learn more about his organic beef farming enterprise in the below video:
Also read: Enhancing biodiversity – Ken Gill’s approach
Aidan Maguire was crowned the winner of the Dairy Beef Category of the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards 2024. Learn more about his farming system in the below video:
Also read: Award winning Meath dairy-beef farmer prioritises farm-to-farm sourcing
National Ploughing Championships 2024
This year, the live beef exhibit at the National Ploughing Championships outlined how to achieve an average daily gain of 0.6kg/head/day by weanlings this winter. The Teagasc Beef Budgets 2024/2025 were also launched.
The Beef Edge Podcast
This year marked the fifth anniversary of the Teagasc ‘Beef Edge’ podcast, which recently celebrated the release of its 250th episode. The podcast has garnered over 215,000 listens, making it a popular source of information for beef farmers. The podcast provides the latest news, insights and expert advice to help improve beef farm performance. You can listen to all episodes on the Beef Edge podcast show page, or through popular platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
Teagasc Monthly Beef Newsletter
Each month, Teagasc issues a monthly newsletter that is delivered by post to clients with relevant time-critical information, advice, upcoming events and research included. Previous issues of the newsletter are available here.
Today’s Farm
Today’s Farm is Teagasc’s own magazine. The magazine is posted every two months exclusively to 44,000 Teagasc clients, customers, selected industry leaders and opinion formers. Launched in 1990, Today’s Farm includes advice and information on business, production, environment, and countryside issues. Produced in full-colour, the magazine addresses a wide range of topics of interest to farmers, people living in the countryside, and those with an interest in all aspects of agriculture and food production. If you wish to receive the magazine please contact your local Teagasc office.
Over the coming days, Catherine Egan will also recap on some of the key dairy beef and suckler beef events from the outgoing year.