22 April 2024
Grass10 Clover Week commences
This week is Teagasc Grass10 Clover and Spring Grazing Management social media week – a full focus week of information on spring grazing management, strategies for feed conservation in 2024 and increasing the role of clover on farm.
Information relating to these topics will be shared on the Teagasc Grass10 and PastureBase Ireland social media accounts, starting today, April 22, right through to Friday, April 26.
The objective of the Grass10 social media week is to provide farmers, and support sectors, with knowledge on the key management strategies to ensure grazing moves back to normality on grassland farms, that building fodder reserves is prioritised in time, and clover incorporation starts on farms early this year.
The Clover and Spring Grazing Management Week is part of the continued focus of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign to improve nutrient use management at farm level. AIB, Grassland Agro, Irish Farmers Journal, FBD and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine sponsor the programme.
Key highlights
Topics to be covered during the week include: getting the grass wedge back under control on farms; decision making around grass surplus for short-term silage; guide for early silage conservation; establishing clover through over-sowing and reseeding; management of an established sward and red clover; financial benefits of incorporating clover on farm; the importance of soil fertility for clover; and updates from Teagasc research and commercial farms on grazing and clover management.
Joe Dunphy, Grass10 Advisor, remarked: “Spring 2024 has been really challenging for farmers to get animals to grass. On many farms, livestock are just getting to grass, so there are decisions to be made on farms to get the grass growth wedge under control”.
Part of the focus of the week will be to highlight what farmers are doing around the country to get their grazing management back on track.
Caitlin Looney, Grassland Researcher in Teagasc Moorepark, stated: “We aim to provide – in a mix of long-life videos, social media videos, links to the website and photos – the key messages delivered through a mix of farmer experience, grassland science researchers, advisors and industry.”
The Teagasc Grass10 Clover and Spring Grazing Management Week is a follow on to the spring grazing and clover walks, which have just finished across the country.
Liam Woulfe, Managing Director of Grassland Agro, who is a sponsor of the Grass10 Campaign, stated: “The wider agri industry is very conscious of the role of good grassland management and the role of clover on grassland farms. The use of legumes on farms is going to be central for future farm sustainability. We are really happy to support this social media week.”
Follow the activities
Teagasc Grass10 Clover and Spring Grazing Management social media week starts today, April 22, and ends on Friday, April 26. Teagasc encourages all farmers to follow @teagascgrass10 on Instagram and ‘X’, @PastureBase on ‘X’ and join the Teagasc Grass10 Pasturebase Ireland Group on Facebook.
The week also coincides with the release of the Teagasc clover booklet, principles for the management and establishment of grass-white clover swards so that the benefits can be achieved at farm level.
View the Teagasc Clover Booklet here.
Photo caption – Pictured at the launch of Teagasc Clover Week are from left: John O’Loughlin, Grassland Agro; Declan Collins, Irish Farmers Journal; Joseph Dunphy, Teagasc Grass10 Advisor; Dr Caitlin Looney, Teagasc Grassland Researcher; Kelley Lyons, AIB; John McNamara, Chairman Teagasc Grass10 stakeholder committee; John Maher, Coordinator of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign; Orla McDonald, FBD; Jer Bergin, FBD; Liz Hyland, DAFM; Dr Michael Egan, Teagasc Grassland Researcher; abd Professor Michael O’Donovan, Head of the Teagasc Grassland Department. Picture: O’Gorman Photography.