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Milking the data Leveraging data from technologies offers farmers a unique opportunity to enhance the productivity, sustainability and welfare of Irish pasture-based systems. Credit: MSD Animal Health Cows that show signs of heat before the breeding season are significantly more likely to become pregnant, a finding that’s helping farmers in seasonal-calving systems […]
Getting into the rhythm of milk fat The factors contributing to the annual reduction in milk fat percentage are likely to have consistent annual patterns, rather than variable patterns such as pasture nutritive value or weather conditions. Credit: Teagasc Valuable for butter, cheese and cream, the fat content of milk is also key […]
Leaf it to science As climate change reshapes growing conditions, Irish forests must adapt. New research explores how species choice, genetic diversity, and forest management can help build resilience from the roots up. Continuous cover forestry systems are close to nature forests and allow newly regenerated seedlings to prosper under the cover […]
Securing farm futures Low pension coverage and late retirement are stalling generational renewal. New research compares EU systems to explore solutions for supporting Irish farmers through the retirement transition. The sustainability of agriculture in Europe is deeply intertwined with the financial wellbeing of its farmers, particularly concerning retirement provisions. As the farming […]
Put your best root forward Research at Johnstown Castle is examining how forestry management can play a crucial role in nature-based strategies for land-use and climate mitigation. Appropriate afforestation and sustainable forest management can have positive effects on carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and broader environmental topics such as water quality […]
Think before you till A new study reveals the conditions under which Irish tillage growers adopt innovations. Research highlights that peer-to-peer exchange is a highly valuable knowledge source for Irish growers, especially plough-based growers. Credit: Oleg Marchak/istockphoto.com Most Irish tillage farmers won’t adopt a new practice unless they see proof that it […]
Chipping away at food waste Potato processing side streams contain valuable nutrients like proteins and starch, which can be efficiently extracted using green technologies. Scaling up these processes enables a zero-waste biorefinery model, turning waste into economic and environmental benefits. Both discarded whole potatoes and leftover scraps can be valuable sources of […]
Interview: Seeing the forest for trees Forestry Senior Research Officer Ian Short talks us through recent advances in closer-to-nature forestry, and why agroforestry means more than just land grants for growers. Ian appreciates seeing agroforestry and Continuous Cover Forestry enjoy a “renaissance” as increasingly valid approaches in recent years. Photography: Finbarr O’Rourke […]
Branching out for ash Ash dieback is one of the most serious threats to Irish native trees. As over 90% of ash trees are expected to be lost, urgent action is needed to identify and protect the small number of trees showing natural tolerance. AshforFuture is a four-year, all-island research project that […]
Hide and seek As fresh produce consumption rises, so too do potential risks. New research in Irish horticulture explores where hidden contamination can occur, and how to stop it before it reaches your plate. While fresh produce is increasingly a part of healthier diets, it’s important to understand potential sources of contamination […]