TResearch
2024
A growing threat Agronomy practices have become increasingly reliant on herbicides. However, research at Oak Park shows that other tactics will be needed against the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds. Ireland’s mild climate, coupled with more winter cropping, earlier autumn-sowing and increased adoption of non-inversion tillage, has resulted in greater weed challenges and […]
Top of the crops For six decades, the Crops Research Centre at Teagasc’s Oak Park campus has been at the forefront of development and innovation in crop science and agronomy. 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the official opening of the Crops Research Centre at Oak Park, Carlow. During these 60 years, […]
Securing your future Teagasc’s beef open day remains a vital element of Ireland’s robust beef sector, explain Beef Enterprise Leader Paul Crosson and Head of Drystock Pearse Kelly of Teagasc Grange’s Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre. The beef sector is a key contributor to Ireland’s rural economy, supporting more than […]
Regeneration through collaboration Generational renewal and succession planning must tackle the challenge of aging farmer populations. Collaborative farming may be a solution, but requires greater research and planning from policymakers. An aging farming population and a decline in younger farmers are global issues of concern in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Almost […]
Between a rock and a hard place Stones must be removed from grassland soils for accurate carbon measurements, but this process can be arduous. Teagasc research is examining improved protocols for soil carbon calculations. New Teagasc research, published in the international soil science journal Geoderma Regional, highlights the consequences of not considering […]
Cease & resist Overuse of antibiotics is known to have detrimental effects; new Teagasc research is examining how antibiotic use in early life affects human and animal microbiota. Limiting antibiotic use in early life can bolster antimicrobial resistance genes later on in life (Photo: blackCAT/iStockphoto.com) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a burgeoning global […]
Employment deployment Studying employment practices on farms will allow for the development of tailored support and training, helping farmers offer more attractive employment opportunities. Like many economic sectors today, agriculture is in the middle of a perfect storm; demand for additional people to work on farms is increasing, while the availability of […]
Worth the weight A Research Officer in Grassland Science at Teagasc Grange, Peter Doyle is at the forefront of research that’s optimising beef systems to improve lifetime animal performance while meeting crucial climate goals. Photo by: Tony Keane How did you get into this field of study? I grew up on a […]
Microbial marvels Teagasc research is examining the beneficial symbiotic relationship between the soil microbiome and plant diversity in pasture systems. Agricultural grassland soils are a rich source of microbial life. These microorganisms – which include bacteria and fungi – are instrumental in fundamental ecosystem processes such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient […]
Beef and to the point For Teagasc’s dairy-beef research and KT programme, Research Officer Nicky Byrne and Walsh Scholar Jenny Abbott, DairyBeef500 Programme Manager Alan Dillon and Programme Advisor Fergal Maguire explain how their work supports Ireland’s world-class beef production systems. Can you explain the team’s role? Nicky: Over the past 10 […]