Environment
Farmyards and Water Quality
0 Farmyards and Water Quality Farmyards can impact on water quality where wastes & effluents gain access to water directly, as point source pollution or indirectly, by diffuse pollution. With good farmyard management & design these impacts to water, where they occur, can be eliminated as Kevin O’Sullivan ASSAP Advisor outlines The areas […]
8 May 2021
New Anaerobic Digestion (AD) project commences
0 New Anaerobic Digestion (AD) project commences Teagasc recently held the first online meeting of the technical working group for a new Anaerobic Digestion (AD) project called FLEET. Teagasc economist Dr Fiona Thorne is the principal investigator on the FLEET project, supported by the SEAI Research and development fund. Read more here FLEET […]
7 May 2021
The Importance of Wetlands
The Importance of Wetlands A combination of geology and abundant rain has endowed Ireland with an extraordinary array of wetlands covering some 20% of the country. While most wetlands occur naturally they may also be artificially created. Mary Roache Mayo ASSAP Advisor has examples of a variety of wetlands that occur on […]
26 April 2021
Managing Farm Yards to Reduce Soiled Water Losses
Managing Farm Yards to Reduce Soiled Water Losses Soiled water is defined in the Nitrates Directive as water from concentrated areas, hard standing areas, holding areas for livestock and other farmyard areas where the water is contaminated by livestock faeces/ urine, silage effluent, chemical fertilisers, dairy or vegetable washings. Read more here […]
26 March 2021
Housing of Livestock
Housing of Livestock Livestock housed over the winter period need facilities that are fit for purpose and have adequate storage capacity for the statutory number of weeks. Claire Mooney, Teagasc ASSAP Advisor, has some important guidelines here on the management of winter housing to prevent nutrient losses Livestock housed over the winter […]
26 March 2021
ASSAP As Gaeilge
ASSAP As Gaeilge Ar mhaithe le sláinte an phobail i gcoitinne, is den riachtanas é, go bhfuil ard-chaighdéan uisce againn. Chun é seo a chinntiú, tá feirmeoirí fud fad na tíre, i gcomhairle le ASSAP, ag comhoibriú chun an t-uisce agus an timpeallacht a chaomhnú. Ar an drochuair níl an caighdeáin uisce […]
26 March 2021
Silage Storage & Water Quality
Silage Storage & Water Quality Silage effluent is a highly polluting liquid and can cause fish kills in watercourses/rivers and contaminate wells if not collected, stored and land spread properly. It is important to examine and repair silage pits and collection channels when pits are empty to ensure safe storage. Silage pits […]
26 March 2021
Wetlands and Water
Wetlands and Water A combination of geology and abundant rain has endowed Ireland with an extraordinary array of wetlands covering some 20% of the country. Functional wetlands are among our most productive environments providing a vast array of eco-system services. ASSAP advisor Mary Roache has more information Most of our wetlands occur […]
25 March 2021
Water Quality and the Freshwater Pearl Mussel
Water Quality and the Freshwater Pearl Mussel The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a large filter-feeding bivalve. European freshwater pearl mussel populations have declined by 90 % over the past century. Mary McAndrew, Catchment Officer Pearl Mussel Project gives information on this long lived creature. Freshwater pearl mussels are extremely long […]
25 March 2021
The importance of trees in Ireland
The importance of trees in Ireland Ireland’s waterways evolved in tandem with our native woodlands. Of the 16,000 townlands in Ireland 14,000 have names related to trees, forests and water. Farm forests are known to reduce the leaching of nutrients from agricultural soils Ireland’s relationship with trees run over millennia. From the […]
25 March 2021