Environment
How farmers can support biodiversity
How farmers can support biodiversity National Biodiversity Week Ireland 2023 takes place 19th – 28th May. National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting people with nature and communicating the importance of biodiversity. Conservation of Farmland Habitats Conservation and protection of farmland wildlife and habitats is an important dimension of environmental sustainability. In […]
19 May 2023
Signpost Series: Gaseous emissions and soil science update from the Agricultural Catchments Programme
Signpost Series: Gaseous emissions and soil science update from the Agricultural Catchments Programme On this episode of the Signpost Series, Andy Boland, Teagasc Environment Specialist, was joined by Dr. Bridget Lynch and Dr. Ognjen Zurovec to discuss Agricultural Catchments Programme – gaseous emissions and soil science. A questions and answers session took […]
19 May 2023
Watch: Using VESS for the visual examination of soils
Watch: Using VESS for the visual examination of soils Visual Soil Examination and Evaluation (VSEE) techniques are procedures for visually and tactilely evaluating soil structure. Techniques have been designed to examine both the topsoil and subsoil, focusing on the impact of management on soil structural quality. Some procedures are semi-quantitative and include […]
18 May 2023
The soil is alive and willing to help
The soil is alive and willing to help Farming has come a long way in the last 50 years, with huge improvements in how we grow our crops and rear our animals. Cathal Somers, ASSAP Advisor, Waterford, tells us more on the importance of soil health. These days, farmers are constantly finding […]
15 May 2023
Nitrogen uptake by catch crops and catch crop uptake by farmers
Nitrogen uptake by catch crops and catch crop uptake by farmers Catch crops, also known as cover crops or green manure, are a valuable tool for protecting soil health and water quality, explains Dr. Bridget Lynch, Senior Researcher Officer in the Teagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme. Catch crops are commonly used in Ireland […]
11 May 2023
Using satellite data to monitor soil moisture on the Agricultural Catchments Programme
Using satellite data to monitor soil moisture on the Agricultural Catchments Programme In Ireland, we are more familiar with soil moisture deficit (SMD) rather than volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC), but both are measuring the amount of water in the soil using different concepts. In this article, Una Cullen, Data Technologist in […]
11 May 2023
Water quality investigates – the sub-catchment approach
Water quality investigates – the sub-catchment approach Traditionally research into stream water quality has be carried out on large scales, such as at regional scales. This approach can allow a picture of water quality trends at the national scales to be identified relatively quickly and also keeps costs down if measurement points […]
10 May 2023
Optimising carbon storage of peat key focus of workshop
Optimising carbon storage of peat key focus of workshop Sixty participants attended the first day of the ‘Grassland Peat Agriculture Workshop’, which was hosted by the new Teagasc Climate Centre and the ReWet (Teagasc and University of Galway) project at Gurteen College in Tipperary today, Wednesday, May 10th. The workshop is bringing […]
10 May 2023
Water quality trends and manure management central topics of upcoming open day
Water quality trends and manure management central topics of upcoming open day The Agricultural Catchments Programme will host a major open day in Timoleague, Co. Cork, on Friday, May 12th. The final event of Agricultural Catchments Week, water quality in the Timoleague Catchment has been monitored for over a decade. The catchment […]
10 May 2023
The seasonality of nitrate loss to rivers throughout the year
0 The seasonality of nitrate loss to rivers throughout the year Recent changes to regulations under the Nitrates Action Plan have reduced the amount of chemical nitrogen (N) allowed on grassland, and ‘banding’ of dairy cows has reduced stocking rates allowed on many farms. These changes are a consequence of observations by the […]
9 May 2023