Grassland
Building forage reserves
0 Building forage reserves Joe Patton, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, & Siobhán Kavanagh, Teagasc Regional Manager recommend that farms build a rolling silage reserve of 2 bales/head or about 1 month’s feeding for a mature cow, into their silage plans, to offset against future shortfalls in fodder due to non-seasonal weather. In 2017–2018, most […]
4 June 2021
Getting the Spread Right
0 Getting the Spread Right Fertiliser is one of the most expensive inputs on the farm so you need to ensure that it is applied correctly, not only for your wallet but also for the environment. Here, Francis Quigley Teagasc Farm Machinery Specialist, talks about safety, checking the spreader, machine settings and calibration […]
3 June 2021
Unlocking Silage Potential
Unlocking Silage Potential Silage quality ranges from 58% – 78% dry matter digestibility (DMD) nationally, but the average is poor at 65% DMD. Having silage of high quality (70% DMD+) will ensure good daily liveweight gains and cuts down on meal costs. Gabriel Trayers Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Tuam advises on high DMD […]
22 May 2021
Why all the fuss about sulphur?
Why all the fuss about sulphur? Sulphur (S) is an important nutrient for grassland production, and is closely associated with nitrogen uptake and efficiency. If there is a sulphur deficiency present it will decrease the nitrogen use efficiency and reduce yield. Martina Harrington Beef Specialist outlines the importance of Sulphur As the […]
12 May 2021
Reseeding for Greener Pastures
0 Reseeding for Greener Pastures Reseeding is a considerable investment at €200-300/acre, so assess first as it may be a change of management that is required instead. It’s worth making sure that reseeding is done right. Niall Treanor, Drystock Advisor, Teagasc Galway advises on this and discusses the benefits of reseeding here Conditions […]
1 May 2021
70 years of grassland research in Ireland
70 years of grassland research in Ireland TEAGASC grassland research has enabled the transformation of Irish agriculture since the 1950s. The importance of grassland to Irish Agriculture is indicated by over 70% of agricultural output (monetary terms) coming from grassland as cattle, milk, & sheep products, Teagasc researchers reminisce Pat Dillon Teagasc, […]
17 April 2021
How Does Grass Grow?
How Does Grass Grow? Perennial ryegrass (PRG) is the most commonly sown grass species in Ireland. As a perennial plant it’s characterised by having the growing point close to the ground and it regrows after each grazing & cutting, without the need for frequent reseeding. Patricia Lynch, Teagasc Advisor Westport has more […]
15 April 2021
What is a GPS Fertiliser Spreader?
What is a GPS Fertiliser Spreader? With the grant on GPS fertiliser spreaders now available to all TAMS applicants there is a lot of interest from farmers in making an investment in the new equipment. Francis Quigley, Teagasc Farm Machinery Specialist explains that a GPS controlled spreader is more than just a […]
11 April 2021
Target to make 75% DMD Silage this summer
Target to make 75% DMD Silage this summer Shane Devaney, Beef Advisor, Teagasc Longford, sets a target for all farmers to make 75% DMD Silage this summer. He has advice for those farming on heavy soils and he lists the benefits of making good quality silage here. It’s that time of year […]
11 April 2021
The 3 ‘T’s to making Good Quality Silage
0 The 3 ‘T’s to making Good Quality Silage Austin Flavin Teagasc Advisor, meets beef farmer, Billy Glasheen who farms in Passage East in Co. Waterford as he plans to follow the 3 ‘T’s which are key to making best Quality Silage. Test the slurry, test the soil and test the silage. Billy […]
7 April 2021