Getting Winter Ready: Is your farmyard inspection ready?
In the final episode of the Getting Winter Ready series on the Beef Edge, Catherine Egan is joined by Jimmy Lyons, Teagasc Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) Advisor based in Teagasc Listowel, to discuss water quality, farmyard management and preparing for Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) inspections.
With environmental regulations and water quality inspections becoming increasingly important, Jimmy explores the most common issues identified during farm inspections and what beef farmers can do to ensure their farms are compliant.
Jimmy discusses the main pollution risks around the farmyard, how contaminated water can reach local streams and rivers, and why even small amounts of agricultural pollution can have an impact on water quality.
Jimmy focuses on the importance of managing dirty water correctly, highlighting practical ways to reduce the volume of dirty water collected around the yard. With cattle housed for the winter, slurry storage is another key consideration. Jimmy outlines how farmers can assess their storage capacity, reduce rainwater entering slurry tanks and understand the rules around slurry spreading dates and suitable ground conditions.
Finally, Jimmy explains the support available to farmers through the Teagasc ASSAP programme and how they can access advice to identify risks and make improvements.
Listen to the full episode of the Beef Edge podcast below:
For further details on the ASSAP Programme, visit here.
Find your local ASSAP advisor here.
For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit here.
The Beef Edge podcast is produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com