Articles

Clonakilty victorious at 2025 Colleges Challenges Day

Clonakilty victorious at 2025 Colleges Challenges Day Eight teams from agricultural, equine and horticultural colleges gathered in Clonakilty Agricultural College on Wednesday, February 12 for the 2025 Macra and Teagasc Colleges Challenges Day. Colleges Challenges Day – a highlight in the education calendar year – featured competitions in stock judging, tractor driving, […]
17 February 2025

Sit down and examine your costs

Sit down and examine your costs Before the main spring cropping season kicks into gear, tillage farmers have been encouraged to sit down and examine their costs of production. Helping in this regard is the Teagasc Crops and Returns 2025 publication, available to download on the Teagasc website. When used to examine […]
17 February 2025

Detecting chromosomal abnormalities in cattle

Detecting chromosomal abnormalities in cattle DNA information collected at birth can now be used to detect chromosomal abnormalities in livestock, helping avoid the costs and challenges of rearing infertile cattle. Chromosomal abnormalities in humans, such as having an extra or a missing chromosome, are known to cause various genetic disorders – many […]
16 February 2025

Preparation is key to a successful lambing season

Preparation is key to a successful lambing season James Fitzgerald discusses the key to a successful 2025 lambing season. With preparation, proper nutrition, colostrum management, and strict hygiene, you can reduce stress and ensure healthier lambs. In the next month, a large proportion of lowland sheep flocks will start their lambing season. […]
16 February 2025

Agroforestry – integrating farming and forestry

Agroforestry – integrating farming and forestry The Agroforestry option in the National Forestry Programme offers benefits including dual income streams, carbon sequestration and extended grazing/ forage opportunities. Paul Butler and Padraic O’Leary tell us more. As part of Ireland’s Forestry Programme (2023-2027), the Forest Type 8 (FT8) Agroforestry option promotes the sustainable […]
16 February 2025

From the ground up: ten years of SIS

From the ground up: ten years of SIS Ten years ago, the Irish Soils Information System (SIS) was launched. Senior Research Officer Réamonn Fealy reviews its historical context, development and usage – and considers emerging demands for soil data and how these may be met by technology. Due to the legacy of […]
15 February 2025

Genotyping gains

Genotyping gains Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist, tells us how genotyping is enhancing the reliability and accuracy of the main dairy breeding indexes. In 2023 the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConologue, launched the National Genotyping Programme. Since then, the share of the national dairy herd that is genotyped […]
15 February 2025

Exploring farm diversification: Speciality Crops

Exploring farm diversification: Speciality Crops Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, explores how speciality crops can be a valuable option for farm diversification, especially for farmers looking to expand their product range and tap into niche or high-value markets. With growing consumer interest in low gluten or gluten free cereals and […]
15 February 2025

Managing recent forestry storm damage

Managing recent forestry storm damage Storm Éowyn, which passed over Ireland on January 24, caused severe impacts on many forests. In the aftermath of this unprecedented weather event, work to quantify the extent of storm damage is progressing and the provision of support to impacted forest owners is a top priority. Tom […]
14 February 2025

Agenda set for Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference

Agenda set for Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference Taking place next Wednesday, February 19, the Teagasc National Hill Sheep Conference will hear topics ranging from upland management in the Comeraghs, unexplained lamb losses, to the main findings of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Thin Ewe Scheme. Opening the conference […]
14 February 2025