Articles
Growing Wild – Cleavers and Herb Robert
Growing Wild – Cleavers and Herb Robert Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, takes a closer look at some of our native Irish biodiversity, focusing on cleavers and herd robert. Cleavers Look out for cleavers (pictured above) or sticky-backs or robin run the hedge. They are annuals, with plants sprouting from seeds […]
21 April 2024
Signpost Series: The pitfalls of measuring carbon stocks from grassland soils
Signpost Series: The pitfalls of measuring carbon stocks from grassland soils On this episode of the Signpost Series, Mark Gibson, Head of Teagasc Outreach & Innovation Department, was joined by Professor Owen Fenton, Teagasc Johnstown Castle, to discuss the pitfalls of measuring carbon stocks from grassland soils. A questions and answers session […]
21 April 2024
Virtual farm tours – let your fingers do the walking
Virtual farm tours – let your fingers do the walking Imagine just opening up your computer to ‘visit’ farms from all over the country and beyond – well now you can with Teagasc’s online virtual farm tours. Francis Quigley, Teagasc Farm Machinery and Milking Machine Specialist, tells us why they are particularly […]
21 April 2024
Reducing TB risk
Reducing TB risk The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) provided guidelines on reducing the risk of TB in your herd. The advice on reducing herd-wildlife contact is particularly important, but other steps are: Only buy animals from low-risk herds, that is herds that have not had an outbreak of […]
20 April 2024
Signpost farmer update: All set for breeding and trialling plantain
Signpost farmer update: All set for breeding and trialling plantain Seán Moher, a dairy farmer Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, is a participant in the Teagasc Signpost Programme and Teagasc/Dairygold Joint Programme. In this update, he outlines his plans for breeding and explains why he’s including plantain in his grassland swards. The final preparations […]
20 April 2024
Management tasks for the present on sheep farms
Management tasks for the present on sheep farms Sheep Specialists, Michael Gottstein and Damian Costello are on this week’s OviCast to discuss some of the key management tasks to do on farms at present. Joining host Ciaran Lynch, they discuss fertiliser applications, planning for silage and grazing management, and they also look […]
20 April 2024
Mind your field margins
Mind your field margins Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist, Catherine Keena tells us the important role field margins play and how they can provide a valuable contribution to biodiversity. The margins of your field provide space for nature on your farm. They can be your valuable contribution to biodiversity, provided they are not […]
19 April 2024
Pointing the way forward for increased Irish apple production
Pointing the way forward for increased Irish apple production The first Apple Research Update at Teagasc Oak Park involving industry stakeholders marked a pivotal moment for Ireland’s apple industry, offering a comprehensive overview of advancements and future directions in applied research since the programme’s inception in August 2022. The event commenced with […]
19 April 2024
Seeking alternatives to peat for the mushroom sector
Seeking alternatives to peat for the mushroom sector Mushrooms are Ireland’s most successfully-grown horticultural crop, producing 67,000t annually or the equivalent of 6 million mushrooms harvested each day. Grown in a straw-based substrate with a layer of peat on top, the latter is essential for the production of good crops. However, as […]
19 April 2024
Layer conference set for Cavan
Layer conference set for Cavan Teagasc will host a Layer Conference on Thursday, April 25, from 7pm – 10pm in the Errigal Country House Hotel, Cavan Road, Errigal, Cootehill, Co. Cavan. A number of speakers will present on the evening, covering a range of topics such as: agroforestry for poultry; worming protocols […]
19 April 2024