Articles
A reminder on silage bale stacking rules
A reminder on silage bale stacking rules With the harvesting of first-cut silage crops edging ever closer, farmers need to make themselves aware of the Conditionality rules – the baseline requirements for farmers in receipt of CAP payments – relating to the stacking of silage bales. Coming into force in 2023, the […]
14 May 2024
Fertiliser sales at lowest point in two decades
Fertiliser sales at lowest point in two decades Recently released data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shed light on the volume of fertilisers sold over the 2023 crop year, which ran from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. During this timeframe, total fertiliser sales decreased by 18% for the […]
14 May 2024
Producing quality silage
Producing quality silage As silage season commences it is important to consider the key requirements for producing quality silage. Mark Treacy tells us more. Grass growth stage will have a large effect on silage DMD so target cutting date at the correct growth stage for the quality of silage you are trying […]
13 May 2024
John Pringle: Preparations for winter silage after a challenging spring
John Pringle: Preparations for winter silage after a challenging spring Spring 2024 has been long and hard, and has tested the resolve of most farmers in Ireland. John Pringle will be ensuring he has enough silage for the coming winter. Spring 2024 was long, testing the resolve of many Irish farmers, particularly […]
13 May 2024
The principles of reseeding
The principles of reseeding Reseeding levels in Ireland are low. Less than 2% of our national grassland area is reseeded annually. As grass is our dominant feed during the main grazing season, and the primary source of winter forage in the form of grass silage, the low level of reseeding must be […]
13 May 2024
Signpost Series: The ‘Buaile Bó Ballyloughane’ pilot biodiversity project
Signpost Series: The ‘Buaile Bó Ballyloughane’ pilot biodiversity project On this episode of the Signpost Series, host Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer at Teagasc, was joined by Paula Kearney, Biodiversity Officer at Galway City Council, to discuss the ‘Buaile Bó Ballyloughane’ pilot biodiversity project. A questions and answers session took […]
13 May 2024
‘Once you have breeding targets to follow, you can select suitable bulls’
‘Once you have breeding targets to follow, you can select suitable bulls’ Richard Starrett and his wife Wendy farm in Killendarragh, Lifford, Co. Donegal. With calving coming to a close, Richard highlights his farm’s transition to breeding in this update, emphasising the importance of EBI in steering bull selection. With calving coming […]
12 May 2024
Raining cats and dogs
Raining cats and dogs With rain of almost biblical proportions for the last eight months, farmers have been really struggling to get work done. The big question is why has this occurred and will it continue to happen into the future? Head of Climate Services Division with Met Eireann, Keith Lambkin, joins […]
12 May 2024
Woodhill Stud joins the Signpost stable
Woodhill Stud joins the Signpost stable Teagasc Equine Specialist, Sean Keane meets Paul Beecher who is based at Tallow in Co. Waterford and operates Woodhill Stud – the first equine unit to join the Teagasc Signpost Programme. On arrival at Woodhill Stud, you immediately see the level of professionalism and attention to […]
12 May 2024
Adding continental sires to the dairy breeding mix
Adding continental sires to the dairy breeding mix After mastering their replacement heifer breeding strategy, Kevin and Enda Farrell have doubled down on their beef breeding strategy to produce quality calves. Participants in the Teagasc / Lakeland Dairies Joint Development Programme, working closely with Owen McPartland, programme advisor, and local advisor John […]
11 May 2024