Articles
Reducing the impact of pesticides on water quality
Reducing the impact of pesticides on water quality How well are we doing in Ireland in regards to reducing the impact of pesticides on water quality? The grass and crop season is starting to ramp up now, as the weather improves, and with that comes the use of sprays to control weeds, […]
18 April 2023
Making the rest of 2023 a success with grass and breeding
Making the rest of 2023 a success with grass and breeding Spring 2023 started like a dream, with slurry, fertiliser and cows out in February and early March. However, since about the 10th March, record breaking rainfall has created a lot of extra work, increased costs and reduced production on all farms […]
17 April 2023
Strategies to reduce lameness on your farm
Strategies to reduce lameness on your farm Lameness is a painful disease that results in suffering for dairy cows, and damages the sustainable and welfare-friendly image of Irish agriculture. Lameness also has negative financial implications due to reduced milk yield and fertility rates, and increased culling and treatment costs. Teagasc lameness study […]
17 April 2023
Grass margins in grass fields
Grass margins in grass fields Grass margins provide corridors of movement and networks for nature through the countryside, as well as habitats of high biodiversity value. Good structure is as important as species present. Lumpy and bumpy is good for associated invertebrates. Management which allows grasses and broadleaved plants to go to […]
17 April 2023
Peer-reviewed publication affirms scientific evidence of livestock and meat benefits
Peer-reviewed publication affirms scientific evidence of livestock and meat benefits A peer-reviewed edition of the scientific journal Animal Frontiers published April 15th confirms meat’s critical role in society, building on scientific debate and evidence developed through the October 2022 International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat hosted by Teagasc in Dublin. […]
17 April 2023
Feeding for fertility this breeding season
Feeding for fertility this breeding season This spring was a game of two halves, in terms of herd feeding management. The good weather in February saw cows out to grass and intakes were good overall. Things were a bit more challenging in March due to bad weather; however, the consensus among many […]
16 April 2023
Want to shave one-third off your nitrogen costs?
Want to shave one-third off your nitrogen costs? Urea will cost you 33% less than CAN with no reduction in grain yield. Ciaran Collins, Tillage specialist, Teagasc Crops Environment and Land Use Programme tells us more. CAN has always been somewhat more expensive than urea. The differential has grown over the last […]
16 April 2023
Tips on establishing white clover in grassland swards
Tips on establishing white clover in grassland swards The benefit of clover in grassland has previously been reported through increased animal performance, increased herbage production and potential saving in chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser, as well improved N use efficiency and N farm gate surplus. If Irish farms are to successfully establish clover […]
15 April 2023
Installing barn owl nest boxes
Installing barn owl nest boxes In the latest Teagasc Environment Newsletter we find out what to look out for when installing owl nest boxes When installing a barn owl nest box, you must adhere to the following: nest boxes must be located as on the ACRES application; maintain in the same position […]
15 April 2023
Using slurry to reduce the cost of growing cereal crops
Using slurry to reduce the cost of growing cereal crops Shay Phelan, Mark Plunkett, John Mahon and Gerard McCutcheon tell us that slurry is a valuable nutrient source and its efficient use can help off-set rising fertiliser costs. A major event to encourage farmers to make more efficient use of slurry and […]
14 April 2023