Articles
6 key changes to nitrates regulations for 2023
6 key changes to nitrates regulations for 2023 The Nitrates Action Programme – the means by which the Nitrates Directive is delivered in Ireland – has undergone a number of changes, with stronger measures introduced for the protection of water quality. Some existing measures were retained, some new measures were introduced and […]
26 January 2023
Budgeting for spring feed requirements
Budgeting for spring feed requirements Across some parts of the country, particularly in the southern region, stock have eaten a lot more silage than expected for this stage of the winter. A combination of summer drought (which led to silage being fed outside from July to September), and an earlier than expected […]
26 January 2023
The Fundamentals of Soils Part 4: How to Improve Soil Health
The Fundamentals of Soils Part 4: How to Improve Soil Health This is this final episode of four for The Tillage Edge’s special soil series and this week we return to Professor Mike McLaughlin, from the University of Adelaide, to chat about soil health and how soils can be improved. Mike discusses […]
26 January 2023
Grass 10 Featured Farmer – the Clune family
Grass 10 Featured Farmer – the Clune family The Clune family commenced the grazing year last Sunday when 30 cows went to grass under on-off grazing, with an aim of halving 40% of the farm grazed by March 1st. Francis, Bríd, Brian, and Conor Clune milk 115 cows in Tulla, Co. Clare. […]
25 January 2023
Part 1: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks
Part 1: Making the most of your Sheep Improvement Scheme tasks Just over 19,000 of the 36,000 sheep farmers in Ireland have applied to join the Sheep Improvement Scheme. Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc Macroom, discusses the Category A tasks. As part of the scheme, farmers will have been […]
25 January 2023
Crops costs and returns 2023 available
Crops costs and returns 2023 available Teagasc tillage specialists Ciaran Collins and Shay Phelan have recently published the Teagasc Crops Costs and Returns booklet for 2023. The document is intended as an indicative guide to crop margins; however land suitability, rotation, risk avoidance and husbandry skills must also be considered. As well […]
25 January 2023
CAN versus protected urea
CAN versus protected urea There is increasing interest among tillage farmers in switching from CAN to protected urea this season. Based on current fertiliser prices, there are significant financial benefits to using protected urea. Currently protected urea costs 30% less than CAN. The environmental benefits of protected urea are well proven with […]
25 January 2023
Fertiliser spreader calibration: getting ready for the coming season
Fertiliser spreader calibration: getting ready for the coming season Teagasc, in association with Carberry, organised a number of events on fertiliser spreader setup and calibration in West Cork recently. John McNamara, Carbery joint programme coordinator, along with Aoife Healy O’Driscoll, farm sustainability lead at Carbery Group, invited Francis Quigley, Teagasc farm machinery […]
24 January 2023
Preparing for calving with John Pringle, FutureBeef farmer
Preparing for calving with John Pringle, FutureBeef farmer John Pringle is a full-time suckler and sheep farmer in Kilacloran, Aughrim Co. Wicklow. He farms with his wife Linda, daughter Lucy and sons William and Scott. In Aughrim, January is all about setting up for the calving season due to start mid-February. The […]
24 January 2023
Control plan for lameness in sheep
Control plan for lameness in sheep Lameness in sheep is a common and persistent disease and can occur at any time of year. Lame ewes, rams and lambs do not thrive, and treatment of lame sheep incurs a significant cost to the sheep farmer. Eamonn Dempsey, Teagasc advisor in Tralee, discusses further. […]
24 January 2023