Articles

Solving the mystery about grass-clover swards

Solving the mystery about grass-clover swards Over the last year, discussion has emerged around the adoption of new grassland management practices that have the potential to improve farm performance. A trending topic has been the introduction of clover into grazing swards. Despite efforts to promote its adoption, not much is known about […]
27 January 2023

Feed and fertiliser costs hit DairyBeef 500 monitor farm profits

Feed and fertiliser costs hit DairyBeef 500 monitor farm profits Increased spending associated with higher feed and fertiliser costs were pinpointed as major contributing factors to a reduction in the profits witnessed on DairyBeef 500 monitor farms in 2022. Speaking from the DairyBeef 500 Spring Conference, Alan Dillon, campaign coordinator, presented average […]
27 January 2023

Parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches – a New Zealand perspective

Parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches – a New Zealand perspective Dave Leathwick, AgResearch Grasslands, Tennent Drive, Palmerston North, New Zealand, recently presented his research parasites of sheep and resistance to drenches at the Teagasc National Sheep Conference 2023. Anthelmintic (drench) resistance in nematode parasites is an issue facing farmers of […]
27 January 2023

The Opportunity of Forestry

The Opportunity of Forestry Dermot Leavy, his late wife Florian and their four daughters were previously dairy farmers located on the outskirts of Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath. They also had an out farm, a few miles away, which was primarily for cattle fattening along with some tillage on the better ground. In the […]
27 January 2023

What is the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme?

What is the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme? Louise Clarke tells us all about the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme and how to apply. The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was announced as part of Budget 2023. The scheme was designed to help businesses manage the higher electricity and natural gas […]
27 January 2023

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

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