Grass10 Newsletter Celebrates 400th Edition
Teagasc Grass10 celebrated the publication of its 400th newsletter with an event on Friday, 25 September at Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, recognising the farmers, researchers and advisors who have contributed to the newsletter since it was first published in 2018.
Teagasc Grass10 celebrated the publication of its 400th newsletter with an event in Teagasc Moorepark, Fermoy, County Cork, recognising the farmers, researchers and advisors who have contributed to the newsletter since it was first published in 2018. Pictured are John Conroy, Teagasc Grass10 Team, Ger Bergin, FBD, John Maher, Grass10 Programme Manager, Clodagh Bolger, Teagasc Grass10 Team, Michael Berkery, Chairman FBD Trust and Molly Kenny, FBD. Picture: O’Gorman Photography.
The milestone event, supported by FBD Insurance, brought together farmers and contributors from across the country who have featured in the Grass10 newsletter over the past nine years, sharing their experiences and practical approaches to grassland management with farmers nationwide.
The Grass10 newsletter was first published in 2018 as part of the Teagasc Grass10 Campaign. Since its launch, it has provided farmers with practical, weekly guidance on key aspects of grassland management, including grazing management, grass measurement, soil fertility, clover management, fertiliser management, reseeding and extending the grazing season.
A central feature of the newsletter has been the contribution of farmers who have opened their farms to Grass10 and shared their experiences of managing grass. Their stories have provided practical examples of how improved grassland management can be implemented on commercial farms and have helped demonstrate the benefits of measuring and managing grass throughout the grazing season.
The 400th edition marked an opportunity to recognise these farmers and the contribution they have made to the Grass10 programme by sharing their knowledge and experiences with other farmers.
Chair of the Grass10 Programme, John Macnamara, said: “Congratulations to all involved in reaching the milestone of the 400th edition of the Grass10 newsletter. This is a great achievement for the Grass10 and Grassland Science teams. This would not be possible without the stakeholders, Teagasc research and most notably you the farmers who deserve special mention as without you there is no newsletter. The farmers contribution to this newsletter have been immense over the last 8 yrs through the various phases of Grass10. Míle buíochas go léir.”
As part of the event, attendees travelled to the Dairygold farm in Kilworth, where they received a tour of the farm and heard about the next generation herd and the research work being carried out there. The visit provided an opportunity to see how research and innovation were being developed and implemented across different scenarios.
Speaking in Moorepark, Michael Berkery, Chair, FBD Trust said: “FBD Insurance is pleased to support this Grass10 milestone event and to recognise the significant contribution that the programme has made to Irish agriculture. Ireland’s grass-based system remains a key strength of our agricultural sector, underpinning both farm profitability and sustainability. This event not only celebrates what has been achieved to date but also renews our collective commitment to strengthening and advancing this competitive advantage into the future. Through our support of Grass10, FBD Insurance is proud to back the practical research, knowledge transfer and farmer engagement that will help strengthen grass utilisation and grazing management, supporting the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Irish agriculture.”
Attendees then heard a keynote presentation from Pat Dillon, Director of Research, Teagasc, on the evolution of grazing in Ireland, looking at future opportunities and challenges associated with Ireland’s grass-based production systems and the role that grazing can play in the development of the Irish livestock industry.
Pat Dillon, Director of Research, Teagasc, said: “I would like to acknowledge the generous and continued support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Allied Irish Banks (AIB), FBD Insurance and Grassland Agro. Without their support, it would not be possible to run the Grass10 campaign. The support of the Irish Farmers Journal in disseminating the weekly information is equally important and plays a key role in ensuring that the information reaches farmers across the country. The value of the Grass10 campaign was particularly evident this summer, with twice-weekly updates providing farmers with timely information on grass supply and grass growth rates from farms throughout the country’’.
The event was wrapped up with a farmer forum chaired by Aidan Brennan of the Irish Farmers Journal. The forum brought together three farmers who have contributed to the Grass10 newsletter; Eddie O’Donnell, Co. Tipperary; Michael McGuigan, Co. Meath; and Shane Hegarty, Co. Carlow. The discussion covered their experiences of managing grass, the changes they had made on their farms and the role of grassland management in their farming systems.