{"articles":[{"feature_image":"https:\/\/teagasc.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/A-split-image-of-two-gates.png","release_date":"2026-08-15","description":"Representing a relatively small proportion of the working population, yet accounting for 40% of all workplace fatalities, Paul Mullins, Education Officer at Teagasc Athenry, reminds us of the importance of taking time out this August to focus on farm safety.","main_body":"August is a time of year which can provide a little breathing space on some farms, after a hectic Spring and Summer, before getting into the intensity of the Autumn with weaning, preparing cattle for sale and possibly dealing with difficult ground conditions later on (though this is hard to envisage at the moment).\r\n\r\nIt could provide an opportunity to take a small step back and have a look at some of the issues that require attention, with farm safety being a major one of these.\r\n\r\nFarming accounts for approximately 40% of all workplace fatalities, yet only accounts for a relatively small proportion of the working population. There are also huge numbers of serious farm accidents that occur each year, many of which result in life-changing injuries. Based on these figures, an examination of safety on the farm is a must-do in August. So how might you go about it?\r\n

Identifying hazards<\/h2>\r\nOne thing that could be done is to walk around the farm and look at it through the eyes of a stranger, or better yet have someone not familiar with your farm walk it with you.\r\n\r\nWhen we spend a lot of time in a place we become ‘blind’ to what’s going on around us.  A different perspective can highlight many simple issues that can be addressed, especially where it relates to general tidiness, how gates are secured, tractor and machinery condition and so on.\r\n\r\nWe sometimes might have an attitude in relation to our farmyards and farms of ‘that’s just the way it is<\/em>’.  Well with a different perspective maybe it doesn’t have to be that way.\r\n\r\nIn relation to tidiness, take a couple of hours and make a concerted effort to tidy the farmyard.  Materials that need to be stored, store them neatly, but items like scrap metal, broken gates, old ring feeders, old unrepairable machinery, sort them into an area for recycling.\r\n\r\nLook at gates around the yard and on the farm in general.  Are they swinging freely when opened? If not, why not?  Are we relying on baling twine to keep gates closed?  It’s great stuff in an emergency but tying and untying twine going into fields causes unnecessary time delays, and perhaps stress.  Look at where you might be doing this and come up with a solution.\r\n

Machinery checks<\/h2>\r\nWhen it comes to machinery, check for cleanliness.  I’m talking about windows, can you see out properly?  A drawback of larger tractors is that visibility can be reduced. Don’t reduce it further by having widows muddied over.\r\n\r\nCheck lights, beacons, brakes, hand brakes etc.  Is the tractor due a service?  Maybe now might be a good opportunity to get this sorted.  A well serviced tractor is less likely to give trouble, this reduces the likelihood of a breakdown, meaning less stress.\r\n\r\nThe same goes for on-going maintenance and checking of machinery.  Continue to maintain machinery throughout the season in terms of cleaning, greasing, replacing flails, tines, checking PTO covers and guards.  Each of these items are potential hazards and as we know farm vehicles and machinery account for almost 50% of farm fatalities, so let’s keep focussing on these.\r\n

Livestock management<\/h2>\r\nAs the breeding season has ceased on many cattle farms, the stock bull can be under-employed at this time of year.  As always, use a vehicle when herding when there is a bull present.\r\n\r\nIf breeding has ceased perhaps keep the bull in a well fenced small paddock with a dry cow or two for company.  This way your interaction with the bull can be minimised at a time of year where sometimes they can be more aggressive.\r\n\r\nAgain, where livestock are concerned, think back to last winter.  What issues did you come up against that in retrospect you feel may have compromised safety or caused stress on the farm?  Is there an issue with the calving gate, pen dividers etc. Put a plan in place now to repair or replace as necessary.  How is the condition of the yard surface, is there adequate lighting in the yard for those long winter nights?  Get these issues sorted now.  It’s too late when the stock are in the shed.\r\n

Farm Risk Assessment Document<\/h2>\r\nJust looking back across all of the above, perhaps it is time to re-visit your farm risk assessment document produced by the HSA, or fill a new one.  Fill it yourself, but as I said at the outset, perhaps having a second pair of eyes will help highlight issues that you might overlook because of familiarity.  Be Safe this autumn.","id":"270952","title":"Take time out to focus on safety","category":"Other","release_date_time":"2026-08-15 00:00:00","last_modified":"2026-08-14 00:00:00","thumbnail_image":"https:\/\/teagasc.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/A-split-image-of-two-gates.png"},{"feature_image":"https:\/\/teagasc.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pigs.jpg","release_date":"2026-08-14","description":"Improving the sustainability of pig production while maintaining animal health and growth is one of the key challenges facing the livestock sector. Dr. Clara Negrini, Teagasc Research Officer, discusses ","main_body":"As part of the Horizon Europe project CIRCALGAE<\/a>, researchers at Teagasc Pig Development Department investigated whether ingredients produced from seaweed processing can provide a sustainable alternative feed ingredient for use in pig diets.\r\n\r\nFollowing the extraction of high value products (e.g. agar, phycocyanin, etc) from seaweed, a substantial residue remains. Rather than treating this by-product as a waste product, CIRCALGAE explored how it can be further processed so that it is suitable for use as a feed ingredient in pig diets. This approach supports the principles of the circular bioeconomy by reducing waste and creating new, high-value feed ingredients from existing resources.\r\n\r\nThe research focused on feeding these revalorised seaweed-derived ingredients during the post-weaning period, as during this stage of production pigs are particularly vulnerable to digestive disorders and reduced feed intake. As seaweeds often contain significant levels of bioactive compounds their dietary inclusion could be particularly beneficial during this stage of production.  Across a series of feeding trials, four revalorised seaweed-derived ingredients were evaluated for their effects on animal growth performance and intestinal health.\r\n\r\nIn addition to measuring pig growth, intestinal structure and function, blood parameters, and intestinal microbiota were examined to gain a better understanding of how these novel ingredients interact with the animal. This work was carried out in collaboration with research partners across Europe, combining expertise across different fields.\r\n\r\nThe studies showed that dietary inclusion of the selected revalorised seaweed-derived ingredients at levels between 1 and 5%, when substituted for conventional feed ingredients, maintained pig growth and health. Some revalorised ingredients improved feed efficiency during the critical early post-weaning period, while others promoted changes in intestinal structure, gut barrier function or modulated intestinal microbial composition.\r\n\r\nAs CIRCALGAE enters its final phase, the project team led by Prof. Peadar Lawlor and comprising of Dr. Clara Negrini, Joe Glynn, Dr. Linda Giblin and Prof. Gillian Gardiner (SETU) is now completing data analysis and the publishing of results. The knowledge generated will help guide the future development of sustainable feed ingredients derived from marine resources and contribute to more resilient and resource efficient pig production systems.\r\n\r\nThe CIRCALGAE project was supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101081329).<\/em>","id":"271147","title":"Seaweed by-products – Sustainable feed ingredients for pigs?","category":"Pigs & Poultry","release_date_time":"2026-08-14 00:00:00","last_modified":"2026-08-11 00:00:00","thumbnail_image":"https:\/\/teagasc.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pigs.jpg"},{"feature_image":"https:\/\/teagasc.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/uploads\/media\/website\/news\/daily\/forestry-photos\/FOARDVISE-project-meeting-1024x525.jpg","release_date":"2026-08-14","description":"FORADVISE is a Horizon Europe funded project that is bringing together over 30 beneficiaries and stakeholders working to create a Europe-wide forestry advisory network. It seeks to empower the provision of forestry advice through sharing of knowledge, good practices, digital tools, training and peer to peer collaboration. Dr Mireille Ginesy, Teagasc Extension Officer with the FORADVISE project tells us more.","main_body":"To advance towards more resilient, multifunctional, and productive forests in Europe, it is essential to continuously strengthen forest advisory services, enhance the capacity of forestry advice providers, and promote innovation adoption. As advisory methods, forest management types and objectives, and foresters’ experience with given challenges and opportunities vary across Europe, cross-border sharing of knowledge, skills, and practices will undoubtedly benefit all involved in advice provision.\r\n\r\nFORADVISE<\/a>, a European Union-funded project running from 2025 to 2029, is establishing a European forestry advisory network, improving knowledge exchange in the forestry sector, and making information on sustainable forest management practices and existing decision support tools more accessible. The objectives are both to increase the technical skills of actors involved in the provision of forestry advice and to enhance their capacity to engage and effectively support a wide range of forest owners. FORADVISE also aims at developing a strong Forest Knowledge and Innovation System (FOKIS) in Europe.\r\n

National Contact Points and networks<\/h2>\r\nFORADVISE is coordinated by the European Forest Institute (EFI) and brings together 32 members in 18 European countries. The project’s partners represent a variety of stakeholders within the FOKIS, including forestry advice providers, research institutions, universities, and administrative authorities. In each country, project activities, including the setup and support of national advisory networks, are coordinated by a dedicated National Contact Point (NCP). Teagasc, the NCP for Ireland, has also been leading the task of identification and supporting these NCPs across Europe.\r\n\r\nFORADVISE is actively working towards the creation of a forest advisory network covering all the European Union Member States. To this end, collaborations have also been established with forestry organisations in countries not represented within the project consortium, bringing the total number of countries involved in the network to 27.\r\n\r\n\"A\r\n\r\nThe project established key thematic working groups, made up of experts and interested stakeholders across Europe, focusing on 6 key forestry areas:\r\n