Articles
Why extensive means abundant for grassland biodiversity
Managed in a traditional way since the late 18th century, a meadow in the demesne of Birr Castle took pride of place at a landmark event, today, June 12.
12 June 2025
Protected urea continues to deliver performance across multiple sites
Extensively proven and widely promoted as a key technology to reduce greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions from Irish grass-based systems, promising early results from a major Teagasc study should serve to instil further confidence in protected urea.
12 June 2025
Listen: The Evolution of Sprayer Technology - Part 2
On this week’s Tillage Edge podcast, the second of a two-part series with Dermot Forristal, Teagasc Researcher, Dermot discusses the latest developments in sprayer technology, including nozzle technology and where this technology can be best used on farms.
12 June 2025
Variability and BYDV evident in spring barley crops
Crops Specialist at Teagasc, Ciaran Collins assesses the performance of spring barley crops, highlighting some variability and a rise in BYDV incidence, especially in later-sown crops.
12 June 2025
Field Vegetable Crop Establishment and Band Spraying Demonstrations at Crops Open Day
A live field vegetable crop establishment and band spraying demonstration will take place in Teagasc Oak Park on Wednesday, 25 June as part of the Crops Open Day 2025.
12 June 2025
6 reasons to attend the Crops and Technology Open Day
All involved in the tillage and horticultural sectors are invited to the highly anticipated Crops and Technology Open Day.
12 June 2025
Farming in ‘clover’ in Ballylooby
Hundreds of visitors, ranging from young to old, visited the Walsh family’s dairy farm in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary yesterday evening to see the steps the award-winning dairy farm is taking to protect the environment.
11 June 2025
Establishing red clover swards
Offering many benefits, Teagasc Advisor in Tralee, Eamonn Dempsey details the key things to get right when establishing red clover swards on your farm.
11 June 2025
Maintaining calf performance at grass
With the majority of dairy-beef calves now at grass, maximising weight gain over the coming weeks and months is key, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Tommy Cox shares key advice.
11 June 2025
Tips and advice for Men’s Health Week
As part of Men’s Health Week, Regional Project Manager in the west of Ireland with the HSE, Laurence Gaughan is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with some tips and advice on mental health for farmers.
11 June 2025
Unlocking Ireland’s rural income potential
With tourism and leisure becoming increasingly important sources of alternative income for Irish farms, Barry Caslin details some recent trends, changing consumer preferences and his keys to making diversification a success.
11 June 2025
Summer nitrogen usage, clover and slurry
Recent rain, recovering grass growth rates and good clover content mean farmers need to focus on maximising nitrogen (N) utilisation across the farm, Teagasc Climate Action and Sustainability Advisor, Liz Duffy shares some key tips.
10 June 2025
Building farmer resilience
Beef farming in Ireland brings a unique set of physical and emotional demands. Studies show that farmers face high rates of burnout, stress-related illness and mental health challenges.
10 June 2025
Preventing blowfly strike
Brian McConnell, Technical Consultant for Elanco in Ireland, joins this episode of the OviCast podcast to discuss blowfly strike.
10 June 2025
Gearing up for Sheep 2025 - What to expect
Visitors to Sheep 2025 can look forward to a wide array of technical information and expert insights from leading industry professionals, Dr. Philip Creighton, Teagasc Sheep Enterprise Leader, provides an overview of what to expect at the must attend event.
10 June 2025
Farmers’ views: Courage needed to lower emissions
Just two of the many farmers leading the way on Ireland’s journey to lower agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, John Walsh and Edwin Thompson illustrated why courage and adaptability are key to sustainable farming in today’s world.
09 June 2025
Farmer buy-in key to ag emissions journey
The vital role farmers play in meeting Ireland’s binding agricultural emissions reduction targets was a key topic of discussion at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Climate Change: Science into Action Conference, held in Dublin Castle on June 5.
09 June 2025
Key management decisions for grass-clover swards
On this week’s episode of the Dairy Edge podcast, James Dunne is joined by Teagasc grassland researcher, Dr. Mike Egan to discuss the correct management of grass-clover swards to ensure high levels of pasture and animal performance.
09 June 2025
Where to from here for the Irish dairy industry?
The Moorepark 2025 Open Day will offer a blueprint for the dairy sector’s future, with the emphasis on protecting and enhancing the fundamental advantages of our grass-based production system, Head of Teagasc Animal & Grassland Innovation and Research Programme, Laurence Shalloo writes.
09 June 2025
Weed Watch 2025 - Herbicide resistance testing
Vijaya Bhaskar highlights the growing importance of herbicide resistance testing.
09 June 2025
Quality pasture: The foundation for healthy horses
The importance of pasture quality to horse health, nutrition and overall cost will form central pillars of discussion at two upcoming Equine Pasture Management Workshops.
09 June 2025
Thinking twice before dosing lambs
This time of year, many sheep farmers are thinking about the best time to dose lambs for stomach worms. However, with growing concerns over wormer resistance, Enda O’Hart, Organic Advisor, advises taking a strategic approach.
08 June 2025
Regional Collaboration Key to Unlocking Ireland’s Bioeconomy Potential
The bioeconomy supports Ireland’s climate goals, biodiversity, and regional jobs. Progress includes the Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023–2025 and updated Planning Framework, but stronger integration into local and regional plans is still needed.
08 June 2025
Organic Hill Farming in Co. Kerry
Sarah and Aaron Turner are organic sheep and suckler farmers living in the stunning landscape of West Kerry. They are participants in the Growing Organics programme, and are passionate about sustainable agriculture.
08 June 2025
Listen: Grazing update with Tim Walsh in Co. Kerry
On this week’s Grass10 grazing management update, Joseph Dunphy discusses current grazing advice as some farms are coming into surplus grass, and he has a grazing update from Tim Walsh in Co. Kerry.
07 June 2025
Pasture-based systems for early-maturing dairy-beef heifers
Spring-born, early-maturing (Angus and Hereford) dairy-beef heifers can form high-output, low-input systems when finished during the second grazing season at 19 -21 months of age.
07 June 2025
Exploring Farm Diversification: Rural Skills
Why not consider running courses on your farm? Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, explores how running rural skills training courses can be a viable and rewarding diversification option for farmers.
07 June 2025
Get snapping - ‘This is Dairying’ Photo Competition launched
Teagasc, with the support of FBD Insurance, is delighted to launch the ‘This is Dairying’ photo competition in the lead-up to the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day which is taking place in early July.
06 June 2025
The role of native riparian forests in protecting upland rivers
Ireland’s mountains and uplands are renowned for their spectacular beauty. Upland rivers and streams together with adjoining areas of native trees and forests are iconic features of the wild landscape. Noel Kennedy discusses the protective role of native riparian forests to conserve our rivers.
06 June 2025
Identifying critical tillage grass weeds
Some growers have spotted blackgrass for the first time on their farms in recent weeks and have sought help to confirm its identification. Correct identification is crucial, says Vijaya Bhaskar, Research Officer.
06 June 2025
‘Undies the surface’
Unlike your typical cereal or legume crop, Signpost Tillage farmer, Darren Allen has ‘planted’ a novel ‘crop’ that he hopes will provide useful insights into the soil health on Ballymaloe Farm, Ballymaloe, Shanagarry, Co. Cork.
06 June 2025
Cleaning liquid feed mix tanks
Ciaran Carroll of the Teagasc Pig Development Department takes us through the process of cleaning liquid feed mix tanks, an important task on pig farms given the quantity of feed used.
06 June 2025
Inter cropping challenges
A push for home-grown protein, an influx of livestock farmers having converted or converting to organic production and the availability of Protein Aid scheme has made inter crops – a combination of cereals and legumes – an attractive prospect for many organic tillage farms.
06 June 2025
Addressing the intricate relationship between agriculture and climate change
The intricate relationship between agriculture and climate change was addressed by leading international scientists, policymakers and agri-food sector stakeholders at a major conference hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Dublin, today, June 5.
05 June 2025
Listen: US farmers are behind on plantings
The grain harvest in the United States has a significant impact on global markets, and directly influences harvest prices in Ireland. On this week’s Tillage Edge, Brian Caldbeck, an Irishman running a seed business in Kentucky, returns to the show to discuss how US farmers are faring this season.
05 June 2025
Timing critical with final fungicide applications
As most spring barley and winter wheat crops will be due their final application of fungicide over the next week or so, Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan reminds us of the importance of timing for effectiveness and cost.
05 June 2025
Breaking the scald cycle
The presence of wet and stemmy grass, combined with warm weather means that farmers have to be extra vigilant for the first signs of lameness occurring – particularly scald.
05 June 2025
Protecting farm fertiliser nitrogen for farm productivity
Making the switch to protected urea delivers costs savings, more grass from less nitrogen, reduced farm emissions and more, Specialist on the Teagasc Signpost Programme, Mark Plunkett delves into some of the key benefits.
05 June 2025
Walk crops for grass weed issues
Teagasc Crops Specialist, Shay Phelan shares key tips and advice for controlling grass weeds, and encourages growers to walk all crops over the coming weeks to identify any potential issues.
05 June 2025
Finishing cattle off grass - the factors to consider
With beef prices remaining high at around €7.50/kg, farmers may want to take advantage and push cattle to finish a little earlier than other years, Co-ordinator of the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, Alan Dillon shares key advice
04 June 2025
New Manager appointed in Teagasc Laois/Kildare/Offaly Advisory Region
Sandra Hayes has been appointed as Teagasc Regional Advisory Manager in the Laois, Kildare and Offaly advisory region. The appointment was approved at the Teagasc Authority meeting today, Wednesday, 4 June.
04 June 2025
Listen: Simplifying the system to maximise grass – Tim Meagher’s approach
Host of this year’s Irish Grassland Association Beef Event, Tim Meagher from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary is on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast
04 June 2025
No more tail paint
In the midst of the breeding season, Teagasc Signpost Programme and Lakeland Dairies Monitor farmer, Kieran McDermott tells us how a recently installed heat detection system is proving its worth on his farm in Co. Monaghan.
04 June 2025
Recap: Does seasonality affect how much methane an animal produces?
In a recent Teagasc x NZAGRC webinar, researchers from Teagasc and New Zealand presented their latest findings on the effect of seasonality on methane production by grazing dairy cows.
04 June 2025
Spreading the risk in organic tillage systems
Farming without pesticides, fungicides or chemical fertilisers, organic tillage farmers were reminded of the importance of establishing effective crop rotations to improve the resilience of their farming systems to weather, disease and pest challenges.
04 June 2025
Achieving high levels of farm performance in a sustainable manner - a farmer’s perspective
Irish dairy farms are making huge progress when it comes to improving their sustainability metrics, with the Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards highlighting the farms which are leaders in this regard.
03 June 2025
Teagasc to host preview webinar ahead of major Sheep 2025 event
Sheep farmers across Ireland are invited to join a Teagasc hosted webinar on Thursday, June 5 at 8pm, offering an exclusive preview of what’s to come at Sheep 2025 - a major diary date for Ireland’s sheep sector.
03 June 2025
Can a simple calendar help farmers tackle climate change?
In a recent RTÉ Brainstorm article, Niamh Dunphy, Teagasc PhD student, discussed an agri-climate calendar with easy-to-follow advice and tips that can give farmers clear and practical climate steps to take throughout the year.
03 June 2025
Gareth Peoples’ approach to calf turnout
Gareth Peoples, a participant in the Teagasc Signpost and DairyBeef 500 programmes, fills us in on the latest happenings from his farm in Co. Donegal, including an update on calf rearing and how calves are managed at grass when first turned out.
03 June 2025
Benefitting from beans in Co. Meath
Signpost Tillage farmer, Vincent Macken informs us of the latest happenings from his farm in Co. Meath, providing an update on beans, spring crop establishments and spraying.
03 June 2025