Latest news with #TeagascSignpost
Agriland
07-08-2025
- Business
- Agriland
AgNav driving 'big improvements from simple actions'
Calf-to-beef farmer, Michael O'Donnell, explains how he is using AgNav, supported by his Teagasc Signpost Climate Adviser, Leonard Betts. AgNav is a free digital platform for Irish farmers, developed by Teagasc, Bord Bia and ICBF, and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Farmers can use AgNav to develop farm-specific sustainability action plans to reduce on-farm emissions and improve water quality. Michael is farming 130ac near Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, which is a mix of owned and rented land and has been running his calf-to-beef system for the last four years. Before that, it was store-to-beef. Now Michael buys in calves both in the autumn and the spring to spread the workload. He said: "My focus is really just on producing them as efficiently as I can." Michael was introduced to AgNav by his Teagasc Signpost Climate Adviser last year and said that, ever since, the platform has been improving efficiencies on the farm. In terms of logging in to AgNav, Michael said: "I logged in with my ICBF login, which is handy, and all the information from my previous Bord Bia audit was there. "It's actually very simple to use. You can log in and play around with the Forecaster tool. For example, you can change the dates for when you let animals out to grass in spring and when they're brought in, and you'll see the difference that this makes to your emissions." From his own experience, Michael suggested that other farmers should try AgNav. He recommended: "Play with it and see how you can reduce your emissions with small, incremental changes on your farm." Michael has made a few small but significant changes on his farm, starting with purchasing only protected urea and no calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN). Michael is also targeting getting all his slurry out in springtime and after the first cut of silage in suitable conditions. Previously he would have left a bit for the autumn, he said that "you get more use out of it in the spring. "I've also been using LESS (low emission slurry spreading) equipment for the last few years, which is another big improvement I've made to reduce emissions." By using the AgNav Forecaster tool, Michael understands that getting animals out to grass early and extending the grazing season by an extra week or two can make a big difference to a farm's emissions. Michael's AgNav Actions: Early turnout and later housing; Incorporation of clover; 100% protected urea; Enhance soil fertility; Increase live weight gain; Use of LESS; Spring slurry application. According to Michael: "There's big improvements to be made from simple actions on the farm." Teagasc Signpost Climate Adviser, Leonard Betts has worked closely with Michael so the Co. Tipperary farmer utilises AgNav in an efficient manner and to suit his farm system. Leonard said: "When I sit down with a farmer, the first thing we look at is where they are right now – their carbon footprint, their total emissions, and where they could potentially go by taking certain actions." Michael O'Donnell with his Teagasc Signpost Climate Adviser, Leonard Betts He added that "AgNav is a huge help in my work" and highlighted the ease of taking an option - such as protected urea - to show the farmer exactly how much they can reduce their emissions just by making that one switch. Leonard has worked with Michael to put together a plan of actions that were appropriate for Michael's farm – practical steps that the farmer is likely to take on. "The other advantage with AgNav is that you can print out a clear action plan. If it's written down, it's more likely to happen." Leonard has now engaged with over 1,000 farmers to introduce them to AgNav – at local co-ops, in discussion groups, and as part of the ACRES programme. The Signpost Climate Adviser believes that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive because the action farmers are being asked to do are straightforward and can make their farms more profitable. AgNav is available to all beef, dairy, and tillage farmers through the AgNav website ( Additionally, all beef, dairy, and tillage farmers can sign up for the free Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme for support and guidance on using and implementing AgNav. Beef and dairy farmers can also join through an affiliated processor sustainability scheme.
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ballymaloe Farm hosts ‘Managing Soils to Grow Profit' farm walk
The 'Managing Soils to Grow Profit' tillage farm walk was recently hosted on Ballymaloe Farm in Cork. The farm walk was facilitated and hosted by Dairygold Agri Business in collaboration with Teagasc. The event brought together farmers from across the region to share knowledge and best practices and soil health management, crop establishment techniques and nutrition, with some of Munster's leading soil health and tillage advisers speaking at the event. Host of the event and Teagasc Signpost farmer Darren Allen, has been part of the Teagasc Signpost programme for four years and has embraced the opportunities and challenges that have come along with it. 'As a farmer, I have to challenge how I do things every day, not just to reduce our environmental impact, but to remain viable as a food producer. Margins have tightened so much that yield alone is no longer a reliable measure of success. It is now about the margin per hectare. That shift in thinking is essential if we're to have a sustainable future in tillage,' he said. Teagasc's Signpost programme has been running similar farm walks across the country in recent months aimed at highlighting the work of tillage farmers. Speaking at the event, Teagasc Signpost programme adviser John Mahon praised the commitment of host farmer Darren Allen, saying: 'The Allen Family, like other tillage Signpost farmers, are constantly developing new practices on farms, often to demonstrate the practices and the advantages of such actions. "Some practices don't work out, but their commitment to continuous improvement and follow-up by sharing their experiences with others is what really matters. These farmers are ambassadors for a sector that continues to evolve and improve, and we in Teagasc are grateful for their contribution to advancing best practice across the industry.' Also speaking at the event, Liam Leahy, Dairygold beef and tillage business manager said: 'Tillage farmers are showing a strong willingness to learn, adapt and evolve. Events like this highlight both the challenges and the rewards that lie ahead.'
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
'Dairying at Dusk': An evening walk through an award-winning farm
An evening of learning, nature, and fun on the family farm that won the 2024 Teagasc/FBD Environmental Sustainability Award will take place next month. Visitors will meet John, Maria and Brendan Walsh, the family who are leading the way in running a sustainable dairy farm. A national farm walk on the farm has been organised by Teagasc, FBD and Dairygold. 'Dairying at Dusk' will take place on Tuesday, June 10, at 6:30pm at their family farm at Ballylooby, Co Tipperary. This event will be of interest to the general public, non-farming families, as well as farming families. The Walsh's win in the competition was based on four key sustainability pillars. The Walshs are running a highly efficient and profitable dairy operation. They have adopted smarter ways to grow grass without compromising on grass yield to feed the cows. Biodiversity is a long-standing priority on the Walsh farm, dating back generations. Hedges are managed to promote growth and diversity, with whitethorns allowed to flourish every 50m. The risk to water quality has been significantly reduced by lowering the surplus nitrogen on the farm, with their surplus nitrogen being almost half the national average. Speaking in advance of the walk, Brendan and John Walsh said: 'We are looking forward to welcoming the general public to our farm and showing what we and other farmers across the country are doing to improve environmental sustainability. Our message to other farmers is: start small, seek good advice, and don't fear failure.' Dr Siobhan Kavanagh, Teagasc Signpost programme and chair of the judging panel, highlighted the Walshs' success story is not just about awards, but about building a resilient and environmentally responsible future for Irish farming. John and Brendan are passionate about making a good living from farming but also looking after the environment. Visitors will hear inspiring stories of how the Walshs are looking after nature on their farm while continuing to produce high-quality food profitably. There will also be fun games and activities for children. Read More Rise in low-emission slurry spreading puts Ireland on track for ammonia target
Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
How a focus on ewe BCS lifted this Sligo farmer's scanning rate to 1.96
Francis, who farms at Ballinorley, Colga, on the outskirts of Sligo town, attributes this performance to a greater focus on body condition score of his ewes since joining the Teagasc BETTER sheep programme. The key, he says, is ongoing monitoring of BCS – identifying thinner ewes in time and taking corrective action to build them up. At scanning, average BCS for the 115-ewe lowland flock at that stage was 3.3, with only 7pc at or below 3.0. Any problem or poorly performing ewes at lambing or at any stage during the year have a cull tag inserted and are culled before the next mating. This has a positive impact on overall flock performance over time. Along with the excellent scanning rate and 100pc pregnancy rate we estimate that 90pc of lowland ewes lambed in the first cycle, completing a very positive story on ewe fertility. The strategic closing up of paddocks on the home grazing block last autumn has built grass covers over the winter, allowing most ewes to be turned out to grass with little or no concentrate supplementation post-turnout. The main ewe and lamb grazing group has been formed to facilitate getting into a rotational grazing system as soon as is practical. When grass growth rates increase, the bulk of next winter's silage supplies will be harvested as high-feed-value baled silage taken from paddocks that have got ahead of the flock. The lambs are being closely monitored for signs of scouring which could be indicative of nematodirus infection. Based on the age of lambs and the Department's nematodirus forecast, treatment with a white drench will be required mid to late April, or sooner if clinical signs are observed. Francis does not routinely treat lambs for coccidia infection but again will watch closely and act where symptoms are seen. He will put all ewes and lambs through his batch footbath as soon as there are any signs of scald in lambs. This is often combined with other routine tasks such as dosing – he finds standing sheep in a 10pc zinc sulphate solution very effective in the treatment/prevention of scald. Meanwhile, the hill ewes – almost 200 Scottish Blackfaces – came down from the hill in February for scanning, and again Francis was very pleased with the results: 1.29 lambs per ewe to the ram and only a 3.9pc barren rate. Soon after scanning a small cohort of thinner ewes as well as any twin-bearers were drafted off and taken indoors for supplementary feeding. The single-bearing ewes in good body condition remained on the enclosed part of the hill farm and mainly lambed outdoors. The plan is that single-rearing ewes in good body condition will go to the hill once lambs are 6-7 weeks of age, with any thinner ewes and those rearing twins remaining on the enclosed ground at the hill farm up to weaning. As a participant in the Teagasc Signpost programme, all Francis's straight nitrogen applications are now in the form of protected urea. He closely follows his nutrient management plan to address phosphorus and potassium requirements. As of mid-April the home farm block has received 35-40 units per acre of N applied in two splits – one of 20 units/ac of protected urea and the other a compound including low levels of P & K.
