Irish Targets 25by30 Farming Emission Examiner

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SUSTAINABLE FARMING

A collection of the latest news, views and analysis on the subject of sustainable farming and meeting the 25by30 emission targets.

<p>Macroom Biogas Concern Group cites issues from inadequate road infrastructure to air and water quality and explosion risks in its opposition to the plans by NRG Ltd. Picture: Peter Scanlon</p>

spotlight

Will biogas sort out Ireland's decarbonisation needs, or will it just leave a bad smell?

Ireland's ambitious targets for biomethane — turning waste into gas — has inspired a wave of planning applications but community groups are raising concerns about the regulation of the new industry

SStephen Cadogan: Animal welfare protections look set to move down the food chain

<p>Large minorities do not understand the human-caused nature of climate change. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: Dan Linehan</span>
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farming

Stephen Cadogan: Tracking the public's knowledge of climate change

Stricter nutrient management measures on the cards

farming

Stricter nutrient management measures on the cards

Grass fed beef cattle hereford heifers feeding from trough during drought

farming

Feed efficiency can help both your pocket and the planet

Despite progress, Ireland faces a highly complex climate challenge, EPA warns

news

Despite progress, Ireland faces a highly complex climate challenge, EPA warns

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Karen Walsh, Law of the Land

Stephen Cadogan: You thought all you had to do was produce food and get paid a fair price for it

Stephen Cadogan: You thought all you had to do was produce food and get paid a fair price for it

Eurocrats are blaming farmer protests across Europe earlier this year on rising societal tensions across the bloc and a 'growing divide between rural and urban areas'

Wed, 11 Sep, 2024

Utah dairy farm

Feed strategies could slash cattle emissions by up to 60%

While significant progress has been made in all areas of dairy science research, from genetics to animal health and welfare, to reduce emissions dairy nutrition has emerged as a particularly impactful area.

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024

Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year

Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year

Judges for this year's Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year competition are on the hunt for farmers who are growing and utilising high levels of grass in a sustainable way.

Mon, 26 Aug, 2024

Irish weather is to blame for the grass shortage, not protected urea

Irish weather is to blame for the grass shortage, not protected urea

The ambition or the objective at the moment should be to close as much of the gap as possible from long forage

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Budget calculation

Farmer incomes to be prioritised by EU in current term, expert predicts

Incentives and rewards will favour over-regulation to achieve environmental improvements on farms

Thu, 08 Aug, 2024

Electricity from slurry: €40m Biomethane Grant scheme opens for applications

Electricity from slurry: €40m Biomethane Grant scheme opens for applications

Slurry from 1.3 million cattle will be required to meet the 2030 target, which represents approximately 20% of all winter cattle slurry produced in Ireland

Wed, 07 Aug, 2024

Zeroing in on the right finishing age to meet 2030 climate targets

Zeroing in on the right finishing age to meet 2030 climate targets

Farmers have reduced the finishing age of steers, heifers and young bulls by about two months, without major negative impacts on the average carcase weight

Mon, 05 Aug, 2024

O'Mara: livestock production won't cease anytime soon

O'Mara: livestock production won't cease anytime soon

Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara has hit back at opponents of livestock in Irish agriculture.

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Spreading fertilizer

Agricultural emissions down 6.8%

The reduction was driven primarily by lower levels of chemical nitrogen use and reduced liming.

Wed, 10 Jul, 2024

tractor fertilizing in field

Agriculture 'on the right path' as industry welcomes GHG emissions reduction in 2023

Minister McConalogue said the figures for agriculture are "very positive".

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

Food companies explore the creation of food from bones

Food companies explore the creation of food from bones

Finnish company SuperGround has developed processes to upcycle poultry and fish bones, turning them into pastes which can be added to meat and fish products

Wed, 03 Jul, 2024

Stephen Cadogan: EU still does not truly understand why farmers protest

Stephen Cadogan: EU still does not truly understand why farmers protest

Green Deal-related measures have transformed the EU's agriculture policy from supporting food production to curbing farm output

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Measuring, reporting and verification will pave the way for carbon farming rewards

Measuring, reporting and verification will pave the way for carbon farming rewards

Speaking at the recent Teagasc Counting Carbon conference, Frank O'Mara said: 'Carbon farming offers the potential for financial reward for actions to reduce emissions and enhance sinks.'

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

A female old hand on soil-earth. Close-up. Concept of old age-youth, life, health, nature

Irish mineral soils sequestering more carbon than thought

Teagasc said carbon farming — offering additional income for landowners who remove and store carbon in Ireland's soils, forests, grasslands, croplands, and hedgerows — requires the confidence, verification and certification of a well-functioning National Carbon Farming Framework

Wed, 26 Jun, 2024

Micheál Martin insists Fianna Fáil supports nitrates derogation

Micheál Martin insists Fianna Fáil supports nitrates derogation

'Fianna Fáil party is absolutely committed to applying for and securing a nitrates derogation at European level'

Wed, 05 Jun, 2024

IRELAND-ENVIRONMENT-CLIMATE-SOCIAL-PROTEST

S Elaine Loughlin: Poverty of responses to climate change in stark contrast to its threat

Placing the sole blame on the government of the day is exactly the reason why we will not meet our emissions targets

Sat, 01 Jun, 2024

Biogas plant in agricultural landscape.

120,000ha and 1.3m cows required to meet new National Biomethane Strategy goals

Ireland's €40m new National Biomethane Strategy has set ambitions to replace up to 10% of the country's fossil gas needs with biomethane by 2030.

Wed, 29 May, 2024

Stuck in the mud - making progress in one of the wettest springs we've had

Stuck in the mud - making progress in one of the wettest springs we've had

Weather hasn’t been in my favour now in quite some time.

Wed, 29 May, 2024

Elaine Loughlin: Just like his office, Michael D Higgins's mind is overflowing with ideas

S Elaine Loughlin: Just like his office, Michael D Higgins's mind is overflowing with ideas

Political Editor Elaine Loughlin visited President Michael D Higgins in his study where he spoke about issues including food security and conflict in the Middle East — and reflected on what the future holds for him

Tue, 28 May, 2024

Eastbourne, Sussex, UK. 18th June 2019. Eastbourne Pier became the focal point for a lightning storm that saw over 1,000 strikes

EPA predicts Ireland will miss its emissions targets by a wide margin

Even if all the Government’s climate action plans are fulfilled, Ireland would only achieve a reduction of 29% in its emissions by 2030, despite the Climate Act's target of 51%

Mon, 27 May, 2024

What can 'the 12 steps' offer your farm?

What can 'the 12 steps' offer your farm?

Deirbhile speaks with ASSAP advisor Padraig Fitzgerald and Signpost and Climate Advisor Tom O’Connor to give an overview on what these programmes have to offer to farmers.

Thu, 23 May, 2024

tractor fertilizing in field

More than 5,000 still unregistered for fertiliser database

The fertiliser national database was introduced in 2023.

Wed, 22 May, 2024

Taoiseach under fire over 'national herd' comments

Taoiseach under fire over 'national herd' comments

Under new sectoral carbon budgets, the agriculture sector is being asked to cut emissions by 25% by 2030

Fri, 17 May, 2024

In-person training option to be made available for SCEP

In-person training option to be made available for SCEP

The Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) was launched at the end of April and aims to provide support to beef farmers to improve the environmental sustainability of the national beef herd.

Wed, 08 May, 2024

The main task now is to get the cows back on track after a tough spring

The main task now is to get the cows back on track after a tough spring

Signpost Farmer Sean Moher on making preparations ahead of breeding season

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

Brian Reidy

Brian Reidy

Herd Management

Farming Crossword

Play Today

PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

The interactive version of the crossword that appears in Thursday’s Farming supplement. No cheating.

Kieran Coughlan

Kieran Coughlan

Farm Finance