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FARMING - Signpost

An Irish Examiner series which is part of an ongoing collaborative programme supporting Irish farmers in reducing emissions from agriculture.

<p>As of last week, we have 30% of the herd dried off, writes Limerick dairy farmer Alex McCarthy. Picture: Dan Linehan</p>

farming

Alex McCarthy: It's data processing December on the farm in Feenagh

Our current production is 15 litres/cow/day at 4. 78% butterfat and 4. 01% protein, with the cows delivering 1. 36kg of milk solids per day on 4kg of meal. Our SCC is currently 126, which is very satisfactory.

<p>A key element of the project is understanding the impacts of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on other animal characteristics, such as growth, feed intake and efficiency, and quantifying these effects. </p>

farming

Sustain Sheep project to delve into ovine emissions

<p>Tom Barry pictured (right) with James Greevy, Herdwatch, who sponsored the Herdwatch Environmental Farmer of the Year - a category Tom won as well as the overall award. </p>

farming

Tom Barry: The year we did two years' work in one

Ground conditions have deteriorated in the past week due to the rain

farming

Ground conditions have deteriorated in the past week due to the rain

Breeding really is a numbers game for efficient sheep production

farming

Breeding really is a numbers game for efficient sheep production

Alex McCarthy: Stretching out the grazing season as far as we can

farming

Alex McCarthy: Stretching out the grazing season as far as we can

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Karen Walsh, Law of the Land

Grass fed beef cattle hereford heifers feeding from trough during drought

Feed efficiency can help both your pocket and the planet

Kate Keogh, David Kenny and Mark McGee of Teagasc report on research that makes one animal more feed-efficient than another.

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Signpost: TB testing didn't bring the news we wanted, but we'll manage

Signpost: TB testing didn't bring the news we wanted, but we'll manage

The last two paddocks to be closed will be the multi-species paddocks, writes Mitchelstown dairy farmer Sean Moher.

Fri, 01 Nov, 2024

Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference

Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference

The countdown is on to the Teagasc National Beef Conference, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 19, in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024

Ciaran Bartley: Nearing the finish with my 20-month steers

Ciaran Bartley: Nearing the finish with my 20-month steers

I am nearing the end of feeding my 20-month-old Friesian steers at grass for finish. They have been eating 6kg of meals per day since mid-July July, and I will have fed around 600kg to them by the time they are slaughtered.

Thu, 17 Oct, 2024

Alex McCarthy: The year rolls on, but the jobs don't wait!

Alex McCarthy: The year rolls on, but the jobs don't wait!

The year has just flown by, and some small jobs are in need of completion now and, dare I say, the spring comes around again, writes Limerick dairy farmer Alex McCarthy.

Thu, 10 Oct, 2024

Sean Moher: Fine-tuning a red clover system

Sean Moher: Fine-tuning a red clover system

The clover content is back a bit this year - most have about 30% to 40% clover - but I’m quite happy with this level as I still get the full benefits.

Mon, 30 Sep, 2024

International dairy calf-to-beef conference to take place in Wexford

International dairy calf-to-beef conference to take place in Wexford

The technical conference will be hosted by Teagasc with the support of the British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) and ABP.

Mon, 30 Sep, 2024

Alex McCarthy: Targeting covers and rotation at the end of the grazing season

Alex McCarthy: Targeting covers and rotation at the end of the grazing season

Alex is targeting a cover of 400kg DM per cow by October 1 and a rotation length of 40 days.

Wed, 25 Sep, 2024

Ciaran Bartley: Comparing yields from red clover and grass

Ciaran Bartley: Comparing yields from red clover and grass

While grass isn’t overly plentiful, I would still take this autumn over what I had in 2023 when the land was severely poached following intense flooding, writes beef farmer Ciaran Bartley.

Wed, 25 Sep, 2024

Darren Allen: Tallying the costs and rewards of regen legumes at Ballymaloe

Darren Allen: Tallying the costs and rewards of regen legumes at Ballymaloe

Following the challenges of the 2024 growing season, we have been making steady progress with harvest. As we speak, only the spring beans remain to be cut, which are still a few weeks from harvest following the extremely late sowing date of April 20.

Mon, 23 Sep, 2024

Signpost: 'The difficult weather at the start of the year has been challenging for our flock'

Brian Keane: It's a race to make up the winter fodder shortfall - but I've got a few strategies

Doing the fodder budget and having a plan is essential if silage is tight, explains beef and sheep farmer Brian Keane.

Thu, 12 Sep, 2024

Climate Adaptation Conference to take place at Moorepark

Climate Adaptation Conference to take place at Moorepark

The incidence of high-level precipitation events, soil moisture deficits, and prolonged winter conditions, as well as dry summer periods, are becoming increasingly frequent, resulting in challenging conditions for Irish farmers.

Wed, 11 Sep, 2024

Sean Moher: I'm looking forward to a new protected urea product to test

Sean Moher: I'm looking forward to a new protected urea product to test

Even though rainfall has been low this summer, it’s still hard to find 48 hours of ideal silage conditions.

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

Signpost: Reduced allocations for nitrogen and phosphorus are starting to hit me

Signpost: Reduced allocations for nitrogen and phosphorus are starting to hit me

'I rarely if ever say, it but 10-15 ml of rain would transform growth on the farm cover.'

Mon, 19 Aug, 2024

Man revolving animal food on air

Stephen Cadogan: Cheap grain prices could backfire on Irish beef and dairy farmers

Teagasc has forecast a 5% to 10% decrease in 2024 harvest prices for Irish-grown grain, pulled down by falling world prices

Wed, 14 Aug, 2024

Signpost: Protein drops slightly as cows clean out poor quality paddocks

Signpost: Protein drops slightly as cows clean out poor quality paddocks

We have completed our second cut silage in the last few weeks, and we were very happy with the quality and quantity, writes Alex McCarthy

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Tom Barry: ACRES has failed to date - but I'll do my part to help with baling

Tom Barry: ACRES has failed to date - but I'll do my part to help with baling

It's been a few months since my last Signpost update at the start of April. Since then, winter crops have been under pressure from the high rainfall and poor ground conditions, so spring setting was impossible.

Tue, 06 Aug, 2024

How Sean's using clover to correct his grass wedge this summer

Signpost: Clover's growing on par with PRG for Sean in Mitchelstown

It’s been a tough week in the Rebel County on the hurling front, but we’ll be back next year even better. At least things are looking better on the farm.

Fri, 26 Jul, 2024

Big baler with film wrapper in use for grass silage preparation

Ensuring you have enough fodder for winter 2024-2025

Following a wet start to 2024 and a prolonged winter housing period, silage and fodder reserves on many farms were completely exhausted this spring.

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

Starting to see the effects of last year's weather on this year's finishers

Starting to see the effects of last year's weather on this year's finishers

Damaged swards and poor thrive are things we don’t want to experience in the future - and quite frankly can’t afford to, wites Limerick-based beef farmer Ciaran Bartley.

Wed, 24 Jul, 2024

Alex sets out his dairy herd's vaccinations, fertiliser and forage plans

Alex sets out his dairy herd's vaccinations, fertiliser and forage plans

The McCarthy family hosted an event on-farm on Tuesday, June 18 in conjunction with Teagasc and Kerry Agribusiness.

Wed, 17 Jul, 2024

The importance of changing teat liners

The importance of changing teat liners

Teat cup liners in the milking machine are the equivalent to tyres in a car, therefore it pays to change them in a timely manner, writes Padraig O’Connor.

Tue, 16 Jul, 2024

Hay bales wrapped in plastic

Stock keepers urged to complete a fodder budget and take action if needed

Stock keepers are advised to secure fodder stocks if required, based on Teagasc June Fodder Survey.

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

The best-laid plans of of farmers and mice are often the ones which go awry

The best-laid plans of of farmers and mice are often the ones which go awry

Difficult weather conditions have meant Brian has had to go back to the drawing board.

Tue, 09 Jul, 2024

Farming Crossword

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PLAY THE WEEKLY FARMING CROSSWORD

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