Efficient Nutrient Use of Slurry – a Cost Saving Approach
Efficient nutrient use of slurry is the focus, highlighting how rising fertilizer and diesel prices drive farms to adopt precision technologies. Over the past four years, more than 200,000 soil samples have been analyzed by Chagas, allowing nutrients—especially phosphorus and potassium—to be matched to field needs. The video showcases contractor Jonathan Catter demonstrating a tractor equipped with a flow meter and GPS auto‑steer. The system applies slurry at a calibrated 3,000 gallons per acre, eliminating guesswork and ensuring uniform distribution. Managing slurry viscosity and water content prevents line clogs and equipment downtime. Catter notes that thin slurry avoids silage contamination and that collected dirty water is routed underground for rapid drainage. He emphasizes that precise application, guided by soil test results, maximizes nutrient efficiency while reducing fuel consumption. For growers, adopting these tools translates into lower input costs, higher crop yields, and a smaller environmental footprint, making precision slurry management a strategic advantage.
Dairy Farmer Bernard Ging - Gearing up for Silage 2026
Bernard Ging, a dairy farmer near Port Leash, outlines his 2026 silage plan for a herd of 400 high‑producing Holstein‑Friesian cows on 600 acres. He reports last year’s output of 520 kg solids, 462 kg fat and 373 kg protein with an EVI of...
Your Weekly Grass10 Update
John Maher’s weekly Grass10 briefing highlighted that national grass growth is holding at roughly 54 kg per hectare per day, but performance diverges sharply by region. Southern pastures are already delivering above‑target yields—around 750 kg/ha or 220 kg DM per livestock unit—while cooler,...
How Reseeding Supports Higher Performance
The video spotlights the critical role of annual reseeding on dairy farms, using Tom and Helen O’Connell’s Enniscarra operation as a case study. John Maher of the Grass 10 program and the O’Connells discuss why skipping a reseed year is not...
Newford Open Day 2026: Heat Detection
Newford’s Open Demonstration Day highlighted a fully AI‑driven breeding program that integrates heat‑detection technology, compact calving schedules, and fixed‑time artificial insemination. The farm achieved 87% of cows calving within the first six weeks, allowing rapid return to cyclicity and optimal body‑condition...
Weed Control on Pasture and Silage Ground
The episode tackles practical weed‑management strategies for pasture and silage ground, zeroing in on stubborn perennials such as docks, thistles, nettles and ragwort. Host Kieran Lynch and TP Wheeling’s Chris M explain why timing, product choice and sprayer setup are critical...
Signpost Series: MultiMilk Project
The Signpost webinar introduced the MultiMilk Project, a six‑year farm‑systems study examining how sward species diversity—grass, clover and herbs—affects pasture productivity, animal performance, and environmental outcomes in Irish grazing dairy farms. Researchers established three treatment plots in 2021: a high‑nitrogen...
Let's Talk Organics: Making Quality Grass Silage on Organic Farms
The webinar focused on producing high‑quality grass silage for organic livestock operations and the financial impact of silage variability. Marianne presented data from 93 organic farms, revealing a stark contrast between the top and bottom 20 percent of silage samples....
When Costs Climb: Protecting Profit on Beef Farms
The Beef Edge podcast featured Teagasc beef specialist David Argue outlining detailed budgets for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 beef production systems. He examined under‑16‑month bull programs, forward‑store finishing, and dairy calf‑to‑beef enterprises, highlighting how rising concentrate, fertilizer and contractor...
Changes in Weather in 2025 & Its Impact on Grass Growth
The Chagaskk signpost podcast examined Ireland’s 2025 climate anomalies and their impact on grass growth, featuring climatologist Paul Moore, researcher Elodie Ruel, and technologist Caitlyn Looney. 2025 ranked as the second‑warmest year, with record‑breaking spring and summer temperatures. Spring endured extensive...
Future Beef Farmer Ken Gill Outlines His Organic Suckling System
Ken Gill, an organic beef and tillage farmer in County Offaly, outlines his "organic suckling" system, raising 60‑70 cows annually and finishing them on grass alone at two years of age. He operates on roughly 90 acres, integrating oats into...
Better Farming for Water with Pat Dillon
The Better Farming for Water campaign, launched by the Department of Agriculture and led by Chú’s Pat Dillon, is a multi‑actor advisory initiative aimed at improving Irish water quality by focusing on nutrient loss and sediment from agricultural land. ...
Feed Additives and Methane Production
The Chagaskk Signpost webinar, hosted by Mark Gibson and Kian Condan, examined feed‑additive strategies to curb methane emissions from Irish livestock. Researchers from Graange, including Emily Roskam and climate adviser Mave O’Hagen, presented the latest work on breeding, nutrition, and...
Maximising Synchronisation Success
The video explains cattle breeding synchronization programs, outlining why concentrating the breeding window improves herd fertility and streamlines farm labor. Stephen Butler describes three main protocols – a prostaglandin‑only program, an 8‑day timed AI regimen for heifers, and a 10‑day...
Getting Silage Right in a Difficult Spring
The Beef Edge podcast episode tackles fertilizer planning for first‑cut silage as Ireland heads into the most productive April‑May window. Host Katherine Egan and Chagas specialist Mark Plunkett discuss how to maximise yield while navigating a difficult spring with limited...