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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>One of the biggest misconceptions in the livestock sector is that oats are inferior to barley or maize as a finishing feed.</p>

farming

Oats: A crop with more value than the market realises

Oats continues to be one of Ireland’s most dependable tillage crops, writes Teagasc crops specialist Ciaran Collins, but is it time the market responded to the benefits?

<p>Tomás O'Toole: 'Overall, the farming year has been mostly positive, with good prices for sheep and record prices reached for weanlings this year, along with generally good weather during the key times of the year, namely spring and summer.'</p>

farming

Stretching the grazing season: How Tomás is cutting winter costs

<p>Teagasc director Frank O’Mara and Fiona Hutton, the overall winner of Teagasc’s Research and Innovation photo competition 2025, with her photo of 'Bee the Change'.</p>

farming

‘Bee the Change’: The photograph that stole the show at Teagasc’s Science Week

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

farming

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

Tom Barry: How 2025’s dry season reshaped tillage outcomes

farming

Tom Barry: How 2025’s dry season reshaped tillage outcomes

Smarter food: How AI is shaping the future of Ireland’s food industry

farming

Smarter food: How AI is shaping the future of Ireland’s food industry

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Teagasc hosts major water quality conference

Teagasc hosts major water quality conference

The event aimed to deepen understanding of the current policy, science, and practice around agriculture and water quality

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025

Road Washout in Fishing Village

Signpost: Developing a carbon farming framework in Ireland

Carbon farming recognises the capacity of farmers through appropriate land-based activities to remove carbon from the atmosphere or reduce GHG emissions from the soil.

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025

Signpost: When I start feeding silage, I start with the red clover bales

Signpost: When I start feeding silage, I start with the red clover bales

As the time changes, I think I will have to bring the cows in at night. We can’t complain with this as we are nearly into November

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025

Signpost: Our better-quality silage will be targeted to the weanlings

Signpost: Our better-quality silage will be targeted to the weanlings

We have completed the final fodder budget after the third cut in early September, so we should have enough silage to carry us through to April next year, write Waterford suckler farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

Shaping tomorrow’s agriculture: Lessons from award-winning farmers

Shaping tomorrow’s agriculture: Lessons from award-winning farmers

While farming often makes headlines for its environmental challenges, the judging panel explained that many farmers are already making remarkable progress.

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Signpost: Using precision technology to improve water quality

Signpost: Using precision technology to improve water quality

How a tillage farmer improved water quality on his farm

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Signpost: Tomas prepares his ewes, rams and replacements for the busy breeding season

Signpost: Tomas prepares his ewes, rams and replacements for the busy breeding season

I have been busy on the farm over the last number of weeks with certain tasks that have to be prioritised. In the past while, I have dipped all the sheep on the farm. I have also been checking the lowland and hill flock ewes for body condition.

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Signpost: Strong grass growth keeps cows out full-time in October

Signpost: Strong grass growth keeps cows out full-time in October

Cows are currently milking 16.2 litres per day at 4.8% fat and 4.14% protein, which is 1.49kg milk solids per cow. Cows are receiving 16kg of grass and 4kg of meal in the parlour

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Putting five-star bulls to the test for finishing performance in Youghal

Putting five-star bulls to the test for finishing performance in Youghal

The bulls we choose for the autumn herd will be selected with two things in mind: improving both the maternal and terminal traits of the herd, write Waterford suckler farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

tractor

Making the most of our rural hedgerows

Hedges are habitats for a wide range of wildlife. Over half of Ireland’s bird species — 55 in total — rely on hedges, with 35 species using them for nesting, writes Catherine Keena

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Trial results bring promise, but grain prices drag down Darren's returns

Trial results bring promise, but grain prices drag down Darren's returns

Walking the fields, everything looked promising. But once I sat down to do the accounts, it felt like the reward wasn’t there, writes Darren Allen from Ballymaloe Farm

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

Signpost: Rotations lengthening and good covers carry cows into autumn for Dermot

Signpost: Rotations lengthening and good covers carry cows into autumn for Dermot

Good grass supply, balanced diets and solid milk output have made 2025 one of the smoother years in dairying, writes Bandon dairy farmer Dermot Walsh

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Back to basics with your replacement heifers

Signpost: Back to basics with your replacement heifers

Now is the time to act if you have underweight heifers in your herd, writes Ronan Mulligan, Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Claremorris, who outlines ways to address underperformance at farm level.

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

A buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) gathers pollen from red clover (Trifolium pratense) in the South Downs National Park

Signpost: Help protect pollinators by taking part in a 10-minute insect count

Insects are counted into categories, such as butterflies, bees, and beetles. This approach allows people with little or no entomological training to participate in the survey while still collecting useful data

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Why August reflection is key for Tomas's flock improvement

Signpost: Why August reflection is key for Tomas's flock improvement

Tomas uses the BETTER farm data that he has collected since lambing time to pick out replacements

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

hand sowing seed

Signpost: A guide to successful re-seeding

The main advantage of reseeding grassland is that it increases both the quantity and quality of grass grown. Michael Donoghue, B&T Dairy Advisor, Teagasc Galway/Clare, outlines the key steps to ensure a successful re-seed

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Baling, topping, or pre-mowing grass surplus — decisions for Dermot

Signpost: Baling, topping, or pre-mowing grass surplus — decisions for Dermot

I was tight with grass for the middle of July. I took out a few heavy covers for surplus bales. I was in two minds as to whether bale, top, or pre-mow the paddock. I went with the baling option, and I am delighted that I went with this option.

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Signpost: Grass growth challenges managed with tight rotation and fodder planning

Signpost: Grass growth challenges managed with tight rotation and fodder planning

The winter barley crop was harvested and the crop yielded about 3.75t/acre

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

Wet area on a bog in a forest with pine trees a sunny summer day

Raised bogs and fens: Nature’s carbon vaults need different care

Findings revealed that fen peat sites were significantly more deeply drained than raised bogs, despite similar drainage system designs

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

Rear View Of Male And Female Farm Workers Walking Across Yard Past Cattle Barn At Feeding Time

Put safety at the centre of your farmyard

Teagasc is putting a strong focus on safe farmyard design during Farm Safety Week (July 21–25).

Wed, 23 Jul, 2025

Tom Barry: ‘Respectable’ harvest won’t make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years

Tom Barry: ‘Respectable’ harvest won’t make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years

Despite favourable conditions, tillage farmers face economic and regulatory headwinds, writes North Cork tillage farmer Tom Barry

Wed, 23 Jul, 2025

From rain to results: Managing grass and breeding in Bandon

From rain to results: Managing grass and breeding in Bandon

With the rain at the end of June, I am confident that growth rates will be high for the next few days

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Siobhan Kavanagh: Seeing the progress that farmers are making to improve environmental sustainability

Siobhan Kavanagh: Seeing the progress that farmers are making to improve environmental sustainability

At this time of year, I am packing up the car with wellies, raingear, and sun screen, and heading out around the country to judge the family farm finalists in the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards.

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Signpost: Bulls ahead of target as fodder budget, barley and breeding fall into place

Signpost: Bulls ahead of target as fodder budget, barley and breeding fall into place

The autumn-born bulls are currently outside on grass and these animals will be housed in the next month or so for finishing, write Waterford suckler farmers Eamon and Donnchadh McCarthy.

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year award-winners announced

Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year award-winners announced

The overall winner of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year 2024 is Michael Ahern from Ballyduff, Co Waterford

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

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