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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>Pictured at the Teagasc FBD Environmental Sustainability Awards: Teagasc Director Professor Frank O’Mara, Michael Berkerey, Chair of FBD Trust; Timmy Dooley TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; Don Somers - Overall Winner Teagasc FBD Environmentally Sustainable Farmer of the Year 2025 and Category Winner for Improving Water Quality; Gillian Somers; Tom O’Dwyer, Head of Signpost Programme, Teagasc. </p>

farming

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.

<p>Don Somers and wife Gillian celebrate winning Overall Winner Teagasc FBD Environmentally Sustainable Farmer of the Year 2025 and Category Winner for Improving Water Quality. </p>

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Signpost: Using precision technology to improve water quality

<p>Tomas O'Toole: It is important to have good ram management during this time.</p>

farming

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

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

farming

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

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

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

tractor

farming

Making the most of our rural hedgerows

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

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

Worm counts, weights, weather and a GPS hill farming trial keep Tomás busy

Worm counts, weights, weather and a GPS hill farming trial keep Tomás busy

It has been busy here on the farm over the past two months, with all lambing finished for Tomás O’Toole in Galway

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Teagasc launches 'This is Dairying' photo competition 2025

Teagasc launches 'This is Dairying' photo competition 2025

Winners will be announced at the Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Open Day, and photos will be displayed online and at the event on the day

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Dermot's planning ahead to make best use of nutrient applications

Dermot's planning ahead to make best use of nutrient applications

I can graze my whole farm, which meant I grazed my silage ground back in the spring, writes Dermot Walsh

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Tractor spreading agricultural lime in a field seen from above

Lime use key to improving water quality, says Teagasc director

The effort in Munster has a head start, compared to the national picture from Environmental Protection Agency monitoring, which indicates only 54% of Irish water bodies are deemed to have good or high ecological status

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Dry spring delivers quality silage but slows grass growth in Youghal

Dry spring delivers quality silage but slows grass growth in Youghal

Eamon and his son Donnchadh are farming in Carrigeen, Glendine, Youghal, Co Waterford, and are part of the Teagasc Future Beef programme with Signpost

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

The ‘Stay Safe with Jessy’ competition brings farm safety to the classroom

The ‘Stay Safe with Jessy’ competition brings farm safety to the classroom

The competition invites all primary school-going children across Ireland to participate in creating pieces of art that highlight the importance of safety practices in agriculture and on Irish farms.

Sun, 01 Jun, 2025

Teagasc and Kepak host knowledge transfer event for beef discussion groups

Teagasc and Kepak host knowledge transfer event for beef discussion groups

The dedicated Knowledge Transfer event for beef advisory groups hosted by Teagasc, in partnership with leading Irish food company Kepak, took place on Tuesday, May 20

Fri, 23 May, 2025

Signpost: All we need is a bit of rain for the crops

Signpost: All we need is a bit of rain for the crops

Signpost tillage farmer Darren Allen says his spring crops have got off to a great start with the recent warm weather

Fri, 23 May, 2025

'Dairying at Dusk': An evening walk through an award-winning farm

'Dairying at Dusk': An evening walk through an award-winning farm

Event at sustainable farm in Tipperary will take place on June 10 and non-farming families are encouraged to attend

Fri, 16 May, 2025

Precision breeding: Sexed semen and strict selection shape Dermot’s AI plan

Precision breeding: Sexed semen and strict selection shape Dermot’s AI plan

With calving wrapped up for another year, Dermot's focus has shifted to breeding the next generation of his herd.

Fri, 09 May, 2025

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