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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>Michael Forde, who runs a mixed sheep and cattle enterprise, says planning is important at lambing time. He expects the first lambs to arrive within the next week. Picture: Ray Ryan</p>

farming

Signpost: Preparing for lambing in Galway with good systems and smart planning

Family teamwork and smart systems are helping Michael keep ahead of the lambing chaos in Galway

<p>Weanlings grazing on Redstart on Kay O'Sullivan's farm in Mourneabbey, Cork.</p>

farming

Signpost: Grazing redstart on Kay's organic farm

<p>Denis Hickey: 'The aim this year is to have approximately 100 calves.'</p>

farming

Signpost: From leased out land to a family farm — Denis's journey into dairy-beef

Euro banknote currency finance background

farming

Are you taking advantage of the supports available to your farm?

Darren Allen: Reduced cultivations and cover crops delivering gains in wheat establishment trials

farming

Darren Allen: Reduced cultivations and cover crops delivering gains in wheat establishment trials

Signpost: The organic beef farm performing better than many conventional suckler herds

farming

Signpost: The organic beef farm performing better than many conventional suckler herds

Brian Reidy

Hazell Mullins, Vet on the Moove

Kieran Coughlan, Farm Finance

Paula Hynes, Hoofing It

Oats: A crop with more value than the market realises

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?

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Stretching the grazing season: How Tomás is cutting winter costs

Stretching the grazing season: How Tomás is cutting winter costs

Normally, Tomás would house his lowland ewes in early December. However, this year he wants to keep them out for as long as possible

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

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

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

This year’s competition attracted 82 image entries, with the top 12 selected for an exhibition held in Teagasc's head office in Oak Park House last week

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

Teagasc dairy conference heads for Tipperary and Cavan

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Pathways to Progress’

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

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

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

This year will live long in my memory as a very dry year, punctuated with occasional rainfall, writes North Cork tillage farmer Tom Barry

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

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

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

The Teagasc Food Innovation Gateway event heard how AI can promote sustainability, ensure traceability, and reduce energy consumption and waste

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

Signpost: The results are in for Eamon and Donnchadh's 2025 silage

Signpost: The results are in for Eamon and Donnchadh's 2025 silage

We got our silage analysed and are very happy with the results for first, second, and third cut silage. All silage made on the farm in 2025 has high DMD (Dry Matter Digestibility).

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

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

Building farm cover to extend the grazing season

Building farm cover to extend the grazing season

We are running a suckling to beef enterprise split into spring (60%) and autumn (40%) calving consisting of 55 suckler cows.

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

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