IFA launches initiative to identify on-farm cost savings
The nationwide roll-out of the resource efficiency initiative was launched on Andrew McHugh’s dairy farm in Co Longford.
Farmers and discussion groups will use the initiative to focus on ways to improve farm returns through better resource management.
IFA Environment committee chairman and Smart Farming Project leader Harold Kingston said cost-saving studies will be completed on farms countrywide as part of the 2014 programme.
The outcomes will be assessed at a series of regional seminars in late autumn.
Participants will be encouraged to adopt the cost-saving measures on their own farms and share the findings with discussion group members.
The Smart Farming initiative draws together expertise from Teagasc, University College Dublin, the IFA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association.
The initiative will also involve experts from the Grassland Association of Ireland, the Fertiliser Association of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes. A dedicated site www.smartfarming.ie looks at the savings to be made across a range of areas.
