Teagasc Grass10 Campaign drive to boost grass systems
Launched by Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed, at Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, the four-year campaign to promote sustainable grassland excellence for Irish livestock.
Grass10 is supported by AIB, FBD Trust, Grassland Agro the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Irish Farmers Journal.
Grass10 incorporates the PastureBase Ireland online grassland database. Livestock farmers can use this platform to record grass covers, and monitor their performance in number of rotations and grass utilised.
Teagasc director, Prof Gerry Boyle, said: “There are four pillars to the Grass10 campaign; namely, soil fertility, sward composition and reseeding, grassland management and grazing infrastructure.
“Livestock farmers who want to get the most from grassland will have to address all four areas and this campaign aims to provide the technical knowledge and required skills to all farmers to achieve that.”
Teagasc is to recruit a Grass10 campaign manager and two advisors to complete the campaign team.
Minister Creed said: “The Teagasc Grass10 Campaign is an important part of my Department’s ‘Sustainable Year of Grassland’ initiative.
“Grass-based systems are at the heart of our efficient dairy, beef and sheep sector, and recognised and valued by our international customers as a sustainable system.”
