Teagasc to host Clover 2026 webinar

Teagasc will host a white clover webinar on March 25 where farmers can hear from lead researchers and get updates on the Clover150 programme and PastureBase updates

Teagasc will host a clover webinar on March 25.

The ‘Clover 2026: The Move is On’ webinar will be held on March 25.

The webinar will highlight the key benefits and innovations of white clover in grass-based production systems.

The webinar will feature presentations from leading researchers within Teagasc as well as results from the Clover150 programme and updates on innovations to PastureBase.

The webinar starts at 7.30pm and will be hosted by Dr Emer Kennedy, dairy enterprise leader, Teagasc. To register, visit the Teagasc website.

Teagasc grassland researcher Dr Sarah Walsh will introduce new aspects of clover research. Ms Walsh will explain how recent research focuses on improving the compatibility between perennial ryegrass varieties and white clover to maintain stable clover levels in swards.

Fellow grassland researcher at Teagasc Dr Michael Egan, who leads the Clover150 programme, will present its most recent results.

The optimum months are April and May for establishing white clover in swards through either over-sowing or reseeding. Establishment guidelines must be followed to ensure the optimal balance of grass and white clover in swards.

"The Clover150 group have now achieved high levels of clover on their farms. They are growing close to 14 tonnes of grass dry matter per hectare (t DM/ha) with 175kg N per hectare (N/ha) input,” he said.

Dairy farmer Jim White, from Co Tipperary and member of the Clover150 programme, said: “Clover has provided my farm with the ability to maintain more than 13.5 t DM/ha grown, while reducing chemical N fertiliser by 70 kg N/ha.

"White clover is now part of our grazing system; we are reducing our dependency on chemical N and have adapted our grazing management in a way that clover is maintained and adding real value to our farming system.”

Mr White’s farm now has more than 70% of the swards, with an average sward clover content of 20%.

Also at the webinar, head of grassland research at Teagasc Professor Michael O’Donovan will highlight the evidence base on the animal performance gains from perennial ryegrass or white clover swards across enterprises.

Discussing current nitrogen supplies and the delays caused by conflict in the Middle East, Mr O’Donovan said: “We expect the use of white clover to increase again in 2026. The volatility of chemical N prices looks like it will continue in 2026.

"The necessity for grassland farmers to transition to grass/clover swards, reducing their dependence on bought-in N, has never been more important. New research and innovations will assist farmers to establish, manage and maximise white clover’s potential within productive, sustainable grassland systems.”

PastureBase Ireland innovations 

Mr O’Donovan will also highlight the planned improvements coming to the PastureBase Ireland (PBI) system. PBI is an online digital tool to help Irish dairy, beef, and sheep farmers manage their grass production and utilisation.

One of the new PBI innovations for spring 2026 is having a nitrogen use efficiency calculator available for beef and sheep farms.

This tool enables farmers to quantify how many kilos of output they are yielding per kg of N applied, identify N inputs on their farm and monitor N surplus across their farm. This calculator is now available in PBI. Better N efficiency reduces the risk of losses to the environment and can lead to improved financial performance.