Dairy
Dairy focus: Finding the appropriate stocking rate
Finding the appropriate farm stocking rate is crucial in order to take full advantage of your cow’s genetic potential, grow...
Stocking Rate
Dairy Technical
Stocking rate effects on cow performance and silage stocks
With milk supply down on many farms, dairy farmers must focus on maintaining good cow performance over the next couple...
Environment
Nutrient Management Plan system update outlines N limits
Teagasc has updated its Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) online system to reflect proposed changes under the Nitrates Action Programme (NAP)....
Dairy Technical
Nitrates mitigation proposals: What do they mean for farmers?
A number of potential mitigation measures for farmers affected by changes to nitrates regulations are to be sent to the...
Dairy Technical
Nitrates: ICMSA president outlines measures to save cows
Adhering to the new maximum stocking rates under the nitrates derogation is a challenge for the farms affected by the...
Podcast
Listen: AgriFocus - all things nitrates with Dr. Joe Patton
Go beyond the headlines with our podcast series – AgriFocus – where we take a closer look at some of the key...
Dairy Technical
Nitrates derogation: What are the options for your farm?
The reduction in the nitrates derogation from 250kg to 220kg of organic nitrogen (N)/ha is a major blow to the...
Dairy Technical
Changes to nitrates regulations that you need to be aware of
The recent changes to the nitrates regulations will have an impact on all farms in Ireland, no matter what their...
Dairy News
Professor questions evidence for reducing derogation stocking rates
A professor of public health has questioned why the maximum stocking rate under derogation is set to be reduced. Dr....
Dairy Technical
Contract rearing - an option for farmers affected by banding?
Contract rearing of heifers has become quite common in recent years but is there further growth potential in the coming...
CAP / Schemes
Farmers' individual stocking rates for new CAP now available
The individual stocking rates for farmers for schemes under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are now available through the...
Dairy Technical
Optimising stocking rate does not mean maximising
Optimising stocking rate was a key point highlighted at the Irish Grassland Association (IGA) conference held this week. The IGA...
Dairy Technical
Advice on marginal cows and calculating their costs
Farmers must weigh up the cost versus the productivity of marginal cows and consider the efficiency of the bottom 10%,...
CAP / Schemes
Creed 'resisted interfering' with ANC stocking rate
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed has “resisted interfering” with the stocking rate requirement under the Areas...
Dairy
'Effectively we have the same number of cows as we had in 1988'
Average dairy herd size – in the last decade – has increased from 50 cows to around 75 cows, Teagasc’s...
Dairy
'We have to get away from one size fits all when it comes to stocking rate'
When it comes to developing and maintaining profitable dairy farming systems, farmers must focus on both the farm’s stocking rate...
Dairy
Can raising cow numbers hurt farm profitability?
Increasing cow numbers beyond what your farm can carry will severely impact profitability, contrary to the belief that expansion will...
Dairy
Is striking the optimum stocking rate really that important?
Under Irish grazing systems, dairy farmers try to achieve the perfect balance between cow and land performance. Cow performance is...