The Teagasc Heavy Soils Programme will host a Knowledge Transfer heavy soils drainage event on the farm of David Brady, Tierlahood, Stradone, Co. Cavan, today, August 29, at 11:00am.

Assembly will be at the P & S Quarry, as cars will not be allowed on the farm.

Speakers will include: Moorepark/Johnstown Castle researchers: Pat Tuohy; Owen Fenton; James O’Loughlin; and David Wall.

James Dunne – a Dairy Advisor with Teagasc, who is based in Ballyhaise – said that David Brady had completed extensive works on his farm over the past 12 months.

The aim of the event is to give farmers the most up-to-date research on drainage and soil fertility, and see the work that David has carried out at farm level in the last number of months.

Dunne said farmers who attend will be given an overview of Brady’s dairy farm. They will also get the opportunity to hear detailed costings of the work done, as well as the benefits it brought.

Soil fertility will be discussed in detail. “Over the last 10 years, David put a big emphasis on soil fertility, going from growing 8.5t of grass per hectare, to 12t per hectare. That is down to soil fertility, drainage, and reseeding,” Dunne said.

Drainage investigation will be explored. “The type of drainage selected will be looked at, and the topic of matching the design to the soil type, and maintenance, will also be covered,” he added.

A similar event will take place on the farm of James McMahon, Swans Cross, Co. Monaghan, on Wednesday, August 30, at 11:00am.