Farmers will learn how to reduce operating costs by up to €10,000 and see first-hand the measures one family has put in place to improve water quality and the economic sustainability of their family enterprise at a free event next week.
Tirlán dairy supplier, Steven Fitzgerald who farms at Aglish in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford (Eircode P51 NP92) will host a condensed Teagasc Tirlán Future Farm Walk on Tuesday, February 4th, with the focus on delivering early grass growth and utilisation and a fertiliser strategy for 2025.
The free, on-farm event will include helpful tips and information from Mr Fitzgerald himself, and from Sandra Hayes, Teagasc Tirlán Future Farm programme coordinator, who will focus on spring rotation and a spring grass budget and other practical steps to get as much grass into the cows in the early grazing season as possible.
Eanna Loughry and Seamus Kearney, Teagasc Dungarvan, will share their expertise on the best use of the slurry on the farm and a spring slurry/chemical fertiliser plan. While Tirlán’ s Matthew Moylan will demonstrate the different buffer spreading zones on the Fitzgerald farm and their importance in regards to water quality.
Sandra Hayes, Teagasc, and Bryan Harte, Tirlán will also give an insight into spring diets and the importance of having a balanced, high energy diet and the impact in terms of milk solids. Grass is also one of the cheapest and highest energy foods that we can get into the diet and this will be proven in a number of practical presentations on the day.
Pre-registration is not required and interested farmers can follow local signposts or use the Eircode. The event will begin at 11am.
