The Beef Edge

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Autumn calving suckling to weanling system thriving in Co. Meath Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

Michael McGuigan from Longwood, Co. Meath is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into his beef system and his targets in detail. He is a participant in the Future Beef programme and farms part-time, managing his own company off-farm.

Michael bought the farm in 2016 and set about developing it and improving the soil fertility and grassland. He farms 23.5 hectares and it is a mixture of sandy gravel and clay soil.

Michael runs a suckling to weanling system consisting of all Autumn calvers. The males are sold as weanlings while the heifers, if not retained for breeding, are sold for export or sold in show and sales in the local mart. He is using 100% A.I. to allow him to use the best genetics available.

Further updates on Michael’s farm are available here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/future-beef-programme/farmers/michael-mcguigan/

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For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
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Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) – all you need to know Oct 05, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc advisor, Austin Callaghan from county Mayo, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with some key advice to help apply for ACRES and to complete your plan.

The major difference in ACRES compared to previous agri-environment schemes will be the change from action-based payments to results-based payments.

When it comes to the plan, Austin outlines that many farmers will undertake grassland actions, such as the following: low-input grassland receiving up to €450/ha; extensive grassland: €200/ha; commonage: €220/ha; and low-input grassland on peat up to €450/ha.

Austin describes a number of actions farmers may select such as planting trees, hedges, archaeological monuments, traditional dry stone walls, low-emission slurry spreading and winter bird food plot.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2022/Environment_August_2022_web.pdf

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Top tips when it comes to transferring the family farm Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Financial Management Specialist, James McDonnell, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with important tips and advice to help farm families with the process of transferring the family farm and all aspects that need to be considered when writing a succession plan.

Succession planning can seem to be a very complex task but it doesn’t have to be with early planning, says James. Every family has a different set of circumstances, but it is always better to have a plan in place.

The worst case scenario is where the farm transfer is unplanned as a result of illness or the death of the owner, leading to tax and legal complications.

Many farmers say they will never retire, however you do not have to be retired to have a succession plan in place and there are many decent tax reliefs and benefits to encourage you to prepare a plan in good time.

To help you prepare, Teagasc is hosting six clinics across the country. You can register for your closest event at the following:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/teagasc-7739994337

These clinics are designed to help farm families through the process of and all aspects that need to be considered when transferring the family farm.

Find all our advice and guidance on Succession & Inheritance here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/succession--inheritance/

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

The Key Steps to Consider in Conversion to Organic Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc organic specialist, Elaine Leavy, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into the new organic scheme opening in October, the key steps to consider in conversion as well as details on the upcoming National Organic Open Day.

Elaine outlines the changes to the new organic scheme opening in October for 8 weeks and she highlights the steps involved in conversion as well as the different payment rates.

The Teagasc organic team, in conjunction with DAFM and Bord Bia, have organised a national organic beef open day which will take place on Wednesday September 28th 2022 on the farm of John Purcell in Tipperary.

This open day offers our clients a unique opportunity to get answers to the many questions they may have about converting their farms to organic systems.

Full details of the walk and how to book can be found at;

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/organic-beef-open-day.php

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Your Renewable Energy Options Explained Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Energy & Rural Development Specialist, Barry Caslin, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what renewable energy options are available for beef farmers.

Barry discusses the different renewable sources of interest, particularly the anaerobic digester, which may be an opportunity for farmers to supply grass and slurry.

Solar power has created increased focus in the past number of years with farmers approached to use their land for solar panels and Barry discusses what farmers should be considering before going down this route.

Solar panels for the farm house may also be a possibility and Barry explains the grants available.

Beef Edge listeners interested in the options outlined on this episode can get more information by visiting www.seai.ie.

Further details available are also available here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/rural-development/diversification/rural-development-factsheets/

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

What does the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme mean for your farm? Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Environment specialist Catherine Keena is on the latest Beef Edge podcast to discuss the new proposed Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme also known as ‘ACRES’.

While listeners would have participated in previous environmental schemes such as Reps and most recently GLAS, the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme has similarities and differences.

ACRES is the new Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) agri-environment scheme and is part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan that has recently been approved by the European Commission.

The following proposed actions will help farmers to prepare for it and while many farmers will undertake grassland actions, all should consider the full suite of actions available.

Please see all actions outlined in the following:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2022/Environment_August_2022_web.pdf

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

How DairyBeef 500 farmer, Richard Long, is reducing age at slaughter on his farm Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

Dairy Beef 500 farmer, Richard Long, from Co. Waterford and his advisor, Sean Cummins, join Catherin Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast.

Richard and Sean describe how they developed a plan to reduce age at slaughter on the farm and its impact on profitability, plus they detail the upcoming open day being held on the farm on September 8th.

The level of integration between dairy and beef farmers is something key for this system to be profitable particularly for Richard when it comes to improvement in genetic gain on calves coming from his brother’s farm.

This use of higher quality beef sires, identified from the Dairy Beef Index (DBI), along with the recently launched Commercial Beef Value (CBV), are of superior genetic merit in terms of carcass weight and conformation than the average dairy beef calf.

Join the Teagasc DairyBeef500 team on Thursday, 8th September at 3pm on the farm of Richard Long, Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford. Eircode: E91 VH67.

Further details can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/dairybeef500-richardlong.php

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Grass Tips in Advance of the Last Rotation Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

With parts of the country in drought and some rain arriving, Joseph Dunphy, Grass10 advisor, and Fergal Maguire, Dairy Beef 500 advisor, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with advice and tips in advance of the last rotation.
First, Joseph outlines the grass situation in the west and south, while Fergal describes the situation in the east where there’s been very little rainfall.

Building covers, reducing farm demand and extending the rotation are key now in advance of starting the last rotation closing up in October.

For farmers with a high stocking rate, Fergal advises to house cattle that are intended to be finished before Christmas to help reduce farm demand where necessary. Apply a compound fertiliser as per nutrient management plan.

Farm Walk

Aidan Maguire from Navan, county Meath was the 2021 Grassland Farmer of the Year in the Drystock Enterprise Category and he will host a walk on his farm on the evening of 31st August at 6.30pm. F

Further details are here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/gfoty-aidanmaguire.php

The 2022 Grassland Farmer of the Year competition, to promote grassland excellence among all Irish livestock farmers, has also been launched. There will be an overall award and a number of categories with an overall prize fund of €25,000 and further details can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2022/grassland-farmer-of-the-year---entry-form-2022.php

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

How to manage soil fertility for the rest of the year Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Teagasc Researcher Dr. David Wall is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with top tips to manage soil fertility for the rest of the year plus details on the upcoming Johnstown Castle Open Day.

David highlights that putting a plan in place now is important as high prices are forecast for next year. There is an increase in lime being applied on farms to correct pH and there has also been a focus on many farms to incorporate clover. Improving soil fertility in advance is important.

It’s a month out for the chemical N deadline on 15th September and final applications should be applied now where needed to build covers.

Overall grass growth has been very good this year and surpluses have been taken off as bales on many farms and David says that it is important to ensure slurry is applied to compensate for P and K off-takes.

The Johnstown Castle Open Day takes place on 30th August with the focus on ‘Technologies for farms of the future’. This open day will demonstrate technologies and practices that can be adopted on farms to help to maintain farm productivity and profitability, whilst increasing overall environmental sustainability.

The latest information for successful management of grass-clover and multi-species swards under winter and spring calving dairy and dairy calf-to-beef systems will be available.

Practices to enhance on-farm biodiversity and to reduce losses of valuable nutrients from the soil will be demonstrated and you will also learn about the latest fertiliser and slurry technologies and methods for enhancing carbon sequestration and soil health.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/national-events/events/farmsofthefuture.php

Podcast Survey

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Future Beef: Autumn Calving update with Cork farmer, Ed Curtin Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

Future Beef farmer, Ed Curtin from Co. Cork, discusses how he manages his autumn calving herd pre and post-calving.

Ed outlines how he manages the cow’s body condition score to ensure she is fit and not fat for calving.

Ed calves his heifers at 24 months. He describes her management from once she is born up to calving.

Heifers are penned separate to the cows to give them every opportunity to go back in calf.

100% AI is operated on the farm and Ed describes the various sires selected such as easy calving angus sires for replacement heifers and Belgian blue sires used on cows.

High quality silage over 70 DMD is fed over the winter ad lib. Ed describes the management in advance of breeding and the use of heat detection aids to identify cows such as scratch cards.

Further details on Ed’s farm can be found here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/ed-curtin-future-beef-farmer-in-cork.php

The Beef Edge Survey

In order to understand the aspects of the Beef Edge podcast which are most appealing and beneficial to you, it would be great if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete this survey to give your feedback:

https://forms.office.com/r/mDZTE9zPy4

For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge
Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

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