The Dairy Edge

Latest Episodes:

The Three Priorities of Autumn Grazing Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Micheál O’Leary joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to give targeted advice based on the level of grass on farm as we approach the housed period. Micheál emphasises the three priorities of autumn grazing: feed the cow, hit grazing residuals and avoid doing damage. He explains that there is approximately 700 kg DM/ha grass (range 400-1,050) on farms currently which is well below the current target of 850 kg. For farms below target at 400-500 kg, Micheál would urge farmers to remove cows from the grazing platform to allow the average farm cover to build prior to 1st December. For farms above target at 900-1,000, he advises farmers to graze paddocks with lower covers. Micheál also urges farms to employ on/off grazing techniques to avoid damage following heavy rainfall in combination with shorter daylight/drying hours. For more information go to: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/grass10/grass10-newsletter/ For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Let’s Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: The performance of the winter milk herd at Johnstown Castle Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

With the current Covid restrictions in place, Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available afterwards as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs is joined by Aidan Lawless and Joe Patton to discuss the performance of the winter milk herd at Johnstown Castle as well as management around calving and diet specs around housing. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

The Opportunities & Barriers to Dry Stock Farmers Working on Dairy Farms Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

Eamonn O’Flaherty joined Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to give an insight into the barriers to dry stock farmers taking up part-time employment opportunities on dairy farms. Eamonn identified dry stock farmers as suitable candidates for part-time work on dairy farms given that many of them work off-farm and they possess the relevant skillset to carry out the many tasks on dairy farms. Through discussion with dry stock farmers, Eamonn identified the common barriers including salary relative to alternative employment opportunities, physicality of the work, seasonality of work and farm facilities. Notwithstanding this, dry stock farmers acknowledged the benefits of part-time employment on dairy farms such as an additional source of income to the household, short commute time and the flexibility of working on their own farm as well as a dairy farm. For more information: https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/Dairying---Part-time-employment-on-dairy-farms.pdf For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Let’s Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: Selecting Cows for Selective Dry Cow Therapy Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

With the current Covid restrictions in place, Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available afterwards as a bonus podcast episode. In this webinar, Stuart Childs, Teagasc Dairy Specialist runs through using ICBF reports in order to select cows to be put forward for selective dry cow therapy. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

What’s in Budget 2021 for Dairy Farmers? Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

With the Government announcing a large spending package in this year’s Budget 2021, Financial Specialist Kevin Connolly joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the agricultural measures for dairy farmers. From an agricultural perspective, Kevin explains it is a neutral budget. There is a top up in income from milk sales on dairy farms resulting in an increase in VAT on milk sales from 5.4% to 5.6%. Some other positives for farmers include the continuation of tax reliefs including consanguinity (stamp duty), farm consolidation, capital gains and capital acquisition as well as stock relief. Additionally, the TAMS grant has been extended which will support continued investment in farm buildings and farming equipment. There was though an increase in carbon tax which has led to an increase in the cost of fuel and vehicle tax on farms. Finally, there is a contingency/recovery fund created to assist the Irish economy resulting from a no-deal Brexit and/or a continued Covid-19 challenge. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Insights and experience of selective dry cow therapy from Pallaskenry Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Pallaskenry Farm Manager Brendan Ryan joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the use of selective dry cow therapy (DCT). Brendan gives his insight and experience where they have practiced selective DCT for 4 years. Brendan explains that in Year 1, cows considered for selective DCT required a SCC of <50 (from milk recording) and quarter sampled each quarter to ensure all quarters are low which accounted for 10% of the cows in the herd. In 2019 in Year 4 of selective DCT, 86% of the herd were dried off using a sealer only and did not receive an antibiotic tube. Key learnings from the use of selective DCT in Pallaskenry include the importance of sufficient winter housing facilities, a number of milk recordings across the lactation (one per month) and plenty of time and help on the day of dry off. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Let’s Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: Fitzgerald Family Farm Virtual Farm Walk Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

With the current Covid restrictions in place, Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available afterwards as a bonus podcast episode. This latest webinar highlighted the many steps being taken by the Fitzgerald family to reduce the carbon footprint of their milk production and to improve sustainability on farm, providing an opportunity to share their experiences with the wider farming community. Teagasc/Glanbia Future Farmer Shane Fitzgerald, who farms 92 hectares with his father near Portlaw, in County Waterford, hosted this virtual event, which was supported by Teagasc, Glanbia Ireland, the European Milk Forum and the National Dairy Council. The panel moderated by Richie O'Brien of Teagasc featured Shane Fitzgerald, farmer, Brendan Horan, Teagasc research officer and Shane McElroy, Glanbia Ireland. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Maintaining health and safety in the busy farm workplace Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Francis Bligh, Health and Safety Specialist at Teagasc, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss health and safety on the farm workplace. Francis documents the source of farm accidents on Irish farms with dairy farms accounting for the greatest proportion of accidents. He explains that it is a legal requirement of farms to have a Risk Assessment (less than three staff members) or a Safety Statement (more than three staff members) for the farm. Completing this document and reviewing it regularly will investigate all aspects of the dairy farm and ensure that any potential hazards are highlighted and addressed. Considering farmer health and stress management, Francis recommends that farmers speak to and support each other and use other professionals such as local advisor and GP for advice and support. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Let’s Talk Dairy Bonus Episode: John Trant 2019 Young Grassland Farmer of the Year Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

With the current Covid restrictions in place, Teagasc is running a weekly Let's Talk Dairy webinar series which is also being made available afterwards as a bonus podcast episode. On this week’s show, Stuart Childs, was joined by John Trant, 2019 Young Grassland Farmer of the Year in order to get an insight into his career path to date. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

Incorporating biodiversity into a high performing dairy farm Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

Dairy farmer, Shane Fitzgerald, and Masters researcher, Aoife Leader, join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to highlight examples of farms achieving top performance in combination with high levels of biodiversity. Aoife is working with eleven dairy farms as part of the Teagasc/Glanbia joint programme to establish the features and level of biodiversity on each of the farms and has identified biodiversity KPIs including average field size, biodiversity score and biodiversity percentage. Firstly Shane gave some background to the farm: he is milking 210 cows alongside his father John, growing 13.5 tonne of grass with cows producing 480 kg MS. Shane identified many features of biodiversity including hedgerows, fenced watercourses and low input pasture to name a few and explains how biodiversity exists within a high performing dairy unit at minimal cost. Aoife explained that a lot of biodiversity exists on dairy farms and recommends that the first step for farmers is to maintain and retain existing biodiversity. For more information, Shane will be hosting a virtual farm walk and webinar on Thursday 1st October with more information here: https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/dairy/reducing-the-carbon-footprint-of-milk-production-virtual-farm-walk-and-webinar-from-portlaw-co-waterford.php For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/

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