Cathal Somers, Teagasc Water Quality Specialist, and Deirdre Glynn, Teagasc ASSAP advisor in Kilkenny, and hosts of the Environment Edge podcast, join Stuart Childs on this week’s Dairy Edge to discuss the recently launched Teagasc campaign for water quality, Better Farming for Water.

Deirdre first explains where water quality is currently and outlines the years of work that have gone into water quality from the start of the Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) back in 2008 to the launch of the ASSAP programme in 2019.

The Better Farming for Water campaign is based around 6 pillars: Stakeholder Engagement, Building of Awareness, Upskilling of all involved from students through to industry level, Knowledge transfer through the Teagasc and private advisory service and everyone in between, and Communication to get the messages from the Research Pillar out to where they are needed.

Cathal highlights the 8 actions for change in the strategy which are under the three headings of Nutrient Management, Farmyard Management and Land Management with these important for all farmers not just livestock farmers.

Cathal and Deirdre also expand as to why these points are believed to be the keys to the kingdom. Many of the solutions are practical and can be easily implemented without cost or with minimal cost.

Finally, Deirdre encourages farmers to engage with their advisors to develop a plan to contribute to improving water quality in their region.

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 Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com