The Beef Edge

Teagasc’s Michael Fagan is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an update on the Newford Demonstration Farm in Athenry Co. Galway, with an insight also into the heifers that were finished.

To date, 83% or 33 out of the 40, 2021-born beef heifers have now been sold at an average age of 17 ½ months, or 527 days of age. Heifers were drafted off grass with no concentrate supplementation provided since turnout. 

All 2022-born progeny have now been weaned.  The male weanlings (60), which well outnumber the heifer weanlings (26) were weaned on the 12th of September while heifer weanlings were weaned on the 20th of September. 

The male weanlings were weaned at 327 kg equating to an average daily gain (ADG) of 1.37 kg from birth to weaning. The heifer weanlings were weaned at 328 kg and recorded an ADG of 1.32 kg from birth to weaning.

Further details at:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/newford-farm-notes---83-of-2021-born-beef-heifers-have-now-been-sold-at-an-average-age-of-17--months.php

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

As part of Sustainability Week, Teagasc Farm manager of the Kildalton suckler herd, John O’Connor, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with a focus on calving at 24 months which also helps to reduce emissions. 

The stock on display at the Teagasc stand at the Ploughing this year were the beef herd in Kildalton college and John describes the cow, her bull calf and the heifers that will be calving next January.

From weaning, to first winter breeding, second winter and pre and post-calving, John discusses each stage of the heifer’s life and the targets she must achieve.
 
To book a place at one of the calving at 24 months workshops, click on the following link: 

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/calving-heifers-at-24-months---workshops/

Teagasc Signpost Sustainability Week will take place from the 14-21st of October and full details of the activities for the week are available at:
https://www.teagasc.ie/environment/climate-change--air-quality/signpost-programme/signpost-sustainability-week-2022/

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

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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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

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

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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/ 

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For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
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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

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

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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/

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For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
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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

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For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
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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

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For more episodes from the Beef Edge podcast, visit the show page at:
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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

In order to understand the aspects of podcasts which are most appealing and beneficial to you the listener, it would be appreciated if you could take 3-4 minutes to complete the following survey to give your feedback:  

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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