The Beef Edge

With silage ground being closed on many farms across the country at the moment, Teagasc advisor Peter Lawrence from Tinahely, Co. Wicklow is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into reducing costs whilst balancing silage quantity and quality.

Peter outlines the importance of completing a fodder budget to determine the amount of silage needed next winter and hence the area of ground to be closed.

Farmers also need to determine the quality of silage needed - be it for spring or autumn calving cows, weanlings or finishing stock. Now is the time to ensure enough fodder is made with 70-75% of the requirement made in the first cut.

Apply slurry at 2,500-3000 gallons per acre using LESS. For first cut silage the aim is to have at least 25 kg N/ha supplied from organic sources (slurry) and the remainder 60-75 kg N/ha (48 – 60 units/ac) supplied from chemical N, a total N application of no more than 100 kg N/ha (including 12-15 units of sulphur) for a crop growing from early April to late May (60 days).

Peter highlights that the cutting date is important when it comes to making quality silage. Farmers should talk to their advisor about a weed control programme especially docks

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.

With the recent launch of a number of schemes by the Department of Agriculture, including the Tillage Incentive Scheme, Beef Environment Efficiency Programme Suckler scheme also known as the BEEP-S Scheme and the Dairy Beef Calf Programme, Aidan Murray, Teagasc Beef Specialist and Michael Hennessy, Teagasc Head of Tillage, discuss the main points and information on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

Michael advises when converting grassland to tillage, the first place to start is to see if seed, fertiliser and other inputs will be available and for farms in an area with little tillage, is there a combine available to harvest the crop?

A careful budget also needs to be completed to ensure profitability can be achieved on the land. Due to the costs of growing any tillage crop, unfortunately there are no shortcuts. The only way to make any money is to strive for high yields of both grain and straw. This is true whether the crop is grown for whole cropping or going all the way to harvest.

Farmers don’t have to complete an application form. The change on the Basic Payment Scheme application from grassland to tillage from 2021 to 2022 will trigger the payment of €400/Ha.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/crops/tillage-update-24th-march-2022.php

Also on the show, Aidan highlights the criteria for farmers to apply for the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme - Sucklers (Beep-S).

If you:

- Are the owner of an active herd number with Herd Owner status

- Submit a Basic Payment Scheme application in 2022

- Had suckler calves born in your herd between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022

- Agree to complete what is known as the ‘mandatory action’ weighing action of the suckler cow and her calf

- If you were in BEEP-S in 2020 and or 2021, you must apply again this year to be in the scheme for 2022.

The application period is open to midnight on 25th April. Late applications that are submitted after this date will be subjected to a reduced payment and the late application facility will finally close on May 20th,2022.

Online application method using Agfood.ie.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/beep-s----time-to-apply.php

In addition, Aidan discusses that the Dairy Beef Calf scheme which is a support for farmers who are rearing calves from the dairy herd either a male calf of a dairy breed or a male or female calf of a beef breed sire born to a dairy breed dam in your herd.

These eligible calves must have been in your herd for at least ten days before weighing and born on or after 1 July 2021.

You must weigh a minimum of five eligible calves and submit the weights to the ICBF. All weights should be submitted within seven days of weighing and before 1st November 2022. Calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing.

Applications will close at midnight on April 25th 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.

Teagasc researcher, Deirdre Hennessy, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s episode of the Beef Edge podcast to discuss what you need to know about clover swards.

With the price of chemical fertiliser this spring Deirdre highlights that clover most definitely has a role on all grass based systems.

Before establishing white clover, Deirdre advises on the importance of good soil fertility (soil pH 6.2-6.5, soil P index 3 or 4, soil K index 3) and good infrastructure where each paddock is grazed within 3 days on an 18-21 day rotation.

She also discusses weeds – whether over-sowing or reseeding – and clover varieties, advising which clover varieties will best suit your needs.

In order to reduce bloat risk, Deirdre says that, for animals accustomed to clover swards, bloat is not usually an issue. But for high risk animals, introduce them gradually to clover swards, don’t let them in hungry to clover swards and don’t move them from poor quality swards to clover ones. Alternatively feed roughage before grazing and graze when the clover sward is dry, or use bloat oil in the water (25ml/LU/Day).

Grass 10 are organising a number of clover farm walks around the country for the month of April - dates and times are on the Teagasc website. Check out Teagasc.ie for further information and talk to your advisor.

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com.

Following the National Fodder and Food Security Committee meeting last week, Teagasc Head of Drystock, Pearse Kelly, joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into the steps farmers can take in the coming weeks.

With the current cost of fertiliser, farmers are questioning what to do and Pearse advises to apply fertiliser requirements to grow the silage crops for first cut silage.

When farmers are applying fertiliser to grazing ground they should consider the impact that lower fertiliser rates will have such as less surplus bales.

Increasing utilisation of grass is key to maximising weight gain and reduce concentrates. Increasing the number of paddocks to ensure stock move every 3-4 days while reducing the number of grazing groups to allow this is essential.

With the current beef market, Pearse suggests that it is an ideal time to sell late calling cows and poorer performing cows and keep replacement heifers in their place.

With increased number of cattle coming on sale in the second half of the year, prices are currently strong.

He also says now is the time to plan ahead and to take action to reduce stress and concerns. There is help available. Talk to your Teagasc advisor, merchant and financial institution as they are available to help you ease concerns and make a plan.

Further information

Starting grazing – walk your farm:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/walk-your-farm--it-will-make-decision-making-easier.php

The 5 minute cash flow:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/reviewing-finances-with-a-5-minute-cashflow-.php

Find a Teagasc advisor:

https://www.teagasc.ie/about/farm-advisory/advisory-regions/

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

With changes in the regulations surrounding antibiotics introduced since 28th January, Tommy Heffernan aka ‘Tommy the Vet’ is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with tips and advice.

Firstly, Tommy outlines some key tips to ensure the health of calves from birth onwards. He highlights the impact the current changes in the antibiotic regulations are having at farm level and says that calf scours are an issue on most farms. Tommy discusses what farmers do to treat calves and prevent it becoming a problem.

Coccidiosis & Crypto are unfortunately issues on some farms also and Tommy outlines ways to prevent it and the best treatment.

Finally, Tommy outlines some tips for farmers considering implementing a vaccination programme this spring.

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Future Beef programme participant Cathal Irwin from Co. Mayo is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to give an insight into grassland management on his farm this spring and planning ahead for silage 2022.

Cathal operates a suckler to store system in Castlebar and farms just over 18 ha of predominantly heavy land.

Cows calve in December and January so that the calves can thrive at grass when they hit the grass in April. Weanlings currently average 450/kg and have achieved 0.98kg per day since birth.

Depending on the weather this week, Cathal plans on letting store cattle to grass this weekend or next depending on ground conditions.

He plans to graze driest most recently reseeded paddocks then go with 30 units of urea or 2000 gallons of slurry to the acre (LESS) depending on ground conditions.

Soil samples indicated lime is not too bad with most of the clay soils around 6.3 and peat soils 5.3. Phosphorus is index 3 or 4 and Potassium is index 1 or 2.

Cathal plans to close up 16 acres for two cut silage system. In 2015 he put in a paddock system and has never looked back. Every paddock has access to a water trough with current paddock size around 1.6 to 2 acres and he would typically graze all store bullocks and cows and calves in one bunch.

Teagasc is hosting a series of spring walks this spring and you can find your local walk here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/beef/spring-beef-grass-walks-2022.php

You can complete a fodder budget for your farm for winter 2022 here:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/Fodder-Plan-18.pdf

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

Philip O’Connor, Head of Farm Support, and Trevor Boland, accountant with Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative Society (IFAC), join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss what can be done to help manage costs this year on farm and how to plan and budget for the year ahead.

Trevor advises to get your books and records in to the accountant early which means you will know if you have a tax bill early in the year and budget to pay it later, while if a refund is owed you get it back into your pocket straight away. It also allows for better planning on how to reduce any tax bill and allows you to make changes that allow the farm become more profitable in current year.

Trevor highlights the importance of increasing grass growth and utilisation is the main thing beef farmers can do to reduce costs and increase profitability.

By setting up a simple paddock system with a few pigtail posts you will get far more benefit from the grass grown and from there look to increase the amount of grass grown on the farm. Target quality grass at young stock who will gain most and most importantly ensure you have enough quality silage in the yard next winter.

Regular weighing and monitoring of performance is also important to both reduce costs and increasing profitability.

Philip describes the key steps when applying for a loan and dealing with the bank. Taking action early to deal with problems reduces stress and concerns. Philip advises farmers to get projections and cashflows done.

Beef farmers, in particular, receive the majority of their income in the back end of the year, such as selling weanlings or BPS, BEEP, payments.

Trevor highlights that there is a possibility of getting a cheaper overdraft or perhaps restructuring to a loan or rescheduling payments so as not to be using the higher overdraft rates during the year.

For further details:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/farm-management/financial-analysis/monitor--budget-cashflow/

Drystock cashflow planner:

https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2016/Cash-Flow_Dry-Stock_A4.pdf

IFAC:

www.ifac.ie

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

As dairy calves start to arrive on farms, Green Acres Dairy Calf to Beef participant, Shane Cranny from Co. Carlow, is on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to share some of his top tips when it comes to rearing calves and an update on his farm.

Shane purchases calves in the autumn and has grown the number of calves to 110, purchased in 2021.

Shane targets to slaughter off grass as steers at 22-24 months of age and says that buying the right calf from reliable sources, optimising the calf’s nutrition and health, along with limiting disease pressure, are absolutely critical.

He also seeks information on the dairy herd’s health and feeding protocol, vaccination programme and any current or previous disease issues.

Shane describes the protocol from once calves arrive on the farm with attention to detail important to minimise mortality and he highlights the importance of good housing through minimising draughts and good ventilation.

For further information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/beef/demonstration-farms/green-acres-calf-to-beef/farmers/shane-cranny/

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

As the new Organic Farming Scheme opens today on the 9th February, organic specialist Joe Kelleher gives tips and considerations for conversion to organic farming on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.

The government is targeting a conversion of 350,000 Ha of agricultural land to organics over the next 5 years and Joes outlines the opportunities and steps to conversion.

Given the rising input costs, he also has organic farming tips that beef farmers consider even if they didn’t want to take the full leap to converting.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/organics/events/

https://www.teagasc.ie/rural-economy/organics/training/

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com

With the high price of fertiliser this spring, Teagasc pig development officer, Gerard McCutcheon, and Teagasc specialist, Mark Plunkett, are on this week’s Beef Edge podcast with an insight into using pig manure as a cheap alternative and the dos and don’ts around importing slurry.

Gerard highlights that each 1000 gallons is currently worth €48 (double what it is usually worth!) which is a total fertiliser value of over €23 million. 1000 gallons of pig slurry is equivalent to a bag of 19-7-20 so there is great scope when we look at the fertiliser costs and inputs on beef farms.

At this stage there are around 280 to 300 farms keeping pigs commercially around the country with the majority in counties Cavan and Cork, so there are opportunities for farmers to make contact with neighbouring pig farms.

Before this happens Gerard advises that the beef farmer needs to do the calculation of how much slurry they would be able to take in. This is based on the organic Nitrogen from the previous year but some is based on the chemical fertiliser to be used in the current year. Gerard highlights the importance of doing the calculation now at the start of the year and speaking to your advisor.

Mark highlights how LESS (Low Emission Slurry Spreading) technology delivers the slurry in narrow bands, thus reducing its surface area and reducing Nitrogen (N) loss and improving the recovery of N from slurry. It also allows a very even distribution of nutrients across the spread width, which ensures the targeted delivery of nutrients to where they will be maximised especially the N.

It also reduces odours and smells at time of application and it allows application into higher grass covers and faster return of grazing animals to grazing fields. Plus, it allows the application of slurry at times when soil conditions are better thus reducing the risk of soil compaction.

Switching from splashplate to LESS and timing from summer to spring application can increase N recovery by 6 units/ 1,000gals. Mark describes how pig slurry has a very well balanced nutrient profile with 19-7-20 in terms of available N P & K.

Pig slurry is a very good fertiliser for grazing fields at ~ 1,500 gals/ac or on silage fields apply 3,000 gal/ac which will supply 70% of the crops’ N requirements, all the crops P requirements and ~ 80% of the crops’ K requirements.

Mark advises to leave 3 months between lime and slurry application or alternatively apply the slurry first and then apply the lime in 10 days’ time to reduce the risk of N losses.

For more information:

https://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/pigs--poultry/using-pig-slurry-to-save-money-makes-more-sense-than-ever.php

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

https://www.teagasc.ie/thebeefedge

Produced on behalf of Teagasc by LastCastMedia.com