117 Events found
Ronan Delany gives his views on the IGA sheep conference and farm walk.
The Irish Grassland Association held its annual sheep conference and farm walk in Mullingar on the 11th May 2017. The day started with a highly informative conference in the Bloomfield Hotel, Mullingar. Delegates arrived on time in glorious sunshine and the day’s events improved from there.
This year’s Irish Grasslands Dairy Summer Tour, sponsored by AIB Bank focused on milk production on leased land visiting grass based dairy farms in Skeaghvasteen, Co. Kilkenny and Tullow, Co. Carlow on Tuesday July 25th. With stocking rate increasing by approximately 10% since quota removal and one third of dairy farmers renting an estimated 30% of the land they farm, leasing land to increase milk production was the focus of this year’s event. The topic attracted a record audience - over 600 dairy farmers from around the country attended the event.
As part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Year of Sustainable Grassland initiative, the Irish Grassland Association are organising a free admission Reseeding Demonstration event for members on Wednesday 17th May. The aim of this event will be to promote the benefits of reseeding and best practice procedures that farmers can follow to achieve better yields from their grassland. The Irish Seed Trade Association are kindly sponsoring the event and it will be held on the farm of Donald and Lucy Bateman, Ballylooby, Cahir, Co Tipperary.
GPS: 52.325028, -7.991368
The Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour focuses on milk production on leased land when it visits two grass based dairy farms in Kilkenny and Grange, Carlow. The event, sponsored by AIB Bank, takes place on Tuesday July 25th at 8am sharp. The major focus of this year’s event will be on producing milk on a part leased or fully leased milking platform. Maximising the use of grazed grass in the cows’ diet will feature prominently on both farms.
The Halpin farm is made up 62Ha of predominantly free-draining land in Roberstown, Carlanstown, Co. Meath. The farm is in permanent grassland and is situated in one block. 
Tom took over the running of the farm from his late father, Tom senior, in the mid 1990’s. Tom’s mother Brigid still lives on the farm and takes an active interest in the daily activities. Tom’s wife Anne, and their three children Matthew (20), Laura (17) and Claire (14), are also involved in the day-to-day activities on the farm. 
The Irish grassland Association Sheep Conference and Farm Walk kindly sponsored by Mullinahone Co-Op and MSD Animal Health takes place on the 11th May at 9.30 a.m. in the Bloomfield House Hotel in Mullingar. The conference will take place in the morning followed by a farm walk on the farm of John Bell Castletowngeoghan, Co. Westmeath.
The Irish Grassland Association Dairy Conference, sponsored by Yara, took place on Wednesday 18th January 2017 at the Newpark Hotel Kilkenny. The conference, which focused on the business of dairying, was divided into three parts: strategic development for the medium to longer term; tactics for the spring ahead; and budgeting for the current and future years.