124 Events found
Irish Grassland Association Student Conference Review
Sponsored by FBD Trust
Adam Woods and Donal Patton, Teagasc and Irish Grassland Association Council
Adam Woods and Donal Patton
The 2014 Irish Grassland Association annual student conference was held on the Cavan/ Meath border to the dairy farm of Owen Brodie, Ryefield House, Virginia, Co. Cavan and the beef farm of Tom Halpin, Robertstown, Carlanstown,Kells Co. Meath. 265 students from UCD, Dundalk IT, Teagasc Kildalton, Teagasc Ballyhaise and Waterford IT and Teagasc, Clonakilty attended this year’s event. Conference attendees were split in two groups, one visiting a dairy farm and the other visiting a beef farm. This year’s conference had a forum at the end of the farm tours where students took part in a discussion about opportunities for both dairy and beef farmers in a post quota era.
The annual Irish Grassland Association 2015 Dairy Conference sponsored by Yara will take place on Thursday 8th January at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, Cork. This year’s event has a very exciting line up of speakers covering a range of topics. The conference will focus on dealing with the last three months of quota, growing more grass, pathways into dairying and valuable lessons learned from New Zealand. The first 130 members were entitled to complimentary tickets to the private breakfast gathering with Prof Pat Wall - this element of the day is now sold out. Book early if you wish to receive conference tickets as this event sold out last year!!!
This year, instead of the traditional Sheep conference and farm walk, the Irish Grassland Association held two farm walks in Co. Sligo and in Co. Louth. The events were sponsored by Mullinahone Co-op and Sheep Ireland and large crowds attended both events. The events focused on maximising performance from sheep enterprises through a defined breeding policy and improved grassland management.
The Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour took place on the 12th of August in Co. Laois on the farms of David and Paul Hyland and David Kerr. Over 400 delegates attended the event and lively discussion took place throughout the day.
With the advent of a quota free environment post 2015 there will be a substantial increase in milk volumes based on projected figures to date. Grazing platform is going to be the new quota and for that reason dairy farmers are looking at alternative ways to increase grass availability to support the milk production directly. One of the ways that must be given serious consideration is the ‘contract rearing of heifers. The Irish Grassland Association in association with Teagasc are running an evening event on the topic of Contract Rearing Heifers at 7.30pm on Thursday17th July 2014 at Shinagh Estates Gurteen Farm. The event should appeal to both beef, tillage and dairy farmers, as this may be an opportunity for all to benefit from potential income from contract rearing. This is a free event and is open to all interested parties.
The disparity in market power in favour of major retail chains will persist according to Alan Dukes, Public Interest Director for Anglo Irish Bank.
The Dairy Summer Tour kindly sponsored by AIB takes place on Tuesday 12th August this year and will be held in Laois on the farms of David and Paul Hyland in Ballacolla and David Kerr in Ross, Portlaoise. The theme of this year’s tour is strategies for successful expansion. Both our host farms in this year’s Dairy Summer Tour have achieved considerable growth in cow numbers in the last ten years - the Hylands have gone from 120 to 360 cows and David Kerr has gone from 40 to 140 cows. Different strategies have been used on each farm to expand – land leasing, land purchase, contract rearing to increase cow numbers on the milking block, a second milking unit and a milk production partnership. How the farmers made these strategies work will be a major focus of the tour.
The Tour promises to be an excellent event for any current or potential dairy farmer regardless of current herd size or expansion plans. Registration will take place in the Portlaois Rugby Club, Co.Laois (signposted from junction 17 on the M7) from 8.30am. Breakfast rolls and tea/coffee will be provided for those who arrive on time. By registering before Friday the 25th July, you can avail of our pre-paid discounts of 25%. Discount tickets cost €30 for Irish Grassland Association members and €60 for non-members. To avail of this offer post the booking form on the brochure enclosed and your cheque to: Discounted DAIRY Registrations, IGA, Cookstown,Kells, Co. Meath. Admission is by registration only and early booking is strongly encouraged as our Dairy Conference in January sold out. So, if you are thinking of attending then book today and don’t miss out on this excellent offer.
The Ulster Grassland Society organised a visit to AFBI’s Loughgall Plant Breeding Centre on Wednesday 5 May 2010.....
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