A Note from Teagasc:
From a "greening perspective" it is very slow and difficult
to get through tillage farmers landscape feature maps
fast enough due to faults with mapping programme,
poor broad band coupled with numerous corrections to
be made on inaccurate maps.
It is now time for tillage farmers to consider alternatives to safe
guard 44% of this years greening payment. Consider protein crops
or fallow or green cover crops to cover your greening requirement
for 2015 and ensure a prompt payment at the back end.
Applications after May 15th will suffer 4% penalty per day on Basic
Payment plus 1% penalty on Greening. 10% of all applications will
be inspected during the year either way. Keep it simple in year one
given the complexities of the Scheme.
Ivan Whitten
Teagasc
Spring Oil Seed Rape
– What a DELIGHT!
DELIGHT is the best selling, and best performing variety of spring
oilseed rape in Ireland. Since it’s introduction in 2010, DELIGHT has been
a major hit with all spring rape growers nationwide. Consistency of
performance has been it’s biggest attribute, with many growers
commonly reporting yields in excess of 3.5 t/ha.
DELIGHT is the first restored hybrid spring variety to come to the market,
offering a number of desirable characteristics to the Irish grower looking
for a suitable break crop. Some of the benefits include:
• Better early vigour for earlier sowing and quicker establishment. Sowing
from when soil temperatures reach 8ºC (from mid-March onwards).
Typically 2 – 3 weeks earlier than standard conventional types
• Greater plant uniformity in the field. Stronger plants with better
branching for pod formation. Improved stem stiffness and lodging
resistance. Early flowering and a longer pod filling period. This all
means greater yield potential
• Earlier maturity allowing earlier harvest in August. Meaning harvesting
at lower moistures and more turnaround time to get land prepared
for winter crops
• Higher seed yields for better profitability
Sowing Guidelines:
Breeder Trials suggest that DELIGHT can be drilled into seedbeds up to
2 degrees colder than conventional type varieties. In addition, sowing
rate trials suggest that 100 seeds per sq metre is the optimal sowing rate
when drilling early when both weed suppression and quick
establishment are vital to achieve rapid canopy development.
Suggested sowing rate:
• 100 seeds per sq metre sowing - March
• 85 seeds per sq metre sowing - April
Information courtesy of Goldcrop
Forestry 2015-2020
Programme officially unveiled
Forestry is a viable land use option and a valuable
alternative farm income.
On the 24th of February the minister officially announced the new forestry
programme for the period 2015-2020. One of the aims of the forest policy
in Ireland is to increase forest cover to 18% by the year 2046. Currently
Ireland stands at just below 11% of total forest cover. The proposed target
of land to be converted to forestry in the duration of the coming
programme is about 46,000 Ha.
The main contributor to the success of the afforestation programme is the
continued confidence that is invested in the forest sector through state aid
funding. The forest premium is used to compensate farmers and land
owners for income foregone as a result of converting farm land to forestry.
The premium provides a safe, sustainable income for 15 years that can be
reinvested into other aspects of the farm. The below figures are the new
Grant Premium Category (GPC) rates which are paid annually (Table 1).
Table 1 Premium rates under the new forestry programme 2015-2020.
Grant Premium Category (GPC)
Rate (Ha)
Duration (Yrs)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
185
440
510
560
575
615
615
575
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Unenclosed
Sitka spruce/ Lodgepole Pine
10% Diverse
Diverse
Broadleaf
Oak
Beech
Alder
AT HY • AV O C A • B A LT I N G L A S S • G E A S H I L L • M I L F O R D • N A A S • P O R T L AW
TECHNICAL NEWSLETTER
Increase Profits
with Better
Milking
With the abolition of quotas, the availability of land will
become a major inhibiting factor to the expansion of Irish
dairy farms. As we are competing on a global market, Irish
farmers must differentiate themselves from other milk
producers internationally by putting greater emphasis on milk
quality. Therefore, they need to produce milk with lower
Somatic Cell Counts and lower bacterial counts.
To further enhance the benefits of the new scheme. The amalgamation of
the farmer and non-farmer rate now allows all land owners to avail of the
same rate of premium. Entitlements such as the new Basic Payment Scheme
can continue to be claimed along with the forestry premium. Retired farmers
and farmers exiting REPS can also qualify for the new GPC premium rates.
Not only do newly established
Semi-mature Sitka spruce
plantations offer an alternative
plantation which is ready to
farm income through annual
thin.
premium payments and timber
revenue, they also have
recreational and amenity value.
Forests have been an integral part
of the Irish landscape for decades
and also contribute to Ireland
meeting other targets in regards
to carbon sequestration and renewable energy commitments. Ireland has a
commitment that by the year 2020, 16% of its energy consumption must be
created from renewable resources. Forestry can contribute significantly to
these targets as it is a carbon neutral operation.
The future looks bright for an industry that is valued at over two billion euro
to the Irish economy and contributes substantially to rural Ireland with strong
continued growth predicted. Ireland has one of the best climates in the world
for growing trees and can be utilised effectively on marginal land, allowing
farmers and landowners to increase yields for areas that may not be providing
a sufficient return on investment.
For further information please contact
Niall O’Neill on 086 259 4369
or email [email protected]
For more articles, links and videos Like us on Facebook
OVER 30 YEARS OF SOLID GROWTH
Apri l/M ay
in this manner are not exposed to the effects of constant vacuum that can
be a requirement of 2x2 pulsation in order to keep the clusters from
slipping.
There are a number of benefits of milking a cow with the Dairymaster
system. These include better udder health and teat end condition, lower
liner slippage, more complete milk out and reduced milking time. Animals
are happier and more comfortable during milking which results in a better
quality end product i.e. milk.
As cows yields increase so too does the risk of metabolic disorders such as
negative energy balance and sub-acute ruminal acidosis. These diseases
can result in conditions such as ketosis or altered milk fat and/or protein
percentages of individual cows or the herd itself. Proper transition cow
management and ensuring cows calve at the correct body condition score
(BCS) can help to reduce such issues. Cows need to be fed the correct
amount and type of energy during lactation to compensate for the
demands of high milk production. This is all possible using Dairymaster’s
in-parlour feeding technology and farm management software. By feeding
to yield, body weight or stage of lactation cows receive the energy they
need (without getting too much or too little). This ensures that milk solids
remain high and the cow’s health is optimised. Another interesting feature
of the automated feed system is appetiser feeding. It dispenses feed to the
cow to encourage her to enter the parlour and release oxytocin. The rest
of the feed is dispensed upon attachment of the cluster. All this improves
cow flow. It makes cows happier, more content and more productive.
While the cows are in the parlour the golden rule is ‘to put clean clusters
on clean cows’. This means good preparation is essential. By using
ClusterCleanse technology each cluster is sanitised after milking. As a result,
the threat from contagious bacteria such as Staph. aureus and Strep.
agalactiae can be even further reduced. This minimises transmission of
infectious organisms during milking itself.
Somatic cells are white blood cells (WBC) that are part of the cow’s natural
defence against infection. These WBC’s migrate from the blood to the
mammary tissue in response to invasion of the mammary gland with
bacteria. The only way for bacteria to enter the mammary gland is through
the teat end. Therefore, it is imperative that cows have healthy functioning
teat ends to fight off infection. When teat ends are damaged through
constant vacuum, or when the cow’s immunity becomes compromised,
barriers for infection are lowered. Also, entry into the udder tissue is a lot
more likely when bacterial numbers are high. In response to these foreign
invaders an inflammatory reaction occurs and this can be seen in the milk
as elevated SCC’s.
The Dairymaster milking system uses 4x0 pulsation to milk cows in the
most natural way possible, similar to the way in which a calf suckles a cow.
By milking all four teats at the same time and resting all four teats at the
same time – as opposed to milking two teats and resting the other two
simultaneously – Dairymaster improved the interaction between the teat
and liner. This has been achieved through years of research and
development resulting in the manufacture of high performance liners and
clusters that interact with the cow in a synergistic manner. The vacuum
level at the teat end is reduced when the liner collapses. This allows blood
circulation and improves the massaging effects on teat ends. Teats milked
For the farmer, the return on investment is clear: lower SCC’s means more
milk production and better herd health all contributing to greater farm
profitability.
For further information please contact Dairymaster on 066 7131124
or email [email protected]
Article by Jiska Roessen and Conor Beirne, Veterinarians at Dairymaster,
Causeway, Co. Kerry
www.quinns.ie 059 6481266
Growing Maize in 2015
The key points to a successful crop
Maize is an expensive crop to grow, working out at approximately
€110/t DM. It becomes more expensive when corners are cut and not
enough attention is paid to the smaller details.
Some important key points include: • Site Selection
It’s essential to choose the correct field – ideally should be south facing
as the more sunshine maize gets the higher the starch content.
Also sowing maize directly after grass can lead to issues with wireworm
and they can be difficult to control in maize. Finally choose a field where
there are no major weed problems such as scutch, docks or thistles.
• Sow with or without plastic
Plastic increases yield by approximately 3T DM/Ha and quality is also
improved. Plastic reduces risk and is most cost effective in a poor weather
year. Crops sown under plastic can be sown from late March onwards and
without after mid April.
• Maize Nutrition
The fertiliser is a huge cost in maize production (€476/Ha – Teagasc
Figures 2015) – need to soil test and apply accordingly. If trace elements
are required – apply at 6 – 8 leaf stage.
Requirements for 6T/acre DM Maize crop
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
144 units/acre
32 units/acre
152 units/acre
• Variety Choice
Variety choice is one of the crucial factors that will lead to a successful
maize crop
2015 Uncovered Recommeneded List
Controls
Activate)
(PR -1
Ambition
(R)
Atrium
(R)
Beacon
(R)
Beethoven
(R)
Kroft
(R)
Severus
(PR – 1)
• Weed Control
Weeds have a major negative impact on yield (up to 80% reduction).
Rotation and key timing of applications is important. Spraying with
glyphosphate prior to ploughing is the most effective way of controlling
scutch. Many maize herbicides are residual and these generally work best
on fine seedbeds and some moisture after spraying.
Herbicide Options – Under Plastic
• PDM 3.0 L/Ha+ Cadou Star 0.5 – 0.75Kg/Ha
• PDM 3.0L/Ha + Calaris 1.0 – 1.5L/Ha
• PDM on its own may suffice in maiden maize ground
Herbicide Options - Without Plastic
• Calaris 1.5L/Ha (apply at 4 – 6 leaf stage)
• Where there are difficult weeds such as thistle, scutch, wild oats and
volunteer potatoes, you will need specialised products such as Accent,
Clopyralid, Titus or Fluroxypr for effective control.
As a farming country we have always
concentrated on grass production as a means
of increasing milk yields and improving beef
production.
The removal of milk quotas means that the importance of grass
production is now more important than ever. Now that this major
constraint has been removed and dairy farmers no longer have to turn
off the tap that is milk production in October / November, farmers can
now concentrate on improving the quality and length of the grass
growing season by reseeding old leas. The main focus of any dairy
farmer should be; improve the efficiency of their herd, reduce costs
and receive the maximum return on investment from his/her farm
business.
Yield of DM
DM (t/Ha) Content
%
15.5t/ha 35.4
96
120
Starch
Content
%
23.3
117
ME
Plant
(MJ/Kg) Height
(m)
11.31
1.96
Year 1st
Recommended
105
106
113
11.3
2.15
2014
101
90
105
11.12
2.01
2013
99
99
108
11.08
2.13
2012
104
94
88
10.96
2.15
2010
92
113
121
11.08
1.97
2014
102
104
114
10.90
2.06
2015
The best long term investment that can be made on
any dairy or beef farm is not the new tractor or even
building a new shed, it is, quite simply, grass.
At Quinns we have a range of grass seed to suit every farming situation
including More Grass and Top 5 Extend from Germinal Seeds.
2015
2015 Under Plastic Recommended List
Controls
Award
(R)
Grosso
PR – 1
Justina
(R)
P7905
(PR – 1)
Tekni
(R)
Grass Reseeding
Yield of DM
DM (t/Ha) Content
%
18.1t/ha 34.3
Starch
ME
Content (MJ/Kg)
%
26.0
-
Plant Year 1st
Height Recommended
(m)
-
102
102
105
11.4
2.01
2011
100
93
105
11.4
2.25
2015
103
96
92
11.3
2.26
2005
105
94
99
11.5
2.18
2015
99
100
99
11.3
2.13
2010
Growing maize in Ireland is marginal so making the correct decisions on
the above key points is critical to maximise its production. Farmers should
study the recommended lists above and choose varieties that suit your
site and your system. Quinns are happy to advise our customers on site
and variety selection and to look at soil results and put together the
correct fertiliser plan for your field.
Top
T
op Tip
Tip
TILLAGE
TILLAGE
Fodder Beet continues to be an excellent alternative
for many farmers feeding cattle during the winter
months and has had two excellent years in terms of
yield in quality. It is also very important in rotations to
maintain Organic Matter and P & K levels in the soil.
Quinns stock the ever popular Magnum variety as well
as the sugar beet varieties Festina and Bergman.
Article by Valerie Hobson B.Ag.Sc
We have always known that grass production is the cheapest form of
Dry Matter production and thus the best way of increasing profits on
dairy farms. At current prices, grass produced from newly sown leas
costs 9 cent/Kg DM produced, with concentrates costs at 24-28
cent/Kg DM. The maths is very simple; grass production is the best way
of increasing profits on dairy farms.
Know When to Reseed:
• When grass yields or animal growth is below expectations
• When soil has become compacted and water logged – dig a hole to
30cm and evaluate compaction
• When there are a large number of weeds and weed grasses present in
the sward – swards of less than 60% perennial Ryegrass should be
considered
• When soil fertility has dropped – soil sampling every 3 – 4 years is a
vital element in successful grassland management. New leas are 25%
more responsive to nitrogen compared to old pastures.
Best Practice in Reseeding:
• Conduct a soil test
• Spray off old swards with glyphosate
• Select a method of reseeding to suit your soil type and machine /
contractor availability
• Prepare a fine, firm seedbed
• Select a certified grass seed mixture that contains the best varieties
available to suit your particular system.
Post Reseeding:
• Watch out for pest attack i.e. slugs, leatherjackets, fruit fly. As an
insurance policy Dursban can be applied at the time of sowing
• Weed control post – emergence is essential.
Grassland Spray
Recommendations
Weeds
Fresh Re-seed Ground
Bracken (Ferns)
Ragwort
Docks & broadleaved Weeds
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Ragwort, Dandelions
Briars, Gorse, Brush Wood,
Nettles etc.
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Thistles
Docks
Docks
Thistles & Rushes
Nettles
Docks
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Dandelions
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Dandelions
Total Vegetation Control
Article by David Shortall B.Ag.Sc
Product
Underclear
Asulox
Dioweed (D50)
Doxstar Pro
Rate
7L/Ha
11L/Ha
3L/Ha
1L/Ha
Forefront
2L/Ha
Grazon 90
2 - 4L/Ha
Pastor
Thistlex
Garlon 2
Eagle
MCPA
Nettleban
Bandock
2 - 4L/Ha
1L/Ha
1.6 - 4L/Ha
40g/Ha
4L/Ha
3L/Ha
3L/Ha
HI Load Mircam
1.25L/Ha
Foundation
1.25L/Ha
Roundup Biactive
3 - 6L/Ha
Growing Maize in 2015
The key points to a successful crop
Maize is an expensive crop to grow, working out at approximately
€110/t DM. It becomes more expensive when corners are cut and not
enough attention is paid to the smaller details.
Some important key points include: • Site Selection
It’s essential to choose the correct field – ideally should be south facing
as the more sunshine maize gets the higher the starch content.
Also sowing maize directly after grass can lead to issues with wireworm
and they can be difficult to control in maize. Finally choose a field where
there are no major weed problems such as scutch, docks or thistles.
• Sow with or without plastic
Plastic increases yield by approximately 3T DM/Ha and quality is also
improved. Plastic reduces risk and is most cost effective in a poor weather
year. Crops sown under plastic can be sown from late March onwards and
without after mid April.
• Maize Nutrition
The fertiliser is a huge cost in maize production (€476/Ha – Teagasc
Figures 2015) – need to soil test and apply accordingly. If trace elements
are required – apply at 6 – 8 leaf stage.
Requirements for 6T/acre DM Maize crop
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Potassium
144 units/acre
32 units/acre
152 units/acre
• Variety Choice
Variety choice is one of the crucial factors that will lead to a successful
maize crop
2015 Uncovered Recommeneded List
Controls
Activate)
(PR -1
Ambition
(R)
Atrium
(R)
Beacon
(R)
Beethoven
(R)
Kroft
(R)
Severus
(PR – 1)
• Weed Control
Weeds have a major negative impact on yield (up to 80% reduction).
Rotation and key timing of applications is important. Spraying with
glyphosphate prior to ploughing is the most effective way of controlling
scutch. Many maize herbicides are residual and these generally work best
on fine seedbeds and some moisture after spraying.
Herbicide Options – Under Plastic
• PDM 3.0 L/Ha+ Cadou Star 0.5 – 0.75Kg/Ha
• PDM 3.0L/Ha + Calaris 1.0 – 1.5L/Ha
• PDM on its own may suffice in maiden maize ground
Herbicide Options - Without Plastic
• Calaris 1.5L/Ha (apply at 4 – 6 leaf stage)
• Where there are difficult weeds such as thistle, scutch, wild oats and
volunteer potatoes, you will need specialised products such as Accent,
Clopyralid, Titus or Fluroxypr for effective control.
As a farming country we have always
concentrated on grass production as a means
of increasing milk yields and improving beef
production.
The removal of milk quotas means that the importance of grass
production is now more important than ever. Now that this major
constraint has been removed and dairy farmers no longer have to turn
off the tap that is milk production in October / November, farmers can
now concentrate on improving the quality and length of the grass
growing season by reseeding old leas. The main focus of any dairy
farmer should be; improve the efficiency of their herd, reduce costs
and receive the maximum return on investment from his/her farm
business.
Yield of DM
DM (t/Ha) Content
%
15.5t/ha 35.4
96
120
Starch
Content
%
23.3
117
ME
Plant
(MJ/Kg) Height
(m)
11.31
1.96
Year 1st
Recommended
105
106
113
11.3
2.15
2014
101
90
105
11.12
2.01
2013
99
99
108
11.08
2.13
2012
104
94
88
10.96
2.15
2010
92
113
121
11.08
1.97
2014
102
104
114
10.90
2.06
2015
The best long term investment that can be made on
any dairy or beef farm is not the new tractor or even
building a new shed, it is, quite simply, grass.
At Quinns we have a range of grass seed to suit every farming situation
including More Grass and Top 5 Extend from Germinal Seeds.
2015
2015 Under Plastic Recommended List
Controls
Award
(R)
Grosso
PR – 1
Justina
(R)
P7905
(PR – 1)
Tekni
(R)
Grass Reseeding
Yield of DM
DM (t/Ha) Content
%
18.1t/ha 34.3
Starch
ME
Content (MJ/Kg)
%
26.0
-
Plant Year 1st
Height Recommended
(m)
-
102
102
105
11.4
2.01
2011
100
93
105
11.4
2.25
2015
103
96
92
11.3
2.26
2005
105
94
99
11.5
2.18
2015
99
100
99
11.3
2.13
2010
Growing maize in Ireland is marginal so making the correct decisions on
the above key points is critical to maximise its production. Farmers should
study the recommended lists above and choose varieties that suit your
site and your system. Quinns are happy to advise our customers on site
and variety selection and to look at soil results and put together the
correct fertiliser plan for your field.
Top
T
op Tip
Tip
TILLAGE
TILLAGE
Fodder Beet continues to be an excellent alternative
for many farmers feeding cattle during the winter
months and has had two excellent years in terms of
yield in quality. It is also very important in rotations to
maintain Organic Matter and P & K levels in the soil.
Quinns stock the ever popular Magnum variety as well
as the sugar beet varieties Festina and Bergman.
Article by Valerie Hobson B.Ag.Sc
We have always known that grass production is the cheapest form of
Dry Matter production and thus the best way of increasing profits on
dairy farms. At current prices, grass produced from newly sown leas
costs 9 cent/Kg DM produced, with concentrates costs at 24-28
cent/Kg DM. The maths is very simple; grass production is the best way
of increasing profits on dairy farms.
Know When to Reseed:
• When grass yields or animal growth is below expectations
• When soil has become compacted and water logged – dig a hole to
30cm and evaluate compaction
• When there are a large number of weeds and weed grasses present in
the sward – swards of less than 60% perennial Ryegrass should be
considered
• When soil fertility has dropped – soil sampling every 3 – 4 years is a
vital element in successful grassland management. New leas are 25%
more responsive to nitrogen compared to old pastures.
Best Practice in Reseeding:
• Conduct a soil test
• Spray off old swards with glyphosate
• Select a method of reseeding to suit your soil type and machine /
contractor availability
• Prepare a fine, firm seedbed
• Select a certified grass seed mixture that contains the best varieties
available to suit your particular system.
Post Reseeding:
• Watch out for pest attack i.e. slugs, leatherjackets, fruit fly. As an
insurance policy Dursban can be applied at the time of sowing
• Weed control post – emergence is essential.
Grassland Spray
Recommendations
Weeds
Fresh Re-seed Ground
Bracken (Ferns)
Ragwort
Docks & broadleaved Weeds
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Ragwort, Dandelions
Briars, Gorse, Brush Wood,
Nettles etc.
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Thistles
Docks
Docks
Thistles & Rushes
Nettles
Docks
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Dandelions
Docks, Thistles, Nettles,
Dandelions
Total Vegetation Control
Article by David Shortall B.Ag.Sc
Product
Underclear
Asulox
Dioweed (D50)
Doxstar Pro
Rate
7L/Ha
11L/Ha
3L/Ha
1L/Ha
Forefront
2L/Ha
Grazon 90
2 - 4L/Ha
Pastor
Thistlex
Garlon 2
Eagle
MCPA
Nettleban
Bandock
2 - 4L/Ha
1L/Ha
1.6 - 4L/Ha
40g/Ha
4L/Ha
3L/Ha
3L/Ha
HI Load Mircam
1.25L/Ha
Foundation
1.25L/Ha
Roundup Biactive
3 - 6L/Ha
A Note from Teagasc:
From a "greening perspective" it is very slow and difficult
to get through tillage farmers landscape feature maps
fast enough due to faults with mapping programme,
poor broad band coupled with numerous corrections to
be made on inaccurate maps.
It is now time for tillage farmers to consider alternatives to safe
guard 44% of this years greening payment. Consider protein crops
or fallow or green cover crops to cover your greening requirement
for 2015 and ensure a prompt payment at the back end.
Applications after May 15th will suffer 4% penalty per day on Basic
Payment plus 1% penalty on Greening. 10% of all applications will
be inspected during the year either way. Keep it simple in year one
given the complexities of the Scheme.
Ivan Whitten
Teagasc
Spring Oil Seed Rape
– What a DELIGHT!
DELIGHT is the best selling, and best performing variety of spring
oilseed rape in Ireland. Since it’s introduction in 2010, DELIGHT has been
a major hit with all spring rape growers nationwide. Consistency of
performance has been it’s biggest attribute, with many growers
commonly reporting yields in excess of 3.5 t/ha.
DELIGHT is the first restored hybrid spring variety to come to the market,
offering a number of desirable characteristics to the Irish grower looking
for a suitable break crop. Some of the benefits include:
• Better early vigour for earlier sowing and quicker establishment. Sowing
from when soil temperatures reach 8ºC (from mid-March onwards).
Typically 2 – 3 weeks earlier than standard conventional types
• Greater plant uniformity in the field. Stronger plants with better
branching for pod formation. Improved stem stiffness and lodging
resistance. Early flowering and a longer pod filling period. This all
means greater yield potential
• Earlier maturity allowing earlier harvest in August. Meaning harvesting
at lower moistures and more turnaround time to get land prepared
for winter crops
• Higher seed yields for better profitability
Sowing Guidelines:
Breeder Trials suggest that DELIGHT can be drilled into seedbeds up to
2 degrees colder than conventional type varieties. In addition, sowing
rate trials suggest that 100 seeds per sq metre is the optimal sowing rate
when drilling early when both weed suppression and quick
establishment are vital to achieve rapid canopy development.
Suggested sowing rate:
• 100 seeds per sq metre sowing - March
• 85 seeds per sq metre sowing - April
Information courtesy of Goldcrop
Forestry 2015-2020
Programme officially unveiled
Forestry is a viable land use option and a valuable
alternative farm income.
On the 24th of February the minister officially announced the new forestry
programme for the period 2015-2020. One of the aims of the forest policy
in Ireland is to increase forest cover to 18% by the year 2046. Currently
Ireland stands at just below 11% of total forest cover. The proposed target
of land to be converted to forestry in the duration of the coming
programme is about 46,000 Ha.
The main contributor to the success of the afforestation programme is the
continued confidence that is invested in the forest sector through state aid
funding. The forest premium is used to compensate farmers and land
owners for income foregone as a result of converting farm land to forestry.
The premium provides a safe, sustainable income for 15 years that can be
reinvested into other aspects of the farm. The below figures are the new
Grant Premium Category (GPC) rates which are paid annually (Table 1).
Table 1 Premium rates under the new forestry programme 2015-2020.
Grant Premium Category (GPC)
Rate (Ha)
Duration (Yrs)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
185
440
510
560
575
615
615
575
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
Unenclosed
Sitka spruce/ Lodgepole Pine
10% Diverse
Diverse
Broadleaf
Oak
Beech
Alder
AT HY • AV O C A • B A LT I N G L A S S • G E A S H I L L • M I L F O R D • N A A S • P O R T L AW
TECHNICAL NEWSLETTER
Increase Profits
with Better
Milking
With the abolition of quotas, the availability of land will
become a major inhibiting factor to the expansion of Irish
dairy farms. As we are competing on a global market, Irish
farmers must differentiate themselves from other milk
producers internationally by putting greater emphasis on milk
quality. Therefore, they need to produce milk with lower
Somatic Cell Counts and lower bacterial counts.
To further enhance the benefits of the new scheme. The amalgamation of
the farmer and non-farmer rate now allows all land owners to avail of the
same rate of premium. Entitlements such as the new Basic Payment Scheme
can continue to be claimed along with the forestry premium. Retired farmers
and farmers exiting REPS can also qualify for the new GPC premium rates.
Not only do newly established
Semi-mature Sitka spruce
plantations offer an alternative
plantation which is ready to
farm income through annual
thin.
premium payments and timber
revenue, they also have
recreational and amenity value.
Forests have been an integral part
of the Irish landscape for decades
and also contribute to Ireland
meeting other targets in regards
to carbon sequestration and renewable energy commitments. Ireland has a
commitment that by the year 2020, 16% of its energy consumption must be
created from renewable resources. Forestry can contribute significantly to
these targets as it is a carbon neutral operation.
The future looks bright for an industry that is valued at over two billion euro
to the Irish economy and contributes substantially to rural Ireland with strong
continued growth predicted. Ireland has one of the best climates in the world
for growing trees and can be utilised effectively on marginal land, allowing
farmers and landowners to increase yields for areas that may not be providing
a sufficient return on investment.
For further information please contact
Niall O’Neill on 086 259 4369
or email [email protected]
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OVER 30 YEARS OF SOLID GROWTH
Apri l/M ay
in this manner are not exposed to the effects of constant vacuum that can
be a requirement of 2x2 pulsation in order to keep the clusters from
slipping.
There are a number of benefits of milking a cow with the Dairymaster
system. These include better udder health and teat end condition, lower
liner slippage, more complete milk out and reduced milking time. Animals
are happier and more comfortable during milking which results in a better
quality end product i.e. milk.
As cows yields increase so too does the risk of metabolic disorders such as
negative energy balance and sub-acute ruminal acidosis. These diseases
can result in conditions such as ketosis or altered milk fat and/or protein
percentages of individual cows or the herd itself. Proper transition cow
management and ensuring cows calve at the correct body condition score
(BCS) can help to reduce such issues. Cows need to be fed the correct
amount and type of energy during lactation to compensate for the
demands of high milk production. This is all possible using Dairymaster’s
in-parlour feeding technology and farm management software. By feeding
to yield, body weight or stage of lactation cows receive the energy they
need (without getting too much or too little). This ensures that milk solids
remain high and the cow’s health is optimised. Another interesting feature
of the automated feed system is appetiser feeding. It dispenses feed to the
cow to encourage her to enter the parlour and release oxytocin. The rest
of the feed is dispensed upon attachment of the cluster. All this improves
cow flow. It makes cows happier, more content and more productive.
While the cows are in the parlour the golden rule is ‘to put clean clusters
on clean cows’. This means good preparation is essential. By using
ClusterCleanse technology each cluster is sanitised after milking. As a result,
the threat from contagious bacteria such as Staph. aureus and Strep.
agalactiae can be even further reduced. This minimises transmission of
infectious organisms during milking itself.
Somatic cells are white blood cells (WBC) that are part of the cow’s natural
defence against infection. These WBC’s migrate from the blood to the
mammary tissue in response to invasion of the mammary gland with
bacteria. The only way for bacteria to enter the mammary gland is through
the teat end. Therefore, it is imperative that cows have healthy functioning
teat ends to fight off infection. When teat ends are damaged through
constant vacuum, or when the cow’s immunity becomes compromised,
barriers for infection are lowered. Also, entry into the udder tissue is a lot
more likely when bacterial numbers are high. In response to these foreign
invaders an inflammatory reaction occurs and this can be seen in the milk
as elevated SCC’s.
The Dairymaster milking system uses 4x0 pulsation to milk cows in the
most natural way possible, similar to the way in which a calf suckles a cow.
By milking all four teats at the same time and resting all four teats at the
same time – as opposed to milking two teats and resting the other two
simultaneously – Dairymaster improved the interaction between the teat
and liner. This has been achieved through years of research and
development resulting in the manufacture of high performance liners and
clusters that interact with the cow in a synergistic manner. The vacuum
level at the teat end is reduced when the liner collapses. This allows blood
circulation and improves the massaging effects on teat ends. Teats milked
For the farmer, the return on investment is clear: lower SCC’s means more
milk production and better herd health all contributing to greater farm
profitability.
For further information please contact Dairymaster on 066 7131124
or email [email protected]
Article by Jiska Roessen and Conor Beirne, Veterinarians at Dairymaster,
Causeway, Co. Kerry
www.quinns.ie 059 6481266