The majority of farms across Ireland have a hedgerow, tree line or wall boarding the fields.
Hedgerows serve as vital ecological corridors and habitats, providing numerous benefits for sustainable farming. Managing hedgerows can be done by laying or trimming hedges from September to February, ideally later in the season.
You should lightly trim hedges in an A-shape every three to four years.
Trim for road safety and visibility at dangerous bends or junctions. By maintaining and managing hedgerows, farmers can support biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and create a healthier environment.
Maintain the hedgerows along the road all year round for safety of road users.
These living fences offer shelter and food for wildlife, including beneficial insects, birds and small mammals. They can also act as windbreaks, reducing soil erosion and protecting crops from wind damage.
Incorporate clover and other species
Clover, especially white and red varieties, can fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria. Incorporating clover into grassland enhances animal performance, increases grass production and reduces reliance on chemical nitrogen fertilisers.
Clover can produce nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need to add chemical nitrogen to the land.
Clover-rich swards improve soil structure, forage quality and extend the grazing season.
Establishing white clover requires time and patience, with oversowing being a low-cost, simple method that depends on soil fertility, weather conditions, and post-sowing grazing management.
Multispecies swards, which can be sown from late spring to early autumn, benefit from deep-rooting herb species that enhance nutrient use efficiency and drought tolerance, making oversowing legumes a cost-effective approach.
Farmers should sample their soil to maintain soil health, increase crop yields and optimise fertiliser use.
This practice also protects the environment, complies with regulations, aids in making informed decisions and ensures long-term farm productivity.
Soil sampling prevents over fertilisation, reduces runoff and maintains optimal soil pH, thereby supporting sustainable farming practices.
Liming the soil is a quick and inexpensive way to maximise the utilisation of fertilisers.
Increasing the pH of the soil will increase the effectiveness of fertilisers and make subsequent reductions in fertilisers easier.
P availability will be substantially higher in areas with correct soil pH. Additionally, it creates an environment that is favourable for beneficial soil organisms.
On grassland, lime can be applied all year round. Farmers should consider applying on low grass covers after grazing in the spring and autumn or after silage during the summer months.
Improving genetics in livestock
Improved genetics allows cattle to grow faster and become ready for slaughter at a younger age, reducing emissions produced.
Genomic evaluation allows farmers to identify the best animals in the herd. \ Jack Caffrey
Better genetics drives higher growth rates and increases the efficiencies with which feed is converted into carcase.
Genomic evaluation allows farmers to identify the best animals in the herd.
The genetic gain is still based on breeding the best with the best to produce the best livestock.
The economic breeding index (EBI) rewards animals that finish at an earlier age.
The introduction of more sexed semen into the dairy herd will allow for more beef sires to be used and will, in turn, maximise the potential to improve calf quality.
The dairy beef index (DBI) aids dairy farmers to select beef bulls that have good beef and calving traits.
This will maximise the quality of beef calves produced from the dairy sector.
Solar fences, also known as electric or solar-powered fencing, offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for livestock management, especially in remote areas without electricity.
They use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, reducing reliance on grid power and cutting energy costs.
Solar energy is renewable and lowers the farm’s carbon footprint, enhancing environmental sustainability.
Modern solar panels and batteries are built to withstand various weather conditions and can remain operational for weeks without sunlight.
They often include rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need to swap or recharge batteries frequently.
Overall, solar fences provide cost savings, reliability and environmental benefits, enhancing farm operations and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A similar idea to solar fences is the solar water pump. Large amounts of water can be pumped from rivers to troughs up to 30 metres away. This ensures that cross-compliance requirements are fulfilled by keeping cattle out of the river and protecting riverbanks from erosion.
All farming enterprises can take on board and implement the five steps that are outlined in this article to ensure their farm becomes more sustainable. Soil sampling and liming the soil goes hand in hand when considering buying fertilisers. If reseeding, choose more clover and species-rich swards to bring diversity and reduce the reliance on inorganic fertilisers. Try to dedicate some area of the farm to biodiversity and wildlife. Planting a hedgerow is a simple option to get started on.
The majority of farms across Ireland have a hedgerow, tree line or wall boarding the fields.
Hedgerows serve as vital ecological corridors and habitats, providing numerous benefits for sustainable farming. Managing hedgerows can be done by laying or trimming hedges from September to February, ideally later in the season.
You should lightly trim hedges in an A-shape every three to four years.
Trim for road safety and visibility at dangerous bends or junctions. By maintaining and managing hedgerows, farmers can support biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services and create a healthier environment.
Maintain the hedgerows along the road all year round for safety of road users.
These living fences offer shelter and food for wildlife, including beneficial insects, birds and small mammals. They can also act as windbreaks, reducing soil erosion and protecting crops from wind damage.
Incorporate clover and other species
Clover, especially white and red varieties, can fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria. Incorporating clover into grassland enhances animal performance, increases grass production and reduces reliance on chemical nitrogen fertilisers.
Clover can produce nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need to add chemical nitrogen to the land.
Clover-rich swards improve soil structure, forage quality and extend the grazing season.
Establishing white clover requires time and patience, with oversowing being a low-cost, simple method that depends on soil fertility, weather conditions, and post-sowing grazing management.
Multispecies swards, which can be sown from late spring to early autumn, benefit from deep-rooting herb species that enhance nutrient use efficiency and drought tolerance, making oversowing legumes a cost-effective approach.
Farmers should sample their soil to maintain soil health, increase crop yields and optimise fertiliser use.
This practice also protects the environment, complies with regulations, aids in making informed decisions and ensures long-term farm productivity.
Soil sampling prevents over fertilisation, reduces runoff and maintains optimal soil pH, thereby supporting sustainable farming practices.
Liming the soil is a quick and inexpensive way to maximise the utilisation of fertilisers.
Increasing the pH of the soil will increase the effectiveness of fertilisers and make subsequent reductions in fertilisers easier.
P availability will be substantially higher in areas with correct soil pH. Additionally, it creates an environment that is favourable for beneficial soil organisms.
On grassland, lime can be applied all year round. Farmers should consider applying on low grass covers after grazing in the spring and autumn or after silage during the summer months.
Improving genetics in livestock
Improved genetics allows cattle to grow faster and become ready for slaughter at a younger age, reducing emissions produced.
Genomic evaluation allows farmers to identify the best animals in the herd. \ Jack Caffrey
Better genetics drives higher growth rates and increases the efficiencies with which feed is converted into carcase.
Genomic evaluation allows farmers to identify the best animals in the herd.
The genetic gain is still based on breeding the best with the best to produce the best livestock.
The economic breeding index (EBI) rewards animals that finish at an earlier age.
The introduction of more sexed semen into the dairy herd will allow for more beef sires to be used and will, in turn, maximise the potential to improve calf quality.
The dairy beef index (DBI) aids dairy farmers to select beef bulls that have good beef and calving traits.
This will maximise the quality of beef calves produced from the dairy sector.
Solar fences, also known as electric or solar-powered fencing, offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for livestock management, especially in remote areas without electricity.
They use solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, reducing reliance on grid power and cutting energy costs.
Solar energy is renewable and lowers the farm’s carbon footprint, enhancing environmental sustainability.
Modern solar panels and batteries are built to withstand various weather conditions and can remain operational for weeks without sunlight.
They often include rechargeable batteries, eliminating the need to swap or recharge batteries frequently.
Overall, solar fences provide cost savings, reliability and environmental benefits, enhancing farm operations and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A similar idea to solar fences is the solar water pump. Large amounts of water can be pumped from rivers to troughs up to 30 metres away. This ensures that cross-compliance requirements are fulfilled by keeping cattle out of the river and protecting riverbanks from erosion.
All farming enterprises can take on board and implement the five steps that are outlined in this article to ensure their farm becomes more sustainable. Soil sampling and liming the soil goes hand in hand when considering buying fertilisers. If reseeding, choose more clover and species-rich swards to bring diversity and reduce the reliance on inorganic fertilisers. Try to dedicate some area of the farm to biodiversity and wildlife. Planting a hedgerow is a simple option to get started on. 
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