This Teagasc Signpost programme has been in existence since 2021.
It’s a collaborative effort with 62 industry partners, as well as 120 Signpost demonstration farms, all working together to support Irish farmers to improve environmental sustainability while maintaining profitability and production, in particular reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
More than 5,000 soil samples were analysed from participating farms, showing big improvements in soil fertility with, for example, 70% of soils on dairy farms being optimum for pH, P and K in 2024.
A major deep-soil carbon campaign covering 91 farms confirmed that Irish grasslands, particularly those on clay-rich soils, have strong potential to act as carbon sinks.
Improved nutrient use efficiency has contributed to a decline in overall fertiliser nitrogen (N) use, aided by greater incorporation of clover in swards, precision slurry application, and enhanced nutrient planning.
Use of protected urea fertiliser has increased dramatically among Signpost farmers, with 76%, 58% and 69% of the chemical N applied on dairy, suckler beef and dairy beef farms respectively, compared to a national average of less than 30%.
Over 90% of cattle farmers in the programme now use low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) methods, which significantly reduce ammonia losses and improve nutrient retention.
In tillage systems, practices such as cover cropping, reduced fertiliser use, and incorporation of organic manures have all seen increased use across the programme.
The Belview Egg farm is a good example of this where poultry manure is exported to local tillage farms to replace chemical fertiliser use.
When you think of poultry farming you could be forgiven for thinking about intensive systems with sustainability initiatives far from any thoughts.
The farm walk outlined how any poultry unit can take steps to be more sustainable, from utilising poultry manure to being more energy efficient, to protecting water quality. There are 186 egg production sites in Ireland, 135 of which are in a free range production system where hens have access to an outdoor area.
The majority of hen laying farms (142) are located in Cavan and Monaghan.
This presents challenges for manure export to tillage farms but there are some good examples of relationships being built between poultry and tillage farms in the northeast of the country.
Belview Eggs was established in 1978 by Dermot and Nicola Herlihy starting out with 5,000 hens. Today, the company now has 21 production houses, 11 in Louth and 10 in Monaghan.
In 2020, Belview established their free range unit at Carrickbaggot in Co Louth. The unit is divided into four multi-tier laying houses, each containing 15,000 birds and has a central egg collection room.
Rachel Johnson is the general manager, with the Carrickbaggot unit managed by John Roche, with the assistance of two full-time staff, six part-time staff and a robotic egg palletiser.
The farm is located on 168 acres of land.
Point-of-Lay pullets are transferred at 16 weeks of age to the production house. Birds are given access to the range every day. Hens produce on average 346 eggs during the laying cycle of 60 weeks.
Belview Egg Farms.
The farm has made a number of changes to the system since joining the Signpost Programme including solar panel installation, exporting poultry manure to local tillage farmers and placing a focus on water quality.
Domhnall Kennedy an Agricultural Sustainability Support and Adviser Programme (ASSAP) adviser based in Cavan outlined some of the actions the farm has undertaken in relation to water quality.
Risk areas were identified and flow charts showing the flow of water off the farm were produced to aid the decision-making on what actions to introduce. A farmyard rain management plan was put in place along with riparian buffer margins along water courses, sediment traps and tree planting within buffer zones.
Solar panel saving on poultry units
Poultry adviser with Teagasc Rebecca Tierney outlines how Belview Eggs has saved €34,000 in 14 months through the installation of solar panels.
“Sustainability is the real buzzword now in agriculture, and poultry is no different,” says Rebecca.
“Through the Signpost Programme, our partners Belview Eggs have established a carbon footprint of 2.38 kgCO2e/kg egg for free range egg production, using the EggBase Carbon Footprint calculator.
“The farm also installed solar panels on the roof of the poultry unit. This led to a financial saving of approximately €34,000 in a 14 month period.
“Poultry farming and solar panels are a very natural fit in terms of energy demand and energy generation. Energy demand is highest during the day, which is also the period for highest energy generation.
“As a result, very little energy is exported back to the grid.
“Another area we looked at with the Signpost Programme was the correct use of poultry manure, and creating solid relationships with local tillage farmers.
“Andrew and Leonie Workman imported free range layer manure onto their organic tillage farm.
“Andrew is delighted with the results from using an organic manure, which not only adds the required nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but also improves soil structure and workability.
“It is crucial for poultry farmers to be aware that they need to provide a high quality manure so we can increase the usage on tillage farms. Tillage producers need to know the N, P and K levels of the manure, so having it tested is an added bonus.
“Also, the drier the manure is the easier it is for the tillage farmer to use. Drier litter is also better for the poultry farm, as it improves bird welfare.”
Dermot Herlihy outlines some of his frustrations on the planning process – listen at
ifj.ie/podcast.
This Teagasc Signpost programme has been in existence since 2021.
It’s a collaborative effort with 62 industry partners, as well as 120 Signpost demonstration farms, all working together to support Irish farmers to improve environmental sustainability while maintaining profitability and production, in particular reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
More than 5,000 soil samples were analysed from participating farms, showing big improvements in soil fertility with, for example, 70% of soils on dairy farms being optimum for pH, P and K in 2024.
A major deep-soil carbon campaign covering 91 farms confirmed that Irish grasslands, particularly those on clay-rich soils, have strong potential to act as carbon sinks.
Improved nutrient use efficiency has contributed to a decline in overall fertiliser nitrogen (N) use, aided by greater incorporation of clover in swards, precision slurry application, and enhanced nutrient planning.
Use of protected urea fertiliser has increased dramatically among Signpost farmers, with 76%, 58% and 69% of the chemical N applied on dairy, suckler beef and dairy beef farms respectively, compared to a national average of less than 30%.
Over 90% of cattle farmers in the programme now use low-emission slurry spreading (LESS) methods, which significantly reduce ammonia losses and improve nutrient retention.
In tillage systems, practices such as cover cropping, reduced fertiliser use, and incorporation of organic manures have all seen increased use across the programme.
The Belview Egg farm is a good example of this where poultry manure is exported to local tillage farms to replace chemical fertiliser use.
When you think of poultry farming you could be forgiven for thinking about intensive systems with sustainability initiatives far from any thoughts.
The farm walk outlined how any poultry unit can take steps to be more sustainable, from utilising poultry manure to being more energy efficient, to protecting water quality. There are 186 egg production sites in Ireland, 135 of which are in a free range production system where hens have access to an outdoor area.
The majority of hen laying farms (142) are located in Cavan and Monaghan.
This presents challenges for manure export to tillage farms but there are some good examples of relationships being built between poultry and tillage farms in the northeast of the country.
Belview Eggs was established in 1978 by Dermot and Nicola Herlihy starting out with 5,000 hens. Today, the company now has 21 production houses, 11 in Louth and 10 in Monaghan.
In 2020, Belview established their free range unit at Carrickbaggot in Co Louth. The unit is divided into four multi-tier laying houses, each containing 15,000 birds and has a central egg collection room.
Rachel Johnson is the general manager, with the Carrickbaggot unit managed by John Roche, with the assistance of two full-time staff, six part-time staff and a robotic egg palletiser.
The farm is located on 168 acres of land.
Point-of-Lay pullets are transferred at 16 weeks of age to the production house. Birds are given access to the range every day. Hens produce on average 346 eggs during the laying cycle of 60 weeks.
Belview Egg Farms.
The farm has made a number of changes to the system since joining the Signpost Programme including solar panel installation, exporting poultry manure to local tillage farmers and placing a focus on water quality.
Domhnall Kennedy an Agricultural Sustainability Support and Adviser Programme (ASSAP) adviser based in Cavan outlined some of the actions the farm has undertaken in relation to water quality.
Risk areas were identified and flow charts showing the flow of water off the farm were produced to aid the decision-making on what actions to introduce. A farmyard rain management plan was put in place along with riparian buffer margins along water courses, sediment traps and tree planting within buffer zones.
Solar panel saving on poultry units
Poultry adviser with Teagasc Rebecca Tierney outlines how Belview Eggs has saved €34,000 in 14 months through the installation of solar panels.
“Sustainability is the real buzzword now in agriculture, and poultry is no different,” says Rebecca.
“Through the Signpost Programme, our partners Belview Eggs have established a carbon footprint of 2.38 kgCO2e/kg egg for free range egg production, using the EggBase Carbon Footprint calculator.
“The farm also installed solar panels on the roof of the poultry unit. This led to a financial saving of approximately €34,000 in a 14 month period.
“Poultry farming and solar panels are a very natural fit in terms of energy demand and energy generation. Energy demand is highest during the day, which is also the period for highest energy generation.
“As a result, very little energy is exported back to the grid.
“Another area we looked at with the Signpost Programme was the correct use of poultry manure, and creating solid relationships with local tillage farmers.
“Andrew and Leonie Workman imported free range layer manure onto their organic tillage farm.
“Andrew is delighted with the results from using an organic manure, which not only adds the required nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium but also improves soil structure and workability.
“It is crucial for poultry farmers to be aware that they need to provide a high quality manure so we can increase the usage on tillage farms. Tillage producers need to know the N, P and K levels of the manure, so having it tested is an added bonus.
“Also, the drier the manure is the easier it is for the tillage farmer to use. Drier litter is also better for the poultry farm, as it improves bird welfare.”
Dermot Herlihy outlines some of his frustrations on the planning process – listen at
ifj.ie/podcast.
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