Grassland initiative launched

THE Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed was in his own neck of the woods recently to launch the Year of Sustainable Grassland.

This initiative will see a yearlong focus by the Department, its agencies and other stakeholders on grass productivity and utilisation, grassland and sustainability.

Speaking on a visit to the farm of Cork farmer, Ger Dineen, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Minister Creed said: “Grass is at the heart of our efficient dairy and livestock systems and is recognised and valued by our international customers as a sustainable system’. Minister Creed said: “I am announcing this initiative to bring an added focus on this critical part of our competitive livestock industry.”

Bord Bia will especially focus on promoting our grassland systems internationally and Teagasc will launch a campaign this month, ‘Grass 10T’. This is a four-year campaign which will focus on improving grass utilisation through a range of farm based activities such as grazing management, grass measurement and sward composition.

Teagasc will run a ‘Grassland farmer of the year’ competition

The Minister said, “More effective utilisation of the national grassland resource also has the potential to further reduce negative environmental impacts while supporting increased productivity. Efficient utilisation of grassland through greater emphasis on soil health can increase the carbon efficiency of increased production; reduce loss of nutrients and release of gasses into the atmosphere, while improving its capacity to act as a carbon sink”.