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Irish Examiner

Ballymaloe Farm hosts ‘Managing Soils to Grow Profit' farm walk

The 'Managing Soils to Grow Profit' tillage farm walk was recently hosted on Ballymaloe Farm in Cork. The farm walk was facilitated and hosted by Dairygold Agri Business in collaboration with Teagasc. The event brought together farmers from across the region to share knowledge and best practices and soil health management, crop establishment techniques and nutrition, with some of Munster's leading soil health and tillage advisers speaking at the event. Host of the event and Teagasc Signpost farmer Darren Allen, has been part of the Teagasc Signpost programme for four years and has embraced the opportunities and challenges that have come along with it. 'As a farmer, I have to challenge how I do things every day, not just to reduce our environmental impact, but to remain viable as a food producer. Margins have tightened so much that yield alone is no longer a reliable measure of success. It is now about the margin per hectare. That shift in thinking is essential if we're to have a sustainable future in tillage,' he said. Teagasc's Signpost programme has been running similar farm walks across the country in recent months aimed at highlighting the work of tillage farmers. Speaking at the event, Teagasc Signpost programme adviser John Mahon praised the commitment of host farmer Darren Allen, saying: 'The Allen Family, like other tillage Signpost farmers, are constantly developing new practices on farms, often to demonstrate the practices and the advantages of such actions. "Some practices don't work out, but their commitment to continuous improvement and follow-up by sharing their experiences with others is what really matters. These farmers are ambassadors for a sector that continues to evolve and improve, and we in Teagasc are grateful for their contribution to advancing best practice across the industry.' Also speaking at the event, Liam Leahy, Dairygold beef and tillage business manager said: 'Tillage farmers are showing a strong willingness to learn, adapt and evolve. Events like this highlight both the challenges and the rewards that lie ahead.'