Latest news with #Teagasc
Agriland
a day ago
- Business
- Agriland
Average sheep farm income expected to increase by 22% in 2025
Sheep farms are expected to record an average income of just under €34,000 in 2025, representing an 22% improvement on the previous year, new figures show. A new outlook report from Teagasc economists reviews the current position in agricultural output and input markets and assesses prospects for Irish farm incomes this year. Average farm income across all systems in 2025 is forecast to reach €48,500, representing a 39% increase on the 2024 figure. This growth is being driven by income gains in dairy and drystock enterprises. According to the report, for 2025, margins earned from sheep production are forecast to remain above 2024 levels, and well ahead of the margins achieved in previous years. Average gross margin per hectare in 2025 is forecast to be circa 11% higher than in 2024, at just over €1,060 per hectare. Irish production Slaughter data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for 2025 so far show a large decline in factory throughput, the Teagasc report notes. Sheep slaughter in the first 28 weeks of 2025 was 214,170 head, (16%) below the corresponding period in 2024. Average sheep slaughter weights are close to 3% higher this year and this will partially offset the impact on sheep production resulting from the drop in sheep slaughter. For the year as a whole, sheep meat production is forecast be close to 13% lower. According to the report, a lower supply of lambs on Irish, EU and UK markets and higher world prices will support Irish lamb prices through the remainder of 2025. Average Irish lamb prices for the year to date are 7% higher than in 2024. For 2025, annual average lamb prices are forecast to remain around 8% higher than in 2024. Mid-season lamb gross margins 2022-2025. Source: Teagasc Costs of production on Irish sheep farms are forecast to increase in 2025, mainly due to increases in fertiliser and other direct costs. Teagasc's estimate is that direct costs will increase by around 3% on average. Total costs of production on sheep farms for 2025 are estimated to increase by just under 2%.
Agriland
a day ago
- Business
- Agriland
Average tillage farm income in 2025 to be below €45,000
Early indications from harvest 2025 indicate that cereal prices are likely to be lower than last year as a new report also shows that the average income on tillage farms forecast to increase to €43,000 this year. But according to Teagasc economists today (Monday, July 28) tillage farmers' incomes will be below the national average farm income forecast for 2025 which is expected to hit €48,500. Economists believe that good planting conditions earlier this year 'should contribute to higher production volume' on tillage farmers which should deliver a 12% increase on average income on tillage farms. However they have also indicated that much of the increase in income on tillage farms will come from a 'subsidiary livestock enterprise', which have benefited from higher prices in 2025. Average Irish tillage farm income (2010-2024) Source: Teagasc 'The forecasted income on tillage farms for 2025 is expected to be below the previous five-year average,' economists highlighted in their report on 'situation and outlook' for Irish agriculture this year. Tillage outlook Forecasts suggest that total costs on an average tillage farm this year will be about 2% lower compared to 2024. While average gross margins per hectare for winter barley and wheat are forecast to increase spring barley gross margins are expected to decrease, according to the latest Teagasc report. Overall with lower cereal prices and an increase in production volume, Irish cereal market based output value is forecast to increase 'only slightly in 2025'. Economists have also highlighted that weather conditions in the current season were more 'favourable for cereal crop establishment and growth' compared to the previous season, with higher areas of winter crops planted. 'While dry weather earlier in the season may have impacted some regions and crops, particularly winter barley, overall, the outlook is positive for cereal tonnage compared to 2024,' they outlined.
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Teagasc seeks supplier for system to feed calves in-transit
Teagasc is currently seeking submissions from potential suppliers for an in-lorry system to feed calves in-transit. According to the agriculture and food development authority, the objective of this project is to appoint a supplier who will design, install and support mobile feeding systems for feeding calves while they are being transported. Along with being installed in new units, the system should be able to be retrofitted to the truck trailers currently in use. Teagasc Teagasc outlined that the system will need to meet the following criteria: Feed calves automatically by pen; Control of feed volume and access time (e.g. 2 litres every 9 hours); Individual feeding to prevent calves overfeeding; Facilitate the smooth operation of the truck; Automatic system to alert operator/truck driver of issues such as the feeder not working. Teagasc has now commenced the first stage in a competitive process where interested parties complete a questionnaire in order to be considered for inclusion on a tender list. 'The purpose of this pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) is to identify entities interested and with a track record in the provision of calf feeding systems who can meet our requirements,' Teagasc said. Following evaluation, a maximum of five applicants, should that number qualify, will be invited to tender. Teagasc said that only suppliers invited to participate may submit an initial tender which shall be the basis for the negotiations. This can be followed by several rounds of negotiation in order for the contracting authority to seek better offers. The closing date for the submission of questionnaires is 5:00p.m on August 12, 2025. Calves Data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) shows that as of Friday, June 20, a total of almost 214,000 calves have been exported from Ireland, which is up 12% from the same time last year. The Netherlands remains the largest market destination for Irish calves, with 83,500 calves sold to the country in the first 27 weeks of this year. Spain is the second-largest export market destination for calves at 77,498 head, followed by Poland, Italy, and Northern Ireland purchasing 21,900, 18,200, and 7,000 Irish calves respectively.
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
Tom Barry: ‘Respectable' harvest won't make up for lowest grain prices in 40 years
Harvest 2025 arrived this year in early July. First up was KWS Tardis winter barley. This was in two fields which received dairy slurries at growth stage 25 (mid tillering). Uptake of the organic nutrients was slow as the weather was dry. Yields were between 9-9.6t/ha, which is respectable but nowhere near the yields I was achieving with KWS Cassia 10 years ago. Winter barleys need to be passing 10t/ha to keep them competitive. Next for harvesting was winter-sown Husky oats. This looked like a beautiful crop, received 138kg N/ha based on growth and conditions at the time and the crop yielded 9 t/ha at low moisture. I felt at flag leaf stage that this crop was a little weak on colour, so I added N16 liquid nitrogen with Mg, and certainly this helped given the dry year. This year, I incorporated liquid N on the winter wheat and the winter rye with the fungicide applications. Two applications of approximately three units of nitrogen per acre each time seemed to really help the crops combat the drought stress. The proposed ban on urea, I feel, was not completely thought through as urea in a dissolved state has benefits when applied to growing grain crops, given that N applied to the leaf is more efficient than when applied to the soil and becomes immediately available to the plant. Perhaps this aspect of urea in liquified form could be looked at rather than a blanket ban as proposed. The spring beans direct drilled in early February look well, and most importantly, are podding consistently through the crop. The pod count varies from 30 to 50, which suggests that the yield potential is high. These beans received two fungicides: firstly, when flowering was about to start and the second application on June 1, as any later would have led to crop damage due to plant height. I will be repeating this method of establishment next year as direct drilling beans into an oats cover crop worked well on so many levels: there was no bare soil which might leach nutrients; the oat cover crop with its strong rooting structure kept the soil friable and free draining where the beans were set; the allelopathic effect of the oats suppressed weed growth; and there was no crow attack. Harvest 2025 has the potential to be high yielding. However, the price of grain is very disappointing, mirroring prices seen 40 years ago. The first element of sustainability is to encourage young people into farming. It is important that they can see a viable future in tillage farming. Hopefully, a tillage support scheme will be initiated. Farm schemes I applied, with the help of Teagasc, for the 'Farming for Water EIP' scheme and received approval in May. I have approval for 13 measures ranging from a rainwater management plan to water bars and catch crop establishment. These are all practical measures that I can take to protect water quality. I hope this scheme is successful in gathering farmer support, as water quality is essential on so many levels. Like all schemes, this is complicated as it is layered on top of other farm schemes such as ACRES (Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme), BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability), ANC (Area of Natural Constraint), TAMS (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme) and others. The challenges for tillage farmers are to plan for the three-crop rule, figure out the optimal farm rotation, do not duplicate any measures covered in other schemes, keep the paperwork separate and this must be planned and enacted at field level at the busiest time of the year. This will require co-operation between planners, DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and farmers to ensure its success. No support scheme should be taken for granted, as I experienced recently with my TAMS 3 solar application. Hopefully, any issues will be resolved with a review. I am currently discing the stubble from the harvested fields as part of my Nitrates obligations and also as an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategy for weed and pest control. I will be sowing and rolling in catch crops where planned as part of this. The fine weather and good ground conditions this year really helped get crop applications completed on time without stress. This allowed for a good work-life balance, including following the magnificent Cork hurlers this year and hoping for All-Ireland glory following a 20-year drought. I wish everybody a successful and safe harvest. Read More Tom Barry: Making time to embrace the spirit of Meitheal in modern farming
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
TAMS 3 guide: What's eligible and how to make the most of your grant
More than €70m has already issued to farmers under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) grants for farm buildings and equipment. Agriculture minister Martin Heydon has said it is a demand-led scheme with a defined budgetary allocation up to the end of 2027, and it may be necessary to limit the number of approved applications per tranche going forward, by applying ranking and selection criteria, including for the upcoming tranche 9, which opened on June 7 and will close on September 6. TAMS 3 includes 12 grant schemes, said Teagasc scheme support specialist Seamus Nolan in a recent Beef Edge podcast. He said TAMS applications are done online. Application tranches are generally of three months' duration. 'For fixed investments, you cannot start the investment until you have your approval. For mobile investments, you can carry out the investment and get the equipment once the application is actually submitted,' Mr Nolan explained. 'There are different payment ceilings, and some schemes have their own individual investment ceiling. The likes of the Solar Scheme and the Low Emissions Slurry Scheme have their own investment ceilings. Whatever investment you carry out under those schemes doesn't affect your investment ceiling under other schemes. "The Nutrient Storage Scheme has its own investment ceiling. For some of the other schemes, the likes of the Farm Safety Scheme, the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme, Young Farmer Scheme, and Women Farmer Scheme, they have a combined ceiling, so if you spend, say, €20,000 under the Farm Safety Scheme, and you're an individual, your overall ceiling is €90,000. "That means you only have €70,000 left then to apply under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme. "An individual has a ceiling of €90,000 for these schemes. A company is the same as an individual. "In order to get the enhanced ceiling of €160,000, you have to be a Registered Farm Partnership,' Mr Nolan explained. 'A joint herd number would only be eligible for an individual ceiling of €90,000,' he confirmed. Animal handling facilities, both fixed and mobile, are available at 60% through the Farm Safety Scheme. 'The Farm Safety Scheme is funded at 60%. Animal handling facilities, both fixed and mobile, are available under that, at 60%. So if you had a rented farm, you could apply for mobile handling equipment, a mobile crush and mobile penning. "If it's an owned or leased block, and you want to put a fixed investment on it, you can apply for a fixed animal enclosure and crush, and you can also get associated farm safety elements to go with it. 'One of the few fixed investments that the department does not look for planning permission for is the animal enclosure and crush. They don't look for that at application stage, but what they do say is that if an issue turns up in relation to planning, for example, someone objects to it at the claim stage, they will look for planning at that stage.' Replacement of slats is eligible under the 60% Farm Safety Scheme as well. 'If you have old single slats or damaged gang slats or manhole covers, you can apply to get those replaced under the 60% grant rate. It's important to remember that it's a fixed investment,' Mr Nolan said. Farmers must receive approval before they can purchase new slats to replace those that are broken. 'You will not get TAMS for any investment associated with a building that has an internal agitation point. If you have an internal agitation point in a shed, you won't get the grant to replace the slats in it. You can get a grant to extend the tank outside the shed, to bring out the agitation point or to put in a circulation system or an aeration system to agitate it. "But under no circumstances will you get a grant where there's an internal agitation point in a shed, or in a shed that has a common air space,' Mr Nolan said. The Department of Agriculture and Teagasc strongly advise against using internal agitation points due to the risk of slurry gas buildup, which can be fatal. TAMS funding can be applied for calf housing and certain equipment. 'The computerised calf feeding is there, and also the milk carts are there. They are available to the ordinary farmer at 40% under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme, but for the young farmer, they're available at 60%,' Mr Nolan said. 'If you apply under the wrong scheme for the investment, for the wrong rate, it can't be changed subsequently. You have to reapply,' he warned. 'Earlier this year, the DAFM introduced the Nutrient Storage Scheme. That's an additional scheme, with its own independent ceiling of €90,000 for an individual, or €160,000 for a Registered Farm Partnership. That's at 60%.' For this additional storage capacity scheme, some of the main investments include a manure pit; a mass concrete tank, including precast tanks; circular slurry stores; or a geo-membrane lined store. A farmer building a new slatted shed can avail of 60% grant aid for the tank and still have a €90,000 investment ceiling available to put a roof in place over the tank, since the Nutrient Storage Scheme has its own independent ceiling. The Solar Capital Investment Scheme has a 60% grant rate and its own independent ceiling. In dry stock farms, the energy consumed can be used in one dwelling. 'The size of the system that you can put in is determined by your energy usage in the previous 12 months,' Mr Nolan said. The solar panels must be on agricultural buildings or ground-mounted, but the electricity can be consumed by the dwelling house. 'You can get a grant under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme, the Young Farmer or Women Farmer Schemes, for solar electric fences. There are solar water pumps available also under those schemes. They are outside the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.' Any farmer can still apply for a generator under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme. Some people may think that only dairy farmers are eligible, but all farmers are eligible for it. The costings are based on a power take-off (PTO) generator. You can get a diesel or a petrol-powered one, Mr Nolan said. Of the 45,274 applications received across the first eight tranches of TAMS 3, 30,263 applicants were approved to proceed with their investments. Applicants withdrew 892 applications, and 2,692 were rejected due to ineligibility under the terms and conditions of the scheme. Tranche 8 closed on June 6, with 5,364 applications received and currently being processed. Read More Is it the thin end of the wedge for flat rate Vat compensation scheme?
