What’s your background?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Glenville, Co Cork, and that is where I developed my love of agriculture – especially dairy farming. I studied agricultural science in University College Dublin (UCD) and during my third year professional work experience I worked at Teagasc Moorepark. That was my introduction to grassland science research. I have a PhD in grassland science from Queens University Belfast, which was funded by the Teagasc Walsh Scholarship.
Why did you pick a career in science?
Science for me is about better understanding the world around us and developing new methods/ways of doing things and discovering new things. And for me agricultural science was a perfect fit – allowing me to work in a sector I love, increasing understanding of agricultural systems and developing new ways of doing things.
Is there a link with your work and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)?
I am a funded investigator in the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre where the focus is on digitalising dairy. My research is focussing on how we can improve grassland measurement and management for the farmer. There have been huge developments in this area in recent years and I want to build on that.
Ultimately, my work will help farmers to capture data on their swards such as herbage mass and clover through their smartphone and feed this into a decision support tool. VistaMilk brings together many different disciplines.
We are working with data analytic specialists, using image analysis and machine learning, to make data capture easier for farmers so they can make real time informed decisions on their grassland management which will ensure high-quality grass to feed the cow and ultimately have a positive impact on farm profit.
Deirdre Hennessy, IGA Council Member and Maura Callery IGA office manager at the Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour to the farms of Andrew Purcell and Alf McGlew and Tom Kelly, Philipstown Farm, Drogheda
Science underpins agriculture, your thoughts?
Absolutely, yes it does. There is science in absolutely everything that happens on farms. In the wider dairy industry science underpins everything from animal and plant breeding, animal nutrition, soil fertility and soil and farm biodiversity, to milk and meat quality, food processing, food packaging and storage.
We are lucky in Ireland to have strong science underpinning all aspects of our agricultural sector. It is very important that we disseminate our research and science not just to farmers but to everyone.
I am contributing to the SFI-funded “Festival of Farming” which takes place virtually during Science Week this year. I have recorded video content in response to questions from primary school students about grass, cows and milk. The video will be available from 11 November on the Teagasc website at this link: www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/science-week/wednesday/
What has been the most important scientific advancement for:
Farmers? Consumers? Animals? This is a tough question as there have been so many advancements.
For farmers, technology has had a big impact in small and more significant ways. It has helped them improve various aspects of farm management and their farm business. It provides them with easy access to data about their farm, often in real time. Even this year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how technology has allowed farmers to continue to operate – they can still attend discussion groups virtually, attend training courses virtually, and the opportunity for self-learning has exploded through online webinars and courses.
For consumers, advancements in food quality and food safety ensure we have safe, nutritious food available.
For animals, there have been great advances in animal health and fertility through both breeding and management.
Pictured at the Launch of The Irish Grassland Assiciation Summer Tour at the Farm Kiltallaght and Rinkinstown Farm in Termonfeckin Co Louth Pic L to r Andrew Purcell with Tom Kelly from Philipstown Farm Bally Mc Kenny Alf Mc Glew with Deirdre Hennessy Irish Grasslands Association and Sponsors Sean Farrell ACC Bank National Agri Manager Pic Seamus Farelly ,
What will be the most important scientific advancement that we need to crack on our farms?
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture as we must produce food to feed a growing global population. Improving nutrient use efficiency on farms and minimising greenhouse gas emissions is an ongoing challenge but an area that researchers are working hard on.
The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre places a big focus on this area through improving grazing and soil and grassland management and reducing methane emissions from dairy cows. Although the research is focused on dairy, much of the technologies will be transferable to beef production.
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What’s your background?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Glenville, Co Cork, and that is where I developed my love of agriculture – especially dairy farming. I studied agricultural science in University College Dublin (UCD) and during my third year professional work experience I worked at Teagasc Moorepark. That was my introduction to grassland science research. I have a PhD in grassland science from Queens University Belfast, which was funded by the Teagasc Walsh Scholarship.
Why did you pick a career in science?
Science for me is about better understanding the world around us and developing new methods/ways of doing things and discovering new things. And for me agricultural science was a perfect fit – allowing me to work in a sector I love, increasing understanding of agricultural systems and developing new ways of doing things.
Is there a link with your work and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)?
I am a funded investigator in the VistaMilk SFI Research Centre where the focus is on digitalising dairy. My research is focussing on how we can improve grassland measurement and management for the farmer. There have been huge developments in this area in recent years and I want to build on that.
Ultimately, my work will help farmers to capture data on their swards such as herbage mass and clover through their smartphone and feed this into a decision support tool. VistaMilk brings together many different disciplines.
We are working with data analytic specialists, using image analysis and machine learning, to make data capture easier for farmers so they can make real time informed decisions on their grassland management which will ensure high-quality grass to feed the cow and ultimately have a positive impact on farm profit.
Deirdre Hennessy, IGA Council Member and Maura Callery IGA office manager at the Irish Grassland Association Dairy Summer Tour to the farms of Andrew Purcell and Alf McGlew and Tom Kelly, Philipstown Farm, Drogheda
Science underpins agriculture, your thoughts?
Absolutely, yes it does. There is science in absolutely everything that happens on farms. In the wider dairy industry science underpins everything from animal and plant breeding, animal nutrition, soil fertility and soil and farm biodiversity, to milk and meat quality, food processing, food packaging and storage.
We are lucky in Ireland to have strong science underpinning all aspects of our agricultural sector. It is very important that we disseminate our research and science not just to farmers but to everyone.
I am contributing to the SFI-funded “Festival of Farming” which takes place virtually during Science Week this year. I have recorded video content in response to questions from primary school students about grass, cows and milk. The video will be available from 11 November on the Teagasc website at this link: www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/science-week/wednesday/
What has been the most important scientific advancement for:
Farmers? Consumers? Animals? This is a tough question as there have been so many advancements.
For farmers, technology has had a big impact in small and more significant ways. It has helped them improve various aspects of farm management and their farm business. It provides them with easy access to data about their farm, often in real time. Even this year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how technology has allowed farmers to continue to operate – they can still attend discussion groups virtually, attend training courses virtually, and the opportunity for self-learning has exploded through online webinars and courses.
For consumers, advancements in food quality and food safety ensure we have safe, nutritious food available.
For animals, there have been great advances in animal health and fertility through both breeding and management.
Pictured at the Launch of The Irish Grassland Assiciation Summer Tour at the Farm Kiltallaght and Rinkinstown Farm in Termonfeckin Co Louth Pic L to r Andrew Purcell with Tom Kelly from Philipstown Farm Bally Mc Kenny Alf Mc Glew with Deirdre Hennessy Irish Grasslands Association and Sponsors Sean Farrell ACC Bank National Agri Manager Pic Seamus Farelly ,
What will be the most important scientific advancement that we need to crack on our farms?
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing agriculture as we must produce food to feed a growing global population. Improving nutrient use efficiency on farms and minimising greenhouse gas emissions is an ongoing challenge but an area that researchers are working hard on.
The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre places a big focus on this area through improving grazing and soil and grassland management and reducing methane emissions from dairy cows. Although the research is focused on dairy, much of the technologies will be transferable to beef production.
Read more
A career in forestry: opportunity, travel but bureacracy
20 questions with Jacinta Dalton
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