The Irish Farmers Journal has launched a new initiative aimed at improving grassland management on Irish farms.

In response to demand for our specialist team, we are now offering grassland management training courses nationwide.

There are two courses on offer; a two-day refresher course and a 10-day grassland management course.

The two-day course will be a refresher course for those who are familiar with grassland measurement and management, but would like to brush up on their skills. This course will commence in late January.

10 days a year

Farmers on the 10-day course will meet once a month on a host farm 10 times over the year.

The course will bring them right through the grazing season.

Farmers can expect to learn how to measure grass, understand the figures and be confident in making decisions based on them.

The course will consist of a farm walk each day giving the farmer the chance to learn by doing.

We will also go through important targets for that time of year, such as grass growth, grazing height, rotation length and fertiliser application rates, etc.

Specialist topic

This course will also cover one specialist topic each day, giving the farmer all the knowledge and skills needed to grow and manage grass to the highest standard on their farms. This course is commencing in late January.

The two-day course will run for two consecutive days.

Both courses will be practical and theory-based and will cover all aspects of grassland management.

The courses will be primarily delivered by Irish Farmers Journal specialist Stephen Connolly, with support from Aidan Brennan and Jack Kennedy.

Stephen is a new recruit to the Irish Farmers Journal.

From a beef and dairy background in Coolderry, Co Offaly, Stephen qualified with a B Ag Science in 2014 and worked as a dairy adviser with Teagasc until December 2018.

For more information on the courses and to arrange a call back, please contact 01 4199 550 or email sconnolly@farmersjournal.ie.