Research capacity improved but researchers the crucial link

Teagasc, Grange, is the main Teagasc beef research unit. There are 250ha available to beef researchers in Grange to carry out trials and experiments. There is also cattle accommodation for over 1,100 beef animals.

Over €1m has been spent in recent years upgrading cattle accommodation with a new shed finished recently to house both the Derrypatrick and maternal herds in Teagasc, Grange.

A dairy calf-to-beef trial is also run in Johnstown Castle with the Newford demonstration herd based in Athenry. Money or facilities are not the problem in beef research; it’s more the lack of people that is the issue.

While COVID-19 restricted in-person visits, beef farmers would be right to question the merits of the demonstration farm

The Derrypatrick Herd on the Teagasc flagship suckler demonstration farm has been without a researcher for the last number of years. This has meant that very little information has come out of the project for farmers in recent years.

On the Teagasc website this week, the last management notes for the herd were published on 19 September 2019, over two years ago. While COVID-19 restricted in-person visits, beef farmers would be right to question the merits of the demonstration farm.

It’s a similar story on the Johnstown Castle dairy calf-to-beef project with the latest set of management notes published in November 2020.

The Teagasc involvement in the ABP-sponsored dairy calf-to-beef programme has delivered very little for beef farmers.

For many suckler farmers, Gerry Boyle’s recent comments merely confirmed the direction that Teagasc is taking in relation to beef research with more and more emphasis being placed on dairy beef as opposed to suckler beef

With all aspects of beef research, there appears to be a communication block between the results of the research and how these results can be used on Irish beef farms.

There also appears to be a big disconnect between the people at the top of Teagasc, the beef researchers and the end user, the farmer.

In recent years, the beef stakeholder engagement model has floundered.

The most recent project that Teagasc has embarked on is a 300ac dairy calf-to-beef demonstration farm in Tipperary, which has had no input from the beef stakeholder group.

For many suckler farmers, Gerry Boyle’s recent comments merely confirmed the direction that Teagasc is taking in relation to beef research with more and more emphasis being placed on dairy beef as opposed to suckler beef. The new Teagasc director of research will have a tough job earning the respect and confidence of beef farmers.

A communications review on how research is communicated to farmers should be high on the list of first jobs to be completed.

There was a point in time where Teagasc dairy food research was ploughing a lone furrow in exciting, refined, new technologies that the industry didn’t see would cater for the expected growth in milk production and subsequent products.

The industry wanted alternative solutions to getting cheese, powders and other dairy ingredients to export countries. In fairness, Teagasc adapted its focus and linked up strongly with the industry in an area that is sensitive and competitive.

The aim is to help Irish agri-food companies stay ahead of international competitors

On the dairy food research side, huge investment has taken place and continued growth and development in the infant formula space, cheese and dairy-based ingredients continues.

The aim is to help Irish agri-food companies stay ahead of international competitors and tease out the differences Irish products bring to the party when milk is produced, mainly from grass, compared to international companies that do not have this base ingredient. Just last month, the National Food Innovation Hub was launched. The hub is designed to provide secure, confidential office and lab spaces for lease to food companies to base their research and development teams.

Teagasc, Ashtown, caters for meat, horticulture and food research, while the new innovator campus in Athenry will nurture young food businesses starting up. One challenge for Ireland Inc, rather than Teagasc, is the investment in some other smaller agencies in the dairy food space, particularly that may or may not be connected to a centralised vision and plan for Irish food research. Moorepark Technology Limited offers industry partners pilot testing facilities and many companies have benefitted from this facility.

Moorepark at Fermoy in Co Cork is the home of dairy research within Teagasc.

There are six dairy research farms being run from Moorepark; the main on campus farm, Curtins, and Kilworth. Moorepark also operates the Solohead Farm in Co Tipperary and colleges in Clonakilty, Co Cork, and Ballyhaise in Co Cavan. In total, there are over 1,100 cows in research.

Moorepark is also home to Teagasc pig research with a new 200-sow pig unit built in 2015 replacing the existing piggery.

The research programme at Moorepark has expanded dramatically over the last decade and, today, there are over 50 researchers working on various projects

The main focus of dairy research in Moorepark is on genetics, grassland and nutrition. In recent years, environment and the sustainability of dairy has developed with projects on clover and multispecies swards commencing.

The research programme at Moorepark has expanded dramatically over the last decade and, today, there are over 50 researchers working on various projects, along with farm staff, technicians and postgraduates. Vista Milk, a part public, part industry-funded agri-tech research institute is also based out of Moorepark.

Funding for research at Moorepark comes from four sources – direct Government grants, competitively won EU/Department of Agriculture-funded research projects, private industry funding for specific projects and the dairy levy.

The dairy levy funding is deducted from all milk supplied at a rate of 0.036c/l, which amounts to an annual funding of approximately €2.9m/year, the majority of which goes to Teagasc.

The Teagasc sheep research programme takes place on close to 140ha in Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co Galway, along with research carried out through its BETTER Farm sheep programme. There are over six full-time equivalent units involved in the research programme, with research in recent years spanning across systems analysis, alternative forages, genetics, parasitology, finishing store lambs and meat eating quality.

Most recently, there has been a focus on greenhouse gas emissions and smart farming initiatives.

The research programme has been energised by the addition of a number of new researchers and a good complement of Walsh fellow research students which has averaged in the region of nine to 10 students in recent years.

There is, however, a void at the head of the research programme which is now going on a year since Michael Diskin retired.

Pat Dillon, head of the animal and grassland research and innovation programme, is currently dealing with this position, but this is not a long-term solution and the position needs to be filled with a replacement who can devote their time to progressing the research agenda.

Crop science research is mainly conducted at Oak Park in Carlow. The unit is led by Dr Ewen Mullins and falls under the umbrella of the crops, environment and land use programme, which also takes in the work done at Johnstown Castle.

Crop research is predominantly on cereals but there is also work being done on potatoes and protein crops. Oak Park has an ongoing and successful potato breeding programme, as well as clover breeding.

The biotechnology unit in Oak Park supports the breeding and research capability.

While much of the cereals research takes place at Oak Park, there are also many external sites to represent regional soil and weather variations. A site in Knockbeg, Co Laois, hosts the long-running systems trial which continues to research the impact of rotation and establishment methods.

In recent years there has been increased focus on alternative crops and added-value markets

Research places a big focus on the optimisation of inputs for crop protection, fertilisation, pest control, etc, and researchers continue to work on improved forecasting systems. There are collaborative research programmes with companies and the one with Boortmalt aims to improve malting barley profitability.

In recent years there has been increased focus on alternative crops and added-value markets. The aim is to move more crop output into higher-value markets and away from the commodity values set by low-cost feed imports.

Spotlight highlights key issues

This three-week spotlight on Teagasc has highlighted a number of issues. Firstly, the annual Teagasc subvention from the Government is significant. It is a national asset. It is also a costly monster and that’s why spending allocations and tight handles on financial budgets are crucial.

There is a case for even more funding, especially in light of challenges emerging this week. In the same way, Teagasc must not be afraid to reallocate funding away from building white elephants with no people to lead research. The industry needs great people in Teagasc in research and advisory.

Chasing funding can be a road to nowhere unless it’s going in the direction you want to go. Teagasc must be careful here.

Independent advisory is essential. Engaging great advisers in schemes and form-filling, while an essential part of modern farming, should not get in the way of bridging research to on-farm advice – if that is the core objective of the advisory service. To measure this, show the uptake at farm level of key profit tools for farmers.

Independence is crucial and we have seen in other countries that if this slips it is to the detriment of farmers.

Teagasc needs to be close to industry, but too close is not good for either party. Funding doesn’t always have to be the bridge to bring entities closer. Teagasc has grown exponentially over the last 20 years in capacity and facilities. While staff numbers vary, recent recruitment is up. Good facilities without good people leaves for poor returns for farmers.

Each research station has grown. More scale brings its own challenges – more staff, more HR, more staff movement, less connectivity, more management required, etc.

The benefits to farmers of large State entities shines brightest in times of crisis. The agriculture industry needs Teagasc and there is no better time to shine than in the current environmental challenge, which affects all sectors and the wider rural economy.