Teagasc is seeking planning permission to build a new milking parlour, calving shed, slurry storage tanks and two silage pits at its Solohead farm in Knockaneduff, Donohill, Co Tipperary.
Plans lodged with Tipperary County Council show that the straw-bedded shed will be demolished to make way for a new single-storey calving shed with underground slurry storage tank and the construction of a milking parlour shed with underground slurry storage tank.
Teagasc also plans to install an above-ground effluent storage tank, two silage pits, a proposed dungstead and bale storage area and associated site works including proposed effluent drainage network, surface water management drainage network and all ancillary site works.
The footprint of the works will be seven times the size of the current facilities at the farm, with the gross floor space moving from 123m2 to 880m2.
The farm in Solohead is changing from a research farm to a dairy demonstration farm, with Teagasc signing a new 15-year lease with the owner of the land, ArraTipp Co-op, before Christmas.
Teagasc has leased the farm for dairy research for the past 50 years.
The 144ac farm has been leased for €30,000 per year, or €208/ac per year, with a rent review mid-way through the term built-in to the lease.
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