This award is your award. It recognises the voluntary efforts of so many farmers across the country, who openly share their Smart Farming learnings with their neighbours. Their ambition is to reduce farm costs and enhance the rural environment.
Thank you.
If you are interested in taking the Smart Farming challenge, why not email smartfarming@ifa.ie
Farmers are in the human health business!
The message from keynote speaker Dr. Paddy Wall, Professor of Public Health, UCD at Smart Farming’s spring seminar was very clear. Farming isn’t just about food production. It’s about human health - farmers need to think about the health benefits of the food they produce when communicating with consumers.
In a challenging and insightful presentation he highlighted that long-term sustainability requires sustainable consumption practices by consumers, as well as sustainable farm-level production. It’s incredible to think that over 15 million tonnes of food is wasted each year in the UK.
Technical presentations at the seminar focused on the new renewables TAMS fund available from the Department of Agriculture, while Teagasc focused on good grass land management on livestock farms. UCD’s Karina Pierce talked about managing crude protein in the diet to improve livestock and environmental performance.
This year’s innovator speakers included Gillian O’Sullivan from Dungarvan and Pat Hennessy from Borris-in-Ossory. Both shared their personal stories of improving economic and environmental sustainability on their farms. Gillian switched to Once-A-Day milking, whilst Pat introduced forestry as a complementary farming system to his livestock enterprise.
Presentations are on the Smart Farming website www.smartfarming.ie
Accessing the on-farm renewables fund
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recently announced €10 million grant aid as part of TAMS II for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Eligible investments include solar PV installations on farms and LED lighting.
While grant aid is limited to 6kWp solar PV system, installation can exceed this limit. Battery is optional and where installed it must be stored in cabinets and/or a plant room and be IP65 rated.
Online applications must include:
A copy of the energy survey, signed by the installer. A farmyard plan indicating the location of PV panels, inverter, batteries, etc. Detailed drawing of the location of solar installation, orientation, location of other buildings, obstructions (trees, hedges etc.) and mounting type (roof, wall or ground).More details on how to apply for this grant aid of up to 60% are available at: tams@agriculture.gov.ie or 076 106 4452
www.smartfarming.ie
Email: smartfarming@ifa.ie
Call 01 426 0343
This award is your award. It recognises the voluntary efforts of so many farmers across the country, who openly share their Smart Farming learnings with their neighbours. Their ambition is to reduce farm costs and enhance the rural environment.
Thank you.
If you are interested in taking the Smart Farming challenge, why not email smartfarming@ifa.ie
Farmers are in the human health business!
The message from keynote speaker Dr. Paddy Wall, Professor of Public Health, UCD at Smart Farming’s spring seminar was very clear. Farming isn’t just about food production. It’s about human health - farmers need to think about the health benefits of the food they produce when communicating with consumers.
In a challenging and insightful presentation he highlighted that long-term sustainability requires sustainable consumption practices by consumers, as well as sustainable farm-level production. It’s incredible to think that over 15 million tonnes of food is wasted each year in the UK.
Technical presentations at the seminar focused on the new renewables TAMS fund available from the Department of Agriculture, while Teagasc focused on good grass land management on livestock farms. UCD’s Karina Pierce talked about managing crude protein in the diet to improve livestock and environmental performance.
This year’s innovator speakers included Gillian O’Sullivan from Dungarvan and Pat Hennessy from Borris-in-Ossory. Both shared their personal stories of improving economic and environmental sustainability on their farms. Gillian switched to Once-A-Day milking, whilst Pat introduced forestry as a complementary farming system to his livestock enterprise.
Presentations are on the Smart Farming website www.smartfarming.ie
Accessing the on-farm renewables fund
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recently announced €10 million grant aid as part of TAMS II for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Eligible investments include solar PV installations on farms and LED lighting.
While grant aid is limited to 6kWp solar PV system, installation can exceed this limit. Battery is optional and where installed it must be stored in cabinets and/or a plant room and be IP65 rated.
Online applications must include:
A copy of the energy survey, signed by the installer. A farmyard plan indicating the location of PV panels, inverter, batteries, etc. Detailed drawing of the location of solar installation, orientation, location of other buildings, obstructions (trees, hedges etc.) and mounting type (roof, wall or ground).More details on how to apply for this grant aid of up to 60% are available at: tams@agriculture.gov.ie or 076 106 4452
www.smartfarming.ie
Email: smartfarming@ifa.ie
Call 01 426 0343
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