Smart Farming Spring Seminar 2021

1. The Signpost Programme
Leading climate action
by Irish farmers

2. Overview
1. Introduction
2. Overview of Signpost Programme
3. Key Indicators of Success
4. Win: Win…Creating More Sustainable
Farming Systems
5. Getting the Measure of Carbon Sequestration
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3. • Research to date (Teagasc
MACC’s) has given us a
toolbox
• Now need to enable
farmers to adapt their
farming practices at “pace
and scale”
• While continuing with new
research
– Carbon sequestration
– New technologies for
methane
– Further nitrous oxide
reduction
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Teagasc Role in Climate Action

4. Farming’s role
▪ “Critically important social, economic and environmental value”
• 137,000 family farms
• €8.38 billion goods produced on livestock and tillage farms (2020)
• €14.5 billion total exports (2019, 9.5% of Irish merchandising exports)
▪ Increased focus on environmental impact of farming activities
• GHG and ammonia emissions, water quality, biodiversity
▪ Farmers are uniquely placed to be part of the solution, as
“custodians of the land”

5. A changing policy environment
Sustainability
Environmental focus
Expansion
Intensification
Competitiveness
Efficiency
Re-balancing the focus

6. 6
▪ A national campaign to lead climate
action, achieving early progress in
reducing GHG emissions
▪ Three elements:
• Network of 100 Signpost Farms
• Signpost Advisory campaign
• NASCO
▪ Programme aims to achieve whole
of industry alignment
The Signpost Programme

7. Signpost Objectives
Signpost Farms
▪ Showcase the science
based technologies which
can reduce agricultural
emissions
▪ Act as “hubs” for the
Signpost Advisory campaign
▪ Create a national network of
farms where carbon
sequestration in grassland
and hedgerows can be
examined
Signpost Advisory
▪ Mobilise all advisers
(Teagasc, private and
industry) to engage with all
farmers, using a
combination of channels, in
climate action
▪ Scale up the messages from
our experiences with the
Signpost Farmers to all
farmers
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8. Policy
New
CAP
Market
requirements
All farmers
All farmers
All students
Signpost
Farms
Events
Farm Sustainability
Plan
Training
Discussion
groups
Digital
On-farm
research
Signpost Programme
Campaign for climate action
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Partners
Annual Sustainability
Report (NFS)

9. Key Indicators of Success
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We will work with farmers to achieve these targets.
GHG emissions
• Contribute to the national reduction of GHG emissions from farming
• Reduce GHG emissions per kg FPCM by 40% to 0.7 kg CO2e per kg FPCM
Pasture productivity &
stocking rate
• Target an increase of 2 tDM/ha pasture utilised over 5 years
• Ensure that the farm is appropriately stocked: < 250 kg org. N/ Ha (whole farm)
Reduced fertiliser use
• Reduce chemical N fertiliser usage by 10% over 5 years; increase NUE%
• Increase sward clover content to 20% over 5 years
• Spread 50% of chemical N as protected urea and all slurry using LESS
Optimum soil fertility
• 90% of soils to have optimum soil fertility status
• Adhere to NMP to correct soil deficiencies
Adequate slurry
storage
• 16, 20, 22 weeks slurry storage to be available for all livestock (location dependent)
Replacement rate
• Target 18-20% for stable herd
• Target 4.5 lactations herd average lactation number
• Increase EBI by €10 per year
Concentrate CP% • Reduce concentrate CP% to 14% (main grazing season)
Biodiversity
• Target 10% of high value biodiverse area per farm
• Increase quantity and quality of biodiversity on the farm

10. ▪ Signpost Farmers will be central to Signpost
Advisory Campaign
▪ Primary focus for our advisers and teachers
▪ Tailored advice – Farm Sustainability Plan
▪ Blended approach – traditional and digital
▪ Work with partners
▪ Targeted communications
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Signpost Advisory Campaign

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Farming Sustainably

12. Profitable and Sustainable
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The dairy and drystock farms with the lowest carbon footprint
were also the most profitable.
Source: Teagasc National Farm Survey 2019 Sustainability Report, Buckley and Donnellan, 2020.

13. National Agricultural
Soil Carbon Observatory
▪ All Signpost Farms will be part of the
NASCO
• Deep soil sampling (1m) – soil C
• Above ground C stocks will also be measured
▪ Plus 12 Carbon Flux Towers
• Strategically sited – soil type, management
practices, stocking rate etc.
▪ Model soil C sequestration
• Using farm specific data plus data from
Carbon Flux towers
▪ Measurements to start in 2021
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14. Summary
▪ Teagasc research has identified solutions to enable farmers reduce
emissions from agriculture
▪ The challenge now is to deliver this research into practice
▪ The Signpost Programme will lead climate action through
• a whole of industry alliance;
• a network of demonstration farms;
• an advisory campaign to engage all farmers; and
• new research

15. Thank You
Tom O’Dwyer
tom.odwyer@teagasc.ie
087 2373293
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