https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4 en-us 2019-02-07 15:02:14 UTC 2026-01-08 02:54:32 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Folder.png rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/328772891 Carbon neutral farming system expanding

Suckler to 14 month bull beef finishing system
Replacement heifer rearing
Only established in 2017
First calves from heard in 2018

46 spring calving cows and heifers

20 calves from 2017

Bull calves finished inside
Heifer calves out-wintered

2 grazing blocks (54.89 ha)
- first block all in one (22.89 ha in total) bar 2 fields (~5 ha) 
- second all in one block (32 ha)]]> 2019-02-07 15:07:55 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/328772891 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/328985273 A highly nutritious feed, grass costs approximately 7cent/kg of dry matter (DM), compared to grass silage at 13c/kg DM and
concentrates at 22c/kgDM.(Kennedy et al, 2005)

Each additional day at grass, farm profitability increased by €2.70/cow (Hurley, 2010)

Grass budgeting gives confidence to increase herd size and stocking rate knowing that the cows will be fed adequately thus making the farm even more profitable. (O'Loughlin)

]]> 2019-02-07 21:00:15 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/328985273 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008509 Large fields in first grazing block with potential for paddocking

Second grazing block is only under construction now.

Cow type - Stabiliser - suits the system

Farmer is educated

Working with 2 advisors

Weighing scales on the farm to help measure anial performance

Second block is all together with brand new handling facilities

Willingness to invest in new technologies and ideas

Carbon neutral farm - good image

2 sons to help at weekends and part time help

]]> 2019-02-07 22:21:02 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008509 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008569 Farmer works full time 

Brexit - what will happen to the Irish beef market?

Not in any discussion groups

Heavy soils - very wet in parts

High rainfall area

Two blocks are 5 miles apart

First block has 2 fields half a mile down the road

Little to no infrastructure in place

Never grass measured

Old grass in both blocks - wouldn't have done much reseeding

Carbon neutral may have implications on types and amount of fertiliser used

]]> 2019-02-07 22:21:20 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008569 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008681 Blank canvas with both blocks

Get Grasstec to map out paddocks

Go to grass measurement courses and dairy farm open days to see infrastructure and paddocking

Set up a grass measuring plan

Expand herd size

Join discussion groups

Invest in grass measuring equipment and new technologies

Reseed with more suitable species to the soil type

Soil test

Get set up on Pasture Base Ireland (decision support tool)

On/Off grazing

Improve infrastructure]]> 2019-02-07 22:21:31 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008681 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008775 Labour availability

Time management

Soil type

Weather pattern

Brexit - What is the future for the Irish beef market

Prices of grass seed, infrastructure 

Dairy boom 

 Policy - GHG emissions

The price for beef
 ]]> 2019-02-07 22:22:06 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008775 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008990 To start grass measuring and budgeting.

Choose the right grass varieties that best suit the soil.

Adopt relevant technologies to make labour easy - i.e. one person job.

Increase stocking rate with increasing grass productivity.]]> 2019-02-07 22:23:20 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329008990 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329891933 2019-02-11 15:02:51 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329891933 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329978841 2019-02-11 17:14:00 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/329978841 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330285217 2019-02-12 12:14:36 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330285217 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330313568 2019-02-12 13:36:54 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330313568 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330315617 2019-02-12 13:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330315617 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330317258 To get Grasstec in to map out paddocks.

Get drainage right

Soil test both farms.

Dig trial holes to see soil profiles.

Set up nutrient management plan

Join discussion group]]> 2019-02-12 13:44:25 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330317258 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330317587 Get set up on PBI and start entering info

Learn about grass measuring and set up grass measuring scheme

Attend farm walks and open days

Review results from tests

]]> 2019-02-12 13:45:02 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330317587 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318154 Soil test and see how nutrient plan is going

Continue measuring and using PBI

Select grass type to suit soil and begin reseeding plan

Put in farm roadways for better access]]> 2019-02-12 13:46:07 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318154 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318392 Use data collected to apply good grass management 

Continue gathering data with measurement tools

Begin to increase stocking rate to grass growing potential]]> 2019-02-12 13:46:37 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318392 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318719 Invest in infrastructure to perfect system

Insert correct paddock sizes

Continue to measure grass to ensure system is working

Start to incorporate clover and implement winter forage plan]]> 2019-02-12 13:47:16 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/330318719 rain_kennedy https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/337490473 2019-03-04 15:05:37 UTC https://padlet.com/rain_kennedy/oftdzei9vba4/wish/337490473