Dublin, Ireland
September 29, 2009
There is an urgent need for grassland farmers to reduce the cost of animal production. Teagasc research shows that fertilizer costs on grassland can be substantially reduced by replacing nitrogen chemical fertilizer with nitrogen fixed by white-clover. James Humphreys, Teagasc Moorepark researcher speaking at the announcement of the conference said: “Well managed clover-based swards can supply up to 140 kg/ha of N each year at little cost. Another benefit of clover-based pastures is higher quality, especially under low nitrogen input systems.”
This two-day event ‘Forage Legumes in Temperate Pasture-Based Systems’ brings together some of the leading grass-clover agronomists in the world. Keynote speakers include Jean-Louis Peyraud from INRA, Brittany who will outline the potential for food production from clover-based systems in Europe. Derek Woodfield from AgResearch, New Zealand asks the question: ‘Do improved forage legumes have a role in modern grazing systems?’, and Stewart Ledgard, AgResearch, New Zealand will weigh up the environmental impacts of grazing clover-based swards.
The conference is an ideal opportunity for grassland farmers, advisers and consultants to hear the latest technology, first hand, on how best to manage clover-based grassland. The two-day event is being held on Thursday, 15 October in the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork and on Friday, 16 October at Moorepark’s Solohead Research Farm (near Limerick Junction) where very low cost and sustainable systems of dairy production, based on white clover, have been developed in recent years. Delegates to the conference will receive a comprehensive copy of the conference proceedings.
This event is being sponsored by Goldcrop, Allied Irish Banks and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Full details and on-line registration are available at www.agresearch.teagasc.ie/moorepark/events/conf_foragelegumes.asp.
Alternatively, contact Margie Egan, Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre at tel. (025) 42292; email: margie.egan@teagasc.ie
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| Donal Fitzgerald, Goldcrop; James Humphreys, Teagasc Moorepark; Pat Dillon, Teagasc, Head of Animal Production and Grassland Centre; Marianne Harris, AIB, Fermoy; and Professor Gerry Boyle, Teagasc Director. |
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