Innovation Visit- Improved Nutrient Utilisation on Dairy Farms- ROI October 2026

Overview

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is offering dairy farmers the opportunity to take part in a farm innovation visit to learn about innovative approaches and technologies into improving the environmental impact of dairy farming through better nutrient and land management practices. The visit will take place in the Wexford region in the Republic of Ireland across three days from 13th to the 15th October 2026

This study tour is part of the Farm Innovation Visits Scheme which is being delivered by DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Nutrient use efficiency is an important indicator for the production and environmental performance of a dairy farm business. The study tour will give farmers an opportunity to see a variety of innovative technologies for improving nutrient utilsation on their farms. Participants will have the opportunity to access to the Teagasc managed Agricultural Catchments Programme (ACP) which is a research and advisory initiative, which has been monitoring water quality and farming practices across six river catchments over a 20-year period. This ACP data is invaluable in the context of meeting sustainable food production challenges, not only in terms of water quality but also the impact of farming practice.

Core technologies will include Nutrient Management mitigation measures such as nutrient management planning, soil testing, and practical chemical and organic manure application techniques in terms of timing, application rate, and location.

The incorporation of legume and diverse species into grassland to reduce reliance on chemical fertilisers, whilst improving soil structure and sward resilience through stress periods and improved land management, in terms of utilising farm run off maps, correct location and justification of mitigation measures such as riparian buffer strips, and other measures to intercept nutrient run-off.

Visits will include the Dunleer Catchment Dublin, which is based on poorly drained soils and managed under predominantly grassland farming. Johnstown Castle, a Teagasc environmental research farm which is also the base of ACP. A progressive and productive dairy farm which has successfully significantly reduced high early season nitrogen use, reducing losses and increasing the growth response per KgN applied, and a dairy farm operating within the Ballycanew Catchment, again on a poorly drained soil type, managed under grassland.

Applications are invited from one member or employee of a dairy farm business that has more than 100 Livestock Units (LU), are over 18 years old on the application closing date and not in full-time education.  Twenty places are available on this visit, these will be allocated with preference given to those who meet the criteria