{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Dairy Edge","title":"The practical steps to overcoming issues on farms with heavier soils ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1186,"description":"Teagasc researcher Pat Tuohy joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to give an insight into the key issues that arise on farms with heavier soils and practical steps to overcome these issues.\r\n\r\nPat explains that 30% of Irish soils are characterised as ‘heavy soils’ and are typically associated with drainage issues - a high water table or farms located in a high rainfall area. \r\n\r\nConsequently, heavy soils farm have a shorter grazing season and lower grass utilisation compared with farms on lighter, free draining soils.\r\n\r\nPat documents the progress made on farms that have engaged in the Teagasc Heavy Soils Programme over a 10-year period. Average herd size increased from 80 to 105 cows, grass production increased from 8-10 tonnes to 12-13 tonnes annually and milk solids/ha increased from 850 kg to 1400 kg/year. \r\n\r\nAdditional milk solids were achieved through a combination of increase in cow numbers and stocking rate, increased grass production and increase in extended grazing season and consequently, grass utilisation.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to:\r\nhttps://www.teagasc.ie/crops/grassland/heavy-soils/\r\n\r\nFor more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: \r\nhttps://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/\r\n\r\nThe Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/FizPp2YqaNPbmx7kOdSSeqe3lGqQ33mTmLaxiS1YEus/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzEwMTc5LzE1ODgz/Mjc3MzMtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}