{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Dairy Edge","title":"Incorporating biodiversity into a high performing dairy farm","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/c0da0fdb\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1168,"description":"Dairy farmer, Shane Fitzgerald, and Masters researcher, Aoife Leader, join Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge to highlight examples of farms achieving top performance in combination with high levels of biodiversity.\r\n\r\nAoife is working with eleven dairy farms as part of the Teagasc/Glanbia joint programme to establish the features and level of biodiversity on each of the farms and has identified biodiversity KPIs including average field size, biodiversity score and biodiversity percentage.\r\n\r\nFirstly Shane gave some background to the farm: he is milking 210 cows alongside his father John, growing 13.5 tonne of grass with cows producing 480 kg MS.\r\n\r\nShane identified many features of biodiversity including hedgerows, fenced watercourses and low input pasture to name a few and explains how biodiversity exists within a high performing dairy unit at minimal cost.\r\n\r\nAoife explained that a lot of biodiversity exists on dairy farms and recommends that the first step for farmers is to maintain and retain existing biodiversity.\r\n\r\nFor more information, Shane will be hosting a virtual farm walk and webinar on Thursday 1st October with more information here:\r\nhttps://www.teagasc.ie/news--events/daily/dairy/reducing-the-carbon-footprint-of-milk-production-virtual-farm-walk-and-webinar-from-portlaw-co-waterford.php\r\n \r\nFor more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast visit the show page at:\r\nhttps://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/","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}