'Smart Farms' Save an Average of €5,000 Per Year

A 'smarter' way of doing business, being piloted on a range of mixed farms, has highlighted savings of up to €15,700 a year that farmers can make by simply paying more attention to routine tasks and purchases.

The Smart Farming Programme, being promoted by the IFA's national environment and rural development committee, was first piloted in 2013 on six Wexford farms with various enterprises.
Last year it was extended to 30 farms strategically located across the country, from Donegal to Cork, Wexford to Meath, and this year it is planned to extend the scheme to hundreds of farms.

This initiative focuses on ways to reduce costs inside the farm gate through better resource management in eight key areas: feed, grassland, water, inputs, time management, soil fertility, machinery management and energy use.

Among the programme's key participants are Teagasc, the Fertilizer Association of Ireland, the EPA, and UCD.

The IFA's Tom Ryan said that average savings of €5,000 per farm were achieved in 2013 through initiatives being applied to feed, fertiliser, energy and waste on the farms.

"There were savings of €15,779 on one out of the 30 farms that participated last year, but that was exceptional.

"The average was closer to €7,120 per farm by doing the simple things better in areas where the farmers were not aware that economies were possible," said Mr Ryan.

Across the 30 farms the savings ranged from €260 to €15,779.

One farmer found that improving soil pH reduced nitrogen usage by 9t at a saving of €2,600.
Additional water troughs on a dairy farm increased milk production by 10pc, which was worth €4,400. Adjusting an automatic meal feeder saved €3,300. Reducing the lamb fattening period by three days increased margin by €4,400.

Key areas for achieving savings included more efficient use of plate milk coolers, changing energy supplier, checking water flow rates and availability, working with a purchasing group, and using the right machine for the job.

Committee chairman, Harold Kingston said that over the past decade spend on inputs had increased by over 50pc from €3.2bn to €4.9bn

"This represents over 70pc of the farm-gate value of output produced.Therefore the focus on resource efficiency and the better use of inputs through the Smart Farming Programme makes good economic sense.

"Every 1pc reduction in inputs use will lead to a saving of €49m to the sector," he said.

Independant Farming

8 LEADING CAUSES OF FARM DEATHS

This week we have a very useful and potentially life-saving infographic on the 8 Leading Causes of Farm Deaths to share with you fromhttps://www.dhfarmmachinery.com/

Death on the farm is not a popular topic but it is prevalent among farms all around the world.

It doesn't matter what type of farmer you are weather dairy or livestock e.t.c., the risks are there and will remain there until they strike.

It also doesn't matter what age you are either, children are more inclined to be involved in accidents but adults are more than capable of making simple mistakes.

The following infographic looks at ways in which the most common farm deaths/accidents arise and how they can be avoided.

LARGER IMAGE CAN BE SEEN HERE http://tinyurl.com/ox4ffwk

SPORTS PITCH PAINT - GREAT VALUE 20 LITRE CONCENTRATE

SPORTS PITCH PAINT - GREAT VALUE 20 Lt CONCENTRATE

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Some customers have diluted this concentrate beyond the recommended rates and still report excellent coverage and durability.

We take payment by Credit Card with a nationwide 1-2 day delivery time.

We have over 800 farm products at great prices available to buy 24/7 from www.MagentaDirect.ie

Dock Sprays at Great Prices

It's dock spraying time again and at MagentaDirect.ie we have great value docks sprays ranging from just €7.20 per acre!

Visit: http://www.magentadirect.ie/Sprays/dock-sprays to see out full range.

Save €300 a Year by Reseeding – TEAGASC

Teagasc was keen to espouse the benefits of reseeding to farmers at the recent Beef 2014 event in Grange and said it could help save €300 per year.

Philip Creighton and Michael O’Donovan of Teagasc’s Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre in Athenry and Moorepark highlighted that many farms in Ireland have swards that cannot grow enough grass during the year, especially in spring and autumn. They said this is mainly due to the absence of productive perennial rye grasses in pastures.

Teagasc research has shown that economically, pastures with a low proportion of perennial rye grass are costing farmers up to €300/ha/year due to a loss of dry matter (DM) production and reduced nitrogen use efficiency during the growing season.

If the cost of reseeding is estimated at approximately €700/ha, the increased profitability of the reseeded pasture would cover this cost in just over two years.

This means reseeding is one of the most cost effective on-farm investments.

MagentaDirect.ie has a number of quality grass seed mixes available at great prices. Just call us on 053-9236256 to discuss it with one of our sales advisors.

Heat Detection Products Video

This week at MagentaDirect.ie we recommend viewing the following video on the various heat detection products that are available to farmers.
 To view the video, just click on the link below.

https://youtu.be/a7fVs-jXkJ4

Jack Kennedy looks at some of the latest devices on the market for detection of heat in Dairy animals.

SAVE MONEY ON FARM FUEL WITH DIPETANE FUEL TREATMENT

Dipetane is a fuel additive you can easily add to your tank to improve the fuel economy of your engine.

5 Litre Treats 1000 Litres of Any Fuel (Diesel, Kero or Petrol)

Pat Slattery, Transport Manager for Coca Cola Ireland says “After 16 years of continuous use I am pleased to state that Dipetane treated fuels contribute to a significant net saving in fuel and maintenance and ensure that our environmental objectives are met.

I have always monitored our MPG most carefully and continue to do so especially in today’s high-priced fuel markets. My ongoing monitoring of MPG proves to me that the initial significant fuel savings are still being achieved due to the use of Dipetane.”

Extensive Field tests have shown that Dipetane-treated fuel lasts up to 10% longer than standard petrol or diesel, as it burns off more of the carbon in the fuel.

Using Dipetane reduces carbon deposits in your engine and should equate to lower servicing costs and an increased engine life-span.

Proven in over 100 million miles of service, Dipetane improves fuel economy, reduces emissions, extends oil life and reduces engine wear.

5 Litre Treats 1000 Litres of Any Fuel (Diesel, Kero or Petrol)

To buy Dipetane 5 litre Visit http://www.magentadirect.ie/DIPETANE and start saving today!