Farmers taking part in the Smart Farming initiative in 2020 identified average greenhouse gas emission reductions of 9 per cent and cost savings of €5,600, according to the Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA).
Smart Farming is a voluntary resource efficiency programme led by the IFA in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.
IFA president Tim Cullinan said programmes like Smart Farming that work with farmers to deliver change at farm level had never been so important.
“Smart Farming demonstrates that improving efficiency can deliver significant cost savings as well as emission reductions, without negatively impacting productivity on farms,” he commented.
“Smart Farming connects farmers with professional agronomists who provide the latest advice under the eight thematic areas, including grassland management, soil fertility, energy use and feed management.”
The scheme has updated two guidance notes on grassland and energy, which gather the latest expert knowledge from Ireland’s leading academic and advisory bodies, State agencies and technical institutions.
The grassland guidance shows better grassland management can increase farm profitability by €250 to €350 per hectare. Farmers can achieve energy savings by assessing their energy bills and energy demands and following the guide’s advice.
The IFA is holding a briefing for farmers interested in signing up for the 2021 programme on Thursday, 1 April. Details are at www.ifa.ie/SF2021
LSL News.