Signpost farmers are implementing new technologies - Kilkenny Farming

At the recent Signpost General Assembly, Tom O’Dwyer presented an update on the performance of the Signpost demonstration farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Protected urea
The Signpost dairy farmers are using protected urea as a source of more than half of their fertiliser N, compared to 15% for the typical dairy farmer. Cattle Signpost farmers spread 38% of their total chemical N as protected urea, compared to just 4% for cattle farmers nationally.

On sheep farms, protected urea made up 19% of the chemical N applied, the national average is 2%.
While traditionally tillage farmers have used CAN as their primary N source, Signpost tillage farmers are beginning to see the benefits of protected urea and 26% of chemical N on these farms was applied as protected urea in 2022.
One tillage farmer has shifted from using 0% protected urea in 2021 to 74% of chemical N applied as protected urea in 2022.
While the Signpost Farmers are using proportionally more protected urea than other farmers, there is still scope to significantly increase its usage on all Signpost farms. 5 tonne of CAN is same as 3 tonne of protected urea this translates to a saving of €250.

In the ring with Kilkenny Lions Club - fundraising cheques presented

Liming

There has been a significant increase in lime use across all farm types over the two years. The Signpost dairy and cattle farmers applied, on average, 0.8 and 0.6 tonnes lime per hectare farmed for each of the two years, 2021 and 2022. This which represents almost twice what the typical dairy and beef farmer applied during the same period.
Lime use on sheep farms increased by 47% in 2022. Applying lime will release up to 80 kg N, allowing farmers to reduce total chemical N use in the following years. So, the Signpost Farmers are taking steps to reduce their reliance on fertiliser N.

Low Emissions Slurry Spreading
All Signpost farmers got their slurry analysed in either 2021 or 2022. This has allowed Signpost farmers to make better use of their slurry with more slurry applied in the spring and applied with LESS.
Dairy farmers applied all of their slurry with LESS while 79% of the slurry on Signpost cattle farms was applied using LESS. 33% of the slurry was applied by LESS on sheep farms. There has been an increased emphasis on the use of organic manures on tillage farms (replacing fertiliser).

Clover
On dairy farms almost half (46%) of the grazing block has clover incorporated, achieved through a combination of direct reseeding and oversowing. This sets these farmers up for further reductions in chemical N use.