Average savings of €6,000 were achieved by the 6000 farmers participating in the IFA’s Smart Farming initiative in 2014. Details of these savings and how they were achieved were outlined at Thursday’s Smart Farming conference in Portlaoise.
Key actions that delivered savings included addressing pH and lime, installing efficient plate coolers, addressing the farm energy bill, regularly reseeding grassland, ensuring adequate water supply to livestock, calibrating meal feeders in the parlour, improving silage quality and having the right machine for the right job.
The results demonstrate that farmers can develop their farm business while also safeguarding the environment, said Harold Kingston, the IFA’s National Environment and Rural Affairs Committee Chair.
“I would encourage farmers to participate in the initiative and have a free on-farm cost saving study completed. Farmers can apply for cost saving studies to be done in 2015 by contacting;
Tel. No.: 01 426 0343 Or Email: smartfarming@ifa.ie
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal (P.12) – Paul Mooney – 15/11/2014)