Beef farmers are being sought for a new cross-border, climate-related research project.

The project aims to identify crops and solutions that can be adopted on beef farms to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The initiative will see carbon reduction technologies and innovations trailed at research centres and demonstrated on 12 farms across Northern Ireland and counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal.

The CliBeef (Climate Friendly Beef Production) project is led by AFBI (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute) and involving Teagasc, Queen’s University and AgriSearch.

Beef

AgriSearch and Teagasc are currently recruiting beef farmers (both suckler and dairy-beef) to join the project which will run for three years.

Participating farms will trial a range of GHG mitigation measures tailored to their individual systems.

These may include breeding strategies to improve feed efficiency and reduce methane emissions, improved forage and grazing management and adjustments to animal diets.

Other options include measures to enhance animal health, such as improving youngstock health and controlling parasites, as well as nutrient management practices like incorporating clover or multi-species swards, using protected urea and improving nutrient planning.

Teagasc said that farmers who join the project will receive access to scientific and technical advice, as well as financial support for implementing mitigation measures.

"The project also aims to help farmers improve efficiency, reduce input costs and prepare for future environmental regulations," Teagasc added.

CliBeef is funded through the EU’s PEACEPLUS programme, which supports cross-border cooperation and reconciliation initiatives between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is an EU-funded programme managed by the Special EU programmes Body (SEUPB).