HOME GROWN

Tv Series Gets A Resounding Thumbs Up

produce and ornamental plants: 93 per cent

● It clearly communicates the variety/breadth of the Irish horticulture industry: 93 per cent

● It really makes me understand that Irish horticulture produces fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants: 92 per cent

Industry Evaluation

A survey was conducted amongst contacts in the horticulture industry at the end of December 2022.

● 94 per cent of respondents had heard of Home Grown

● 94 per cent of respondents who had heard of Home Grown, watched the series

● almost half watched all seven episodes, with 82 per cent watching four or more episodes

Feedback from the horticulture industry has been overwhelmingly positive, both via the evaluation survey and via direct contact following the individual episodes. There were high levels of agreement that Home Grown communicated the intended messages to consumers. Some comments about Home Grown from the survey:

● “Gives horticulture the voice it has needed for a very long time.”

● “Great series, great values and ideas…did not get to watch as many episodes as I would have liked due to work commitments...would like to see another series of it broadcast in the future! Well done!”

● “I was thrilled to be asked to be involved and the final production exceeded my expectations. It was very refreshing to see the new faces of Colm and Kitty do so well. I’m not sure if another series is in the pipeline, but I hope so. It really brought home the variety of areas covered by so many different people in horticulture. Well done to all those involved.”

● “A great series that showcased very well the breadth of the food and environmental production horticulture industry in Ireland. I hope the next series (if there is one) will demonstrate the depth of each sector, the science, technology and art behind each crop/product/service.”

● “Shows the Irish horticultural industry in a very positive light. Shows how vibrant and diverse an industry it is.”

Filming for Home Grown series 2 is currently underway and is due to be broadcast on RTE1 in the spring of 2024 ✽

TEAGASC AT BLOOM 2023: A HAVEN OF HORTICULTURAL EXPERTISE

There was great support and interest in Bloom this year with over 100,000 visitors. Teagasc’s theme, 'Planting Knowledge, Cultivating Growth', showcased its substantial commitment to supporting the horticulture sector and various crop and plant-based industries.

Visitors were invited to engage with Teagasc’s knowledgeable staff and explore the extensive plant displays of Irish-grown plants. Teagasc developed impressive plant displays around a tasteful marquee. The displays of vegetables, wildflower meadow, native hedging and pollinator-friendly perennials drew large numbers of visitors throughout the plant and food festival.

Across the five days, Teagasc advisors, lecturers and researchers presented talks on all things horticulture, from house plants to plant-based diets. These talks, and the six sub-stands within the marquee, generated tremendous public engagement.

The Horticulture Development Department showcased innovative research and advisory support for combatting pests and diseases in the horticulture sector. The Teagasc Education exhibit emphasised lifelong learning, offering personalised guidance for those interested in horticulture education. Teagasc addressed the pressing issue of food waste reduction through innovative packaging and planning strategies.

The value of preserving native flora and fauna for biodiversity conservation was highlighted by the Countryside Management exhibit. Additionally, visitors explored the benefits of trees and forests, gaining a deeper understanding of their role in the environment. And reflecting the growing demand for sustainable dietary options, Bloom 2023 also focussed on Teagasc’s work around plant-based protein. ✽

New Specialised Vegetable Advisor

Teagasc have appointed William Deasy as Specialised Vegetable Advisor in the Horticulture Department. William is joining the existing team of specialised advisors. He will provide technical support, training and agronomic information related to conventional and organic production of vegetable crops. While based in the Ennis Advisory Office, he will be operating across the vegetable-growing region.

William is from a farming background and has worked in horticulture for over 14 years. He has a

PhD for research on integrated pest management in brassica vegetable crops and a BAgrSc in horticulture. He is a BASIS-qualified agronomist; and a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved pesticide advisor with experience in crop walking, advisory, crop trials and compliance in both Ireland and the UK. He was lead research agronomist and project team member for the European Commission/ DAFM funded EIP-AGRI project, 'Maximising Organic Production Systems', and has worked in organic certification as an organic horticultural inspector.

William can be contacted by email at William.Deasy@ teagasc.ie and/or telephone +353 (0)65 686 2177 and mobile +353 (0)87 474 4942. ✽

For more information on any element of this e-zine, please contact: Dermot Callaghan, Teagasc Head of Horticulture Development Department. Email: dermot.callaghan@teagasc.ie; Dónall Flanagan, Teagasc Nursery Stock/Ornamentals Specialised Advisor. Email: Donall.Flanagan@teagasc.ie; teagasc.ie

FRUIT TREE PLANTING, OAK PARK

A research orchard has been established in Teagasc Oak Park, Pollerton Little, Co Carlow, to support the development of the Irish apple sector.

Planted in April 2023, one third of the orchard consists of a variety trial with 48 apple genotypes, including sports of Gala, Jonagold and Elstar, and several apple scab-resistant varieties. The other part of the orchard was planted with variations of modern two-dimensional training systems, rootstocks and planting densities, totalling 2,700 trees.

The Oak Park orchard represents an important step in developing the apple sector in Ireland. In a few years it will be possible to identify varieties suitable for the Irish climate, but also for consumer and market needs. The project will also help identify better forms of

Dutch Mushroom Days

Teagasc researchers were out in force at the Dutch Mushroom Days exhibition held in Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands last May. The event draws a large international mushroom audience, with 3,000-plus attendees including growers, suppliers, engineering companies and researchers. The event presented Teagasc researchers the opportunity to network with both industry and academic contacts.

A major date in the mushroom calendar, Dutch Mushroom Days is normally held every two years. The COVID pandemic meant that the event was cancelled in 2021, so this year’s event was very much anticipated.

The organisers invited scientists involved in mushroom research to present their findings at one of two science hubs. Teagasc presented research posters on peat replacement in horticulture; biopesticides to control mushroom diseases; and using silica to improve mushroom quality.

Also at the exhibition, the EU project, SoftGrip –of which Teagasc is a partner – had a standalone demonstration display to show progress to date on the development of a soft robotic gripper for harvesting delicate produce. The SoftGrip demonstration produced lots of interest from the mushroom community.

For further information, contact Helen Grogan, senior research officer, at helen.grogan@teagasc.ie ✽ orchard management to promote maximum yield efficiency and fruit quality, alongside reductions in labour costs.

Alberto Ramos Luz – fruit research officer in Teagasc’s Horticulture Development Department – hopes that through the knowledge obtained in this experimental orchard, it will be possible to recommend a more efficient technological package than what’s generally practised in Ireland today. The goal is to make apple production more profitable and hence more attractive to Irish farmers, whilst offering higher quality fruits to consumers.

The 2,700 apple trees planted in Oak Park, Co Carlow, will inform on the best future choices of varieties and systems for apple production in Ireland. ✽

Oak Park Mechanical Weed Control Demonstration

A significant number of vegetable growers attended the mechanical weed control demonstration in field vegetables that took place on 21 June during the Teagasc Crops and Cover Crop Cultivation Open Day at Oak Park, Co Carlow.

Speaking at the Crops Open Day, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Pippa Hackett, said: “The vision in our recently launched National Strategy for Horticulture is to grow a more profitable, valueadded sector, driven by innovation and sustainability.

“A key action in the strategy is research and development for the horticulture industry. The mechanical weed control demonstration showcased the potential for increased productivity and enhanced competitiveness, while also improving our environmental credentials. Irish growers are committed to fostering innovation and recognise the role of integrated pest-management in Irish vegetable production.”

Co-organisers Eoin Sweetman and Andy Whelton – Teagasc specialised vegetable advisors – expressed their gratitude for the participation of specialist machinery companies from across Europe. Eoin underlined what an opportunity it was to witness these machines in action under Irish conditions, and shared his excitement about observing the latest solutions for sustainable vegetable crop production.

Stephen Robb from the Irish Farmers Journal emphasised the significant demands placed on Irish producers to address the need for efficient and nutritious food production, while reducing dependence on chemical inputs. He expressed delight in presenting the unique field vegetable weed control demonstration as part of the Crops and Cover Crops Cultivations event in Oak Park.

A collaboration between the Teagasc horticulture team and the Irish Farmers Journal, the demonstration showcased the latest advancements in cultural weed control methods.

There is a growing need for non-chemical weed management tools for sustainable crop production. Significant developments are taking place in the technology of weed control systems among some of the leading manufacturers internationally. The event at Oak Park provided attendees with the opportunity to witness live demonstrations on vegetable crops.

In addition to the more conventional row-crop cultivators – including hoes, tines and finger weeders – SMART weeding technology has been advancing rapidly. The Oak Park event featured robotic and camera-guided systems, which were of particular interest to vegetable producers operating conventional and organic production systems.

Specialised manufacturers – including Steketee, FarmDroid, Treffler, Einböck, Pöttinger and Ferrari – demonstrated their equipment at the event. These machines were tractor-mounted, with the exception of the FarmDroid, a solar-powered unit steered using RTK-GPS. Fruithill Farm demonstrated some Terrateck wheeled weeders, which are especially well suited to weed control in polytunnels or small scale field production systems. The company also had a Terratek manual flame weeder on display.

Some of the technology demonstrated is used more and more in Europe, the UK and further afield. The Garford hoe has been used by vegetable farmer Emmett Dunne for several seasons already in a range of crops including carrots, brassicas and leeks. During his demonstration, Emmett spoke of the benefits of the hoe’s early use during crop development, before weeds become established and crops close in.

Further information and videos of the machines in action, as well as interviews with some of the machinery agents, can be found here: https://www.teagasc.ie/crops/horticulture/ vegetables/vegetable-publications ✽