1. MAgrSc Innovation Support Programme 2016-2018
Develop a decision support system to integrate lowland and upland management on High Nature Value farms in the Burren
Student: Hayden Lalor
Supervisors: Dr Helen Sheridan, UCD
Catherine Keena, Teagasc
Office location: Ennis, Co. Clare

2. Objectives/Research Questions
To identify current management systems and associated challenges faced by farmers participating in the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme
To identify appropriate KT methods to encourage best practice uptake by farmers.
To develop a decision support system specifically tailored towards Burren farmers which will assist in the integration of lowland and upland management.

3. Methodology Structured interview (n=22) Focus Group (x2)
Greater understanding of Burren farming systems
Identify current KT needs
Focus Group (x2)
One with Burren farmers. One with stakeholders.
Discuss main findings from interviews and identify how KT can be more influential in the integration of lowland and upland management

4. Thesis Structure / Chapters
INTRODUCTION
Background
Study Rationale
Research Aims & Objectives
LITERATURE REVIEW
HNV farming concept
HNV farming across Europe
HNV areas of Ireland
Past policies & agri-environmental schemes
CAP etc.
HNV farming in the Burren
History of farming systems and changes
Farm management & decision making
Role of advisory services
STUDY METHODS
Sampling
Structured Interviews
Focus Groups
Farmers
Stakeholders
RESULTS
Focus Group
DISCUSSION
Review of research findings
CONCLUSION
Suggested practical initiatives
Suggested research initiatives

5. Key Findings – In terms of KT

6. Key Findings – In terms of KT

7. Key Findings – In terms of KT

8. Key Findings – Use of winterages and changes in lowland management
14 farmers increased winterage use since joining – has lowland mgmt changed? 5 Yes 9 No
So if it hasn’t, why hasn’t it? (N=9)
Further analysis showed 3 more farmers had changed low mgmt somehow (reduced silage production, increased stocking rate, longer grazing)
Remaining 6 that didn’t change low mgmt despite increasing winterage use also didn’t reduce silage production
reasons included ‘more housed stock for feeding over winter’, felt ‘safer to have surplus bales’ & ‘poor winterage access’
If low mgmt has changed, how has it? (N=5)
Reasons included ‘less silage production’, ‘less fertiliser’, ‘more lowland grass’, ‘less poaching’, ‘increased lowland stocking rate’
Expect low mgmt. to change
We can see how concentrating more on winterages has influenced lowland management

9. Key Findings – Upland/lowland movement dates
When to open winterages?
90.9% of farmers moving between early Oct & early November
Due to ‘weather’ (59.1%) and ‘lowland grass shortage’ (54.5%)
To follow this up, 4 were asked about possibly moving earlier
Earlier you’re in – earlier you’re out
May suit winterages but doesn’t suit lowland and early grass
Other uses for grass in Autumn? - Grass is too soft to cut as well as being too costly. Rather graze out lowlands with other stock than leave grasses over winter period.
When to close winterages?
Huge variation in dates between early Jan & Mid May
Due to ‘calving’, ‘grass shortage’ (both 54.5%) and ‘cow condition’ (31.8%)
Calving dates and spring grass generally determine when to close
12 said they like to calve earlier – yet only 4 have had more spring grass and are planning for it
Poaching of lowlands / higher feed costs
Feed value decreases
Calving earlier = bigger weanling, calving later = closer to spring grass.

10. Key Findings – Upland/lowland movement dates
2 farmers that are calving earlier haven’t had more grass in spring and aren’t planning for it..
So why aren’t they planning for early grass?
Early grass often outside of management control
Some lowlands are very wet, some are higher and colder
Require more inputs
Don’t get the value of spreading fertilisers early
Increase likelihood of poaching
One stated he wasn’t planning because he worked off farm
Land type, topography, weather are barriers to early grass

11. Conclusions to Date
Variations between farms in terms of topography, weather, farming systems etc. create a diverse region where no farm can be treated the same.
Interviews confirmed that from a management perspective, upland and lowland areas are regarded as different farming entities and in terms of management each are influenced be different groups.
In terms of KT, interviews identified the need for a specifically focused decision support system that combines both upland and lowland farm management for Burren farmers.
Justifies the establishment of a discussion group tasked with providing information on key management topics for the region such as – optimal calving times, optimal times to open uplands/lowlands, grassland management, stock type etc.
Creates an opportunity for farmers to interact and share ideas on farming methods that are working for others.

12. Steps to Completion December 2017 January to March 2018
Carry out Focus Group with Burren farmers
Analyse data
January to March 2018
Carry out Focus Group with Burren Programme and relevant stakeholders
Conclude data analysis
Continue Literature Review and Thesis write up
April to June 2018
Complete thesis write up