Country
Ireland
Agricultural Area
250 ha
About ERS
- Lead: Teagasc - TEAG
- Contact: Bridget Lynch
- Production System: The estate supports two pasture-based farms. The first is a dairy unit with a herd of ~150 Friesian cows grazing outdoors for 8-9 months of the year. The second is a beef farm that rears and finishes dairy-beef cattle.
Thematic Areas Covered
Additives for Reducing Enteric Methane Emissions
Agroforestry and Relation to Landscape
Forage Production
Grassland Management
Herd Management
Manure Storage and Spreading
Soil Health and Biodiversity
Water Management
Description
Teagasc Johnstown Castle is Ireland’s agricultural research centre for soils and the rural environment. Located on 400 hectares, of which 250 hectares is under grassland, it combines state of the-art laboratories with pasture-based beef and dairy farms.
Research addresses soil health, nutrient efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality and agroecology. Our aim is to develop practical, science-based solutions for sustainable grass-based livestock systems, supporting researchers, farmers, advisors and policy. Experimental farms allow actual testing of climate change mitigation strategies, while advanced labs provide detailed analysis of environmental interactions, ensuring integrated approaches to climate-smart agriculture.
Characteristics
Johnstown Castle research addresses the environmental sustainability of farming systems while ensuring economically viability and social acceptability. Through applied research, we advance sustainability in areas such as nutrient management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and resilience.
Our experimental farms and advanced equipment, including Eddy Covariance Flux towers and GreenFeed systems, support studies on soil health, carbon sequestration and emission reductions for grass-based livestock systems. This research aims to deliver solutions for multiple stakeholders – policymaker, industry and farmers. The centre’s vision is to showcase climate-smart agricultural production, ensuring competitiveness and environmental stewardship in a changing climate.
