Annual Report 2006 and Financial Statements

Highlights 2006

Teagasc has reorganised and invested to position itself to provide the best services to the agriculture and food industries into the future. The organisation continues to underpin the development of a competitive, innovative and consumer focused agriculture sector.

eCollege

A total of 400 students completed the FETAC Level 5 Specific Purpose Certificate in Animal and Crop Production (100 hours) which they had received using online delivery. Virtually all went on and completed the FETAC Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Farm Business.

Events 2006

The Agriculture and Food 06 event held in Kildalton College was a huge success attracting over 40,000 visitors and showcasing a comprehensive range of Teagasc activities.

Advisory

In 2006 client numbers reached 43,000, a new high in recent years. While driving forward the business technology and transfer programmes the Teagasc Advisory Service supported 25,300 REPS clients and assisted 25,500 farmers with applications under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. And 41,500 farmers were assisted to secure their decoupled Single Farm Payment.

Activity

**Summary of public advisory events**
Farm Walks	Dairy	Cattle	Sheep	Tillage
Number	85	51	17	30
Attendance	4,340	3,695	698	1,250
Group Meetings
Number	939	180	49	70
Attendance	14,085	5,860	752	850
Seminars
Number	52	21	29	7
Attendance	4,100	1,392	1,522	740

Food Research

The 5th Framework European Union Project BIOCLA, coordinated by Moorepark Food Research Centre was completed in 2006. To mark the occasion, Moorepark hosted an international conference ‘Conjugated Linoleic Acid based Functional Foods: Evidence Delivery and Dose’. Blood lipid profiles of those fed high CLA cheese were significantly improved, demonstrating the beneficial effects of eating CLA enriched cheese.

Agriculture Research

The milk payment system developed by dairy production research scientists at Moorepark for Irish conditions has now been adopted by a significant number of milk processors. This new system of paying for milk (known as the A+B-C system) allows for strong signals to be sent back to producers in relation to market requirements. It also allows for the science of animal breeding and nutrition to make a more significant contribution to efficient production at farm level and consequently on farm profitability. Significant improvement in process efficiency at factory level can also be achieved because the processor will be paying for the true value of milk for the product mix relevant to Ireland.