Edition 003 · 30 September 2026

FarmAI September — two October deadlines and your winter feed plan

Two October dates for your diary, a dairy tool you may already pay for, and a practical job before winter housing.

BEFORE OCTOBER GETS BUSY

ACRES Co-operation: speak to your advisor before 14 October

The 2026 Non-Productive Investment application window closes on 14 October. For Tranche 1 contracts starting in January 2023, this is the last application window. Your advisor submits the plan. Agree the work before submission: only draft plans can be changed. This date concerns new applications, not payment claims for earlier approved work.

Fertiliser stock declaration: file by 15 October, even if it is zero

The stock date has passed. Your return records what you held at 23.59 on 14 September, not what is in the shed today. Submit through MyAgFood by 15 October. Nothing left on that date? You still need a nil return.

TOOLS WORTH UNDERSTANDING

Culling this autumn? Open your ICBF C.O.W. profile first

For spring-calving, milk-recording dairy herds, Cow's Own Worth ranks cows by expected remaining lifetime profit. It brings several records together, rather than sorting by milk yield alone. Check that the records are current, then use the ranking alongside your knowledge of the herd.

After the Ploughing: what the winning technology actually does

Telenostic won Innovation Arena Champion and VetPal took Start-Up of the Year. Our follow-up looks at parasite testing, prescription paperwork and the questions to ask before buying. An award is a useful starting point. Ask for the full cost, the evidence and the support arrangements.

BEFORE WINTER HOUSING

Put your own numbers into the winter fodder budget

Count the stock, measure the feed and work out the gap. Our walkthrough uses Teagasc's method. Bring a current silage analysis to your advisor as well: feed quantity and feed quality answer different questions.

ONE USEFUL AI PROMPT

Try this with a public Teagasc guide, without uploading your personal farm records:

“Using only the guide below, make a short checklist for a conversation with my farm advisor. Separate facts stated in the guide from information I still need to provide. Quote the passage behind each factual item. Do not invent figures, deadlines or feeding rates. Finish with three questions to ask my advisor.”

Check every quoted passage against the original. The useful output is a better-prepared conversation, not an AI feeding recommendation.

What farm job would you like us to explain next? Reply to this email. And if one of these pieces would help a neighbour, pass it on.

The FarmAI Ireland team

Get the next one on the first Monday of the month.