PastureBase Ireland 2026: plan grass with better data

PastureBase Ireland gives you one place to record grass covers, compare paddocks, build grass and fodder budgets, and plan the week ahead. Teagasc reported 7,000 farms on the system in 2025, with more than 150,000 covers uploaded. It only earns its keep when measurements are recorded consistently and used to make decisions.

This article was last checked against Teagasc's published material on 10 August 2026.

What is PastureBase Ireland in 2026?

PastureBase Ireland is Teagasc's national grassland database and decision-support system. It has operated since 2013 and is designed for Irish dairy, beef and sheep farms. You record what is happening in each paddock; the system turns those records into farm-level figures, reports and planning tools.

Teagasc's Achievements 2025 report gives the clearest current picture of its use:

• 7,000 farms were using PastureBase Ireland.
• More than 150,000 grass covers were uploaded during 2025.
• 38% of those covers were uploaded through the offline mobile app.
• 272,508 fertiliser applications were recorded.
• The system received information from 17 data sources, including Met Éireann, milk processors, laboratories and compatible measuring equipment.

Those are figures for farms and records on PastureBase, not totals for every farm in Ireland.

What can you actually do with PastureBase?

The core job is to turn regular paddock measurements into a grass wedge and useful farm averages. The official Teagasc material also lists:

• spring and autumn rotation planners;
• grass and fodder budgets;
• a projected grass wedge and weekly planner;
• farm mapping;
• fertiliser and slurry records;
• a nitrogen-use-efficiency calculator;
• milk-production and livestock records; and
• PDF and Excel exports for reviewing or sharing your information.

These are current capabilities, not a list of features launched in 2026. Teagasc material published before this year already described feed budgeting, exports and the mobile workflow.

How does the phone app work with poor coverage?

The free PBI Grass app can record grass covers, grazing dates, fertiliser applications, livestock and milk information while you are offline. The data can be synchronised when you have a connection again. The offline app handled 38% of 2025 cover uploads. That makes it a substantial part of the working system, not a minor extra.

Our PastureBase phone setup guide explains the field workflow. The important habit is to measure on a regular schedule and use the same method consistently enough to compare one walk with the next.

Does PastureBase predict grass growth?

Teagasc's 2025 report lists the MoSt Grass Growth Prediction Model among PastureBase's decision-support tools. However, as of August 2026, the PastureBase overview still uses future-tense wording about integrating the model while also describing its live predictions. The two official sources are not fully aligned, so check whether the model is available in your account before relying on it.

Teagasc says the model uses weather, soil type and farm-management information to produce a seven-day grass-growth prediction twice a week. Where it is available, treat it as a planning aid rather than a replacement for measuring your own farm.

There is no support in the current Teagasc sources for claiming that a new 2026 model uses satellite imagery for local predictions. Treat any forecast as another input alongside your latest covers, the weather in front of you and your own knowledge of the farm. If you are choosing how to collect covers, our guide to measuring grass on your phone with PastureBase covers getting the data in.

Does PastureBase guarantee a financial return?

No. PastureBase does not guarantee a particular annual saving for a farm of any given size.

There is a useful benchmark, but it needs careful wording. Teagasc's Grass10 programme estimates that utilising one additional tonne of grass dry matter per hectare in a year is worth about €181 per hectare on dairy farms. The equivalent drystock estimate is €105 per hectare. That is the estimated value of extra grass utilised — not a promised result from opening an account or recording covers. The outcome depends on the farm, the quality of the measurements and the decisions made from them.

How do you get useful results from it?

1. Register and set up the farm. The official PastureBase page directs interested farmers to their local Teagasc adviser or the dedicated help centre.
2. Map the paddocks accurately. Good paddock areas matter because covers and budgets are calculated from them.
3. Record covers regularly. A consistent weekly series is more useful than an occasional perfect walk.
4. Review the wedge and budget before making a plan. Look for paddocks that are ready, falling behind or repeatedly underperforming.
5. Bring the evidence to your adviser or discussion group. PastureBase supports the conversation; it does not know every constraint on your farm.

Teagasc lists PastureBase support on 046 920 0965 and support@pbi.ie. Your local adviser can also help with registration and interpreting the reports.

Can AI help you read a PastureBase export?

Yes. PastureBase's verified export options are PDF and Excel. An AI assistant can summarise an Excel report, compare paddocks or flag missing weeks, but it can also misread columns or invent an explanation. Remove herd numbers, names and other identifying information before uploading a file, then check any recommendation against the source data and your adviser.

A useful first request is: “Compare each paddock with my farm average, show the calculation, flag missing measurements and list the three patterns I should investigate.” Our guide to finding patterns in PastureBase data with AI gives a fuller workflow.

Frequently asked questions

Is PastureBase Ireland free?

The PBI Grass mobile app is free to download. Teagasc's current material does not list a subscription price for PastureBase, but registration is handled through a local Teagasc adviser or the PastureBase help centre. Confirm the current account terms when registering.

Is feed budgeting a new 2026 feature?

No verified Teagasc source supports that claim. Feed budgeting appears in official PastureBase material published before 2026. The 2025 achievements report also lists grass and fodder budgeting among the system's established tools.

Do I need mobile coverage in every field?

No. The app is designed to record information offline and synchronise it later. Teagasc says 38% of the grass covers uploaded in 2025 came through the offline app.

Are its growth predictions based on satellites?

Teagasc's official description of the MoSt model refers to weather, soil type and farm-management data. It does not substantiate the claim that new satellite-based local predictions were launched in 2026.

Bottom line

The reason to use PastureBase Ireland in 2026 is its established measurement and planning workflow, not a headline feature launch or a guaranteed saving. It is used by 7,000 farms to keep grass, fertiliser and paddock records together and turn regular covers into a plan. Start by recording one consistent cover each week, then use the wedge and budget to make the next grazing decision with better evidence.