Teagasc is building AI tools for your farm — here's what's coming and when

When people talk about AI in farming, they usually mean ChatGPT prompts and fancy sensors. But the biggest AI shift for Irish farmers is probably happening inside Teagasc itself — and most farmers haven't heard about it.

Teagasc has been building data-driven tools for years. PastureBase, the Moorepark grass research programme, the Signpost Programme — all of these are generating enormous amounts of farm data. What's changing now is how that data is being analysed.

Here's what we know about where Teagasc is heading with AI and what it means for your next advisory visit.

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What Teagasc is already doing with AI

PastureBase Ireland

PastureBase is Teagasc's national grassland database. Over 3,000 farms submit grass measurement data. That data feeds national grass growth models, benchmarking tools, and seasonal predictions.

The AI element: PastureBase now uses machine learning models to predict grass growth rates by region, allowing Teagasc to issue grassland management guidance that's more precise than ever. When your advisor says "grass growth in the west is tracking 10% behind last year," that number comes from AI processing thousands of farm measurements.

Moorepark and the dairy research programmes

Moorepark has been using machine learning in its dairy research for several years — analysing milk composition data, feed efficiency trials, and herd health patterns. The scale of data from research herds means AI can identify patterns that human analysis would miss.

Some of this research is feeding into tools that will eventually reach farm level — feed efficiency predictors, milk quality alerts, and calving difficulty models.

Signpost Programme

The 120+ Signpost demonstration farms are generating detailed carbon and efficiency data. AI models are being used to:

• Benchmark individual farm performance against national targets
• Identify which management changes deliver the biggest carbon reductions
• Predict the impact of specific actions (e.g., switching to protected urea) before a farmer commits

This is practical AI applied at farm level — not flashy, but genuinely useful for making management decisions.

ICBF integration

While ICBF is a separate organisation, its work sits closely alongside Teagasc advisory. ICBF's genetic evaluation system — Euro-Star ratings, EBI calculations — uses statistical models that are functionally AI. Teagasc advisors increasingly use this data in their recommendations.

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What's coming next

Personalised advisory recommendations

This is the big one. Teagasc has historically provided general best-practice advice — same recommendations for all 80-cow suckler herds, adjusted by region and enterprise. AI makes it possible to tailor advice to individual farm performance data.

Imagine your advisor arriving with a report that says: "Based on your herd's calving data, your soil test results, and your grass growth patterns, here are the three changes most likely to improve profitability on your specific farm."

That's where this is heading. Not this year — but the data infrastructure is being built now.

Digital advisory tools

Teagasc is investing in digital tools that complement face-to-face advisory. Expect to see:

• More interactive online tools (like the existing Carbon Navigator) powered by AI
• Farm-specific benchmarking dashboards
• Push notifications for seasonal actions based on your farm profile

These won't replace your advisor. They'll make the time between advisory visits more productive.

Remote sensing and satellite integration

Teagasc research programmes are increasingly using satellite imagery (NDVI, Sentinel-2 data) to monitor grassland condition and crop health at national scale. This data, combined with AI analysis, could eventually give advisors field-by-field insight into farm performance before they arrive for a visit.

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What this means for you

Your advisory visits will get more data-driven. Expect your advisor to arrive with more specific, numbers-backed recommendations. That's a good thing — it means the advice is based on evidence from farms like yours, not just general principles.

Your data matters more than ever. If you're submitting data to PastureBase, ICBF, and your quality assurance scheme, that data feeds the models that improve the advice everyone receives. If you're not submitting data, you're not just missing out on benchmarking — you're reducing the quality of the system.

The technology gap is closing. You don't need to be a tech-savvy farmer to benefit. The AI is built into Teagasc's tools — when you use PastureBase, when your advisor runs the Carbon Navigator, when ICBF calculates your EBI — you're already using AI. The tools are getting better, but the interface stays farmer-friendly.

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The honest assessment

Teagasc is doing this well. They're not hyping AI or rushing tools to market. They're building the data infrastructure first and testing tools through their research programmes before rolling them out to advisors and farmers.

The pace is deliberate. That's frustrating if you want cutting-edge tools now, but it means the tools you eventually get will be tested on Irish farms in Irish conditions — not adapted from American or Australian systems.

What to do now: Keep submitting your data. Use PastureBase if you're not already. Make sure your ICBF records are up to date. Ask your Teagasc advisor what digital tools they're currently recommending — you might be surprised what's already available.

For more on Teagasc's research programmes, visit teagasc.ie/about/research--innovation.