Agri Aware Farm Walk & Talk – UCD Lyons Farm Visit (March 12, 2025)
Fifth and sixth-year Agricultural Science students had the opportunity to visit UCD Lyons Farm as part of Agri Aware’s Farm Walk & Talk series. This event provided valuable hands-on learning experiences across key areas of modern agriculture, reinforcing their classroom studies.
Key Highlights of the Visit
🔹 Station 1 – Crops & Machinery
Students explored the role of technology in modern farming, with a special focus on drones and their use in assisting farmers with tasks such as crop monitoring, spraying, and precision agriculture.
🔹 Station 2 – Health & Safety
Agri Aware’s Fiona Treacy led a discussion on farm safety, highlighting key risks and best practices to prevent accidents on farms, an essential topic for future farmers and agri-professionals.
🔹 Station 3 – Introduction to UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science
A PhD student shared her journey from studying Agricultural Science at UCD to conducting research at Lyons Farm, offering students insights into potential career pathways in agriculture.
🔹 Station 4 – Dairy
Students learned about modern dairy farming, including cow milking procedures, herd management, and sustainable dairy production. Students got inside the new calf research facility at UCD Lyons farm calves only a couple of days old
🔹 Station 5 – Multi-Species Swards
This session emphasized the benefits of multi-species swards, which include improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, and better animal nutrition compared to traditional grass swards.
🔹 Station 6 – Lambing
Professor Tommy Boland led this session in the lambing shed, where students got to witness the busy lambing period firsthand. One of the highlights was a ewe with five lambs, showcasing the intensity of the season and the care involved in managing newborn lambs.
🔹 Station 7 – Equine
The visit concluded with insights into equine management, covering horse care, nutrition, and breeding practices.
This hands-on experience helped students bridge the gap between theory and practice, preparing them for their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science exam while inspiring potential careers in the agri-food sector. Fifth year students have PROJECTS to be thinking about.
