Wednesday 10 January 2024

Position Available

 Position Available

Tirglas Ltd.

Tirglas Ltd is a large Agri- Environmental Consultancy Business with its office based in Claregalway, Co Galway. Our client base stretches all across the island of Ireland. Not only do we offer advice to our client base on all Department of Agriculture administered schemes, we also specialise in the assessment of High Nature Value Farmland, Commonage Management Planning & Nutrient Management Planning.

Agricultural Consultant

We currently have an opportunity for an Agricultural Consultant within our consultancy business. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who has a “can do attitude” along with a hands on approach. The right candidate will get to experience all aspects of a busy Agri- Environmental Consultancy Business has to offer.

In supporting our client base, the main tasks involved with the role are as follows:

  • Completing Basic Income Support Scheme, Eco Scheme and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability Scheme applications for our client base.
  • Carrying out habitat assessment and giving expert advice to clients participating in the ACRES Scheme.
  • Taking soil samples for our clients participating in ACRES
  • Holding discussion groups for clients wishing to participate in the Knowledge Transfer Scheme.
  • Research and deliver presentations for training courses.
  • Delivering training courses for farmers participating in the ACRES Scheme.
  • Completion of TAMS 3 applications.
  • Prepare and deliver reports in a timely manner.
  • Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients, ensuring the client’s needs are met.
  • Ensure client records are maintained and kept up to date.
  • Commit to carry out CPD training as determined by the Department of Agriculture to ensure continued accreditation with FAS.

The Candidate

  • Potential Candidates MUST hold a Level 8 Bachelor in Science in Agriculture Science or equivalent i.e. Animal/ Crop Husbandry and Soil Science Modules completed as part of their Level 8 Degree)
  • Potential Candidates who have completed the required FAS Training with the Department of Agriculture will be prioritised for this position over potential candidates who do not have the FAS training completed.
  • The candidate MUST hold a full driving licence and have access to their own transport.

All interested candidates applying for the position, should forward a Cover Letter, their CV and Proof of Modules Completed as part of their Level 8 Degree to yourcommonage@gmail.com using TG24 - Agricultural Consultant as a reference in the subject bar of the email by close of business the 31st  of January 2024.

Friday 27 January 2023

                                           Farm Advisor Position Available.


Tirglas Farm Advisors are a large farm advisory agency with clients from Wicklow to Kerry to Sligo. We specialise in supporting farmers in Natura designated areas and in commonage. We currently have a requirement for experienced farm advisors to work in our Claregalway office. This position requires FAS and ACRES approval. Pay will be commensurate with experience, a generous package will  be available to the right applicant.

To apply please send a CV and covering letter to yourcommonage@gmail.com. Applications must be made before February 26th. If you have any questions regarding this post please e mail them to us and we will get back to you.This is an opportunity to work with one of the most innovative farm advisory agencies in the country. 

Wednesday 5 February 2020


Farm Health & Safety- Slurry Management

Open & Closed Periods
As many of you are aware in 2019 the closed period for chemical fertiliser started on the 15th of September15th of October for slurry & farm yard manure on the 1st of November. This meant that chemical fertiliser could not be spread after the 15th of September, slurry after the 15th of October and farm yard manure after the 1st of November. When it comes to the open period for putting out slurry, chemical fertiliser or farm yard manure, Ireland is split into three zones. The three zones with the according areas and open period dates are listed below;

Zone A- 12th of January
Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford & Wicklow

Zone B- 15th of January
Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Sligo & Westmeath

Zone C- 31st of January
Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Antrim, Fermanagh, Derry, Down, Tyrone & Armagh

As of the 1st of February all zones are cleared to spread chemical fertiliser, slurry & farm yard manure according to the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. Farmers are reminded to not just keep an eye out for dry weather to spread slurry but for heavy rainfall postpone applying slurry, to avoid the risk run off. Slurry should be spread initially on paddocks with low grass covers and paddocks with low Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K) levels identified through soil sampling. Farmers are also advised to use protected urea this spring when applying chemical fertiliser to avoid the risk of leaching.

Health & Safety
Farmers are also reminded of the dangers around the opened period which they often forget to consider. Drowning and gas poisoning are the two major health and safety problems associated with slurry, it not only affects the farmers but the children and elderly are particularly at risk. In the period 2000-2010, 30% of child fatal accidents on farms were caused by drowning in slurry or water. In the same period 8% of deaths to elderly farmers were caused by drowning. Now with slurry spreading season underway farmers need to raise their awareness levels with their family and friends and remain vigilant to the risks involved in slurry spreading. 

It is very important to note that smell is no indicator of the absence of gas, as many gases are odourless. Hydrogen sulphide has a 'rotten egg' smell at low levels, but cannot be smelt at higher levels. High levels can be released when slurry is agitated. One breath or lung-full at this level causes instant death.  

Always Obey Safe Agitation Guidelines, these include;
  • Always agitate on windy days.
  • Remove all livestock from slatted shed before agitating.
  • Keep pets under control and away from the working area.
  • Open all doors to slatted sheds.
  • Control access to slatted sheds where slurry is being agitated.
  • Agitate/ Ventilate and stay away for 30 minutes.
  • Work upwind at all times.
  • Never enter a slurry tank, even if it is empty.
  • Keep tank openings secure at all times and control access.
  • If at all possible for the safety of yourself never agitate alone.
  • If the above point is not possible, make sure your phone is charged fully and tell someone where you are and how long you will be gone for.
Some of the information in this article was obtained from the Health & Safety Authority's Website.

For more information on Health & Safety when working with slurry, please follow the below link; 

Thursday 9 January 2020



Sheep Census Reminder 2019

All sheep flock owners are reminded to submit their Sheep Census for 2019. As part of Article 7.2 of EU Regulation 21/ 2004, all sheep flock owners are required to complete their Sheep Census form annually, on a date that is determined by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM). The date for the 2019 Sheep Census is Tuesday 31st of December 2019, so all sheep present on the farm at this date must be recorded on the Census form.

Flock owners are required to;
  1. Count the number of sheep present  in your flock on the specified date.
  2. Record this number in your flock register.
  3. Record the number of sheep on the Census form and return post to Sheep Census, Seefin Data Management, PO Box 17, An Post, Cahirdown, Listowel D.S.U, Co Kerry.
  4. Alternatively farmers can record and complete their Sheep Census online with DAFM using www.agfood.ie.
  5. The Sheep Census forms must be returned before Friday 31st of January 2020.
N.B The only acceptable proof of postage acceptable to the DAFM is a Registered Post Receipt.

If you require any assitance with filling in the Sheep Census Form, call into our office or alternatively you can give us a call on 091-738900


Monday 25 November 2019

Basic Payment Scheme 2020
   We are near the end of 2019 with the DAFM making payments for the BPS Scheme with the next round of payments starting in the first week of December.
For all who use donkeys passports to claim the ANC payments for 2019 and previous years there is a change coming in 2020 as stated in the DAFM  BPS terms and conditions for 2019.
The big change will be that if you use only donkey passports in the past you can only use them to account for 50% of the land area from 2020 onwards. For example if your minimum stocking rate of 0.15LU per hectare which is the equivalent to 4 donkeys from 2020 on wards you can only us 2 donkey and 2 other LU's from cattle and or sheep. You can also use breeding ponies provided that a mare had a foal in 2019.
Now is the time to plan for 2020 in regard to eligibility for the ANC payment. If your herd number for cattle and or sheep is dormant you may have to fill a form to reactivate it. Remember as per the above example of needing to replace 2 LU with either bovines or ovines which is equivalent to 2 cows, 3.33 cattle under 2 or 14 ewes/hoggets. These numbers are for the full year and if you plan to follow having cattle for only seven months only then you will have to carry more so that the minimum for the year is 0.15LU/ha.
If in doubt of these requirements please contact our office at (091) 738900

Thursday 18 April 2019