The National Ploughing Championships is one of the events that Teagasc will cut its spending on as a result of a reduced budget in 2026.

Teagasc said that in order to “manage a €3.8m non-pay grant reduction in 2026”, it will “reduce PR and event budgets” including “open days, Bloom and the National Ploughing Championships”.

In addition, it will reduce its Teagasc Walsh Scholar numbers by 20, leaving 30 positions available for the graduate research programme.

ADVERTISEMENT

To increase income, its advisory and education fees have increased this year, while cleaning, catering and travel costs are reduced, as well as agricultural contracting, repairs and maintenance.

Print newsletters have been halted and issues of Today’s Farm and T-Research have also been reduced in a bid to curtail costs.

Teagasc expenditure in 2025 was €249m, some €3m (1.2%) greater than in 2024.

Commenting on the cuts, Teagasc said it is “committed to identifying and implementing efficiencies and reforms that reduce expenditure, while at the same time protecting the advisory, education and research programmes”.

“The new Teagasc statement of strategy 'Innovating for Impact' sets out an ambitious programme of research, advice and education to create impact at farm and industry level and support science-based policy,” it said.

No overspends

When asked if there was an overspend in the research area of the authority, the spokesperson said that all business areas in Teagasc are to work with a reduced budget.

"Teagasc’s grant in aid in 2026 was considerably less than requested in the estimates process and, therefore, all areas of the organisation are operating with less budget.

"Every business unit of the organisation operates within an allocated budget which is reviewed at mid-year, including income targets and, therefore, significant overspends do not occur."