Philip Cosgrave elected BGS President 2023

The role at BGS is a voluntary one, undertaken to support the grassland farming industry and with over 18 years working in agriculture, Philip is ideally placed to take up the role.

“In my role at Yara, I provide grassland agronomic guidance and advice,” says Philip.

“I also cover complementary crops such as forage brassica’s and maize for example. My focus is on nutrient management: we always want to make sure we’re utilising them effectively so crops can grow without waste or inefficiency.”

Philip’s interest in crop nutrition and soil health has seen him work in agricultural businesses all over the world, including in Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. Now, he lives in Ireland – where he originally grew up on the family beef and sheep farm. In addition to his degree in Animal Science and MSc, Philip is also a FACTS qualified advisor and holds a Certificate in Crop Nutrition Management from Teagasc.

Since 2016, Philip has been Yara’s champion for healthy and sustainable grassland. He is passionate about improving nutrient use efficiency in a way that benefits farmers and the environment, all while recognising the importance of advice that recognises each farmer’s individuality.

“I’ve got a good deal of experience covering lots of different farming types and soils,” says Philip.

“No two farms are the same. There’s no sense in saying we need to do things a certain way every time. Every farmer does things slightly differently. What I aim to provide is bespoke advice and information that helps farmers get the most from their crop and fulfil their growing potential.”

This breadth of experience but specialism in grassland farming makes Philip ideal for his role at the British Grassland Society and he’s excited to be able to contribute to the grassland industry which has been his focus all his professional career.

“I’ve long supported BGS because I see great value in its contribution. For grassland farmers to have independent organisations such as BGS who bring together experts with a wide range of experience, but all focused on grassland agronomy means that farmers have access to new advice and guidance together with research and trial results to support any improvements they may want to make in order to become more efficient and maximise their profit margins.”