SHARING OPTIONS: About 30% of farmland in Ireland is classed as heavy or poorly drained and a further 50% is classed as marginal. \ Craig Stephen For the last 10 years, the Teagasc heavy soils programme has been working with commercial dairy farmers to chart a path for dairy on heavy soils. About 30% of farmland in Ireland is classed as heavy or poorly drained and a further 50% is classed as marginal. These soils tend to be located in high rainfall areas, which exacerbates the issue and makes farming these soils even more difficult. There are 10 farmers in the programme – two in Cork and Kerry and one each in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Mayo, Monaghan and Cavan.