West Cork Farming | Autumn | 2022

West Cork Farming

ON the following pages you’ll nd lots of news, views, information and advice regarding all things agricultural in West Cork and beyond.

We pro le two local women competing at the National Ploughing Championships and we speak to local business people who make the annual pilgrimage to the championships.

We have some great tech tips, take a look at Farm Zero C in Shinagh, pro le a local family with a long history of horse breeding and we take a look at the crisis facing the West Cork shing community.

All this, a look at West Cork farming life in photos and lots, lots more.

Here in e Southern Star we truly value and support our local farming community, and we endeavour to re ect this, not only in this magazine, but also in our extensive agricultural coverage in the main paper every week, online, and in the prestigious and hugely popular West Cork Farming awards.

We ask that you support our wonderful West Cork farming community, and indeed the environment, by choosing to source your produce locally. We also ask that you also extend that support to our advertisers who provide a complete range of products and services to West Cork farmers. ank you.

– e Southern Star team

If you’d like to advertise in a future edition of this magazine or in the Farming section of the newspaper please contact our o ces on 028-21200 or email advertising@southernstar.ie

FRIDAY: Cattle, Calf

Sale in Ring 1 at

Sale Ring 1 at 11. 15am.Intake open

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Farm Succession - Is it time to get everyone around the table?

How to Start Your Succession Plan

Succession Planning

In looking at succession planning, many people look at the tax issues before looking at the main issues.

Tax should facilitate the succession rather than drive it.

GIVEN the rising age profile of Irish farmers, it is worrying that so few have a formal succession plan. This not only puts farmers’ own financial security at risk, but it also potentially lines up problems for their families and successors.

Succession is about securing the farm’s future and bringing about a sustainable income for both the re tiree and the next generation, so it is a good idea to get everyone around the table to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.

Communicating this openly is im portant as is communicating it early within the process.

As with all business decisions, the starting point for succession plan ning is clarifying your objectives. Do you want to continue to be involved in the farm? Have you a successor in mind? Have you clarified your family’s wishes? Asking your accountant or agri-advisor to chair a family meeting can be a good way to tease matters out and ensure that the decisions you make are not overly influenced by emotional factors.

Ifac’s 10 steps for successful succes sion:

• Clarify your goals.

• Collect and analyse the information.

• Assess your farm’s viability.

• Explore your family options.

A key decision will be whether the transfer of your business will take place during your lifetime or after your death. Your accountant will explain your options and help you choose which is best for your business.

• Liaise with your team of profes sional advisors.

• Make decisions.

If you decide on a lifetime transfer, you will need to protect your personal financial security and ensure that you

• Develop and implement your plan.

• Review your plan at least once a year.

will have adequate retirement income for you and your spouse/partner.

business.

66, the relief is restricted to €3m.

• Review and update your Will.

• Ensure that the incoming genera tion to farm is happy with this plan.

Now you know the steps, what are the other considerations?

You can then decide what provision to make for your children. Remember a site can be given by a parent to a child tax-free provided the site is less than an acre and valued at less than €500,000.

Retirement

Decide when you plan to retire and how much, or little, you want to be involved in the business.

Suitable and Willing Successor

The Income Tax impact of your plan on both you and your successor will need to be reviewed. Factors that can affect this include off-farm earnings, whether you intend to continue to draw an income from the farm, and so on.

You then need to look at the impact of capital taxes:

Once you identify who you want to take over, a timeline of when this will happen should be created. No Successor? Other options include skipping a generation, a part nership or even selling out.

Viability

Capital Acquisitions Tax (33%) is charged to the transferee how ever subject to satisfying certain conditions, Agricultural Relief can eliminate this liability.

Evaluate if the business can provide adequate income for both the retir ees and the new generation.

Stakeholders

Capital Gains Tax (33%) is charged to the transferor. If you are aged under 66 and passing the farm to a family member, CGT relief is unlimited provided you satisfy the relevant conditions. If you are over

Consult with your family, employees and any other relevant parties to the

Don’t lose a slice of your farm.

Making sure everyone understands the plan early on is crucial to a seamless succession. Be sure to seek professional advice to ensure you are maximising your structure and planning.

Documents

The rules are more complicated for transfers outside the family. There is a cumulative lifetime cap of €70,000 on the amount of tax relief that a young trained farmer can claim for stamp duty relief, stock relief and the succession farm partnerships tax credit.

Have your Will, Enduring Power of Attorney and Living File in a se cure place and ensure others know where to find them.

Contingency

For transfers after death, only Cap ital Acquisition Tax is payable. The rate is 33% on amounts received above a certain threshold. For parent to child transfers, the threshold is €335,000.

Allow for unanticipated events such as divorce, illness, accident, death or disaster.

Have you considered insurance cover for any of the above?

Conclusion Succession is a tough task but is something that if addressed properly and if taken time all the challeng es can be met.

Regardless of how and when you intend to transfer the farm, once you know your objectives, you can docu ment a sensible succession plan that will protect you, your family and your business. You will then need to update your Will to reflect the decisions you have made. Con tact Gearoid Condon in ifac’s Bandon office today for an initial chat to get the ball rolling.

ACCOUNTANCY | PLANNING | ADVICE

Call us today to create your Succession Plan.

With over 40 years’ experience, we understand that every succession story is unique.

To plan ahead and secure peace of mind for you, your family and your farm’s future, contact our specialist team of advisors today.

us on 023 884 1785 or visit www.ifac.ie

Ploughing is about people

Dylan Mangan talks to some seasoned attendees of the national ploughing championships about why the event means so much to them and why they’re looking forward to returning this year

WEST Cork people heading to this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois have said that it’s ‘the most important event of the year’.

Organisers are expecting over 300,000 visitors to the event, which is back for the rst time since the Covid-19 enforced cancellations of recent years.

Glenilen Farm have been going to the ploughing for as long as they can remember, and say they always have a great time.

Ruth Hurley, sales and marketing executive, is organising their stall for the rst time this year and told e Southern Star’s West Cork Farming magazine that the best thing about the weekend is meeting new people.

‘We haven’t had many chances to meet people face to face in recent years so we’re looking forward to going.’

Glenilen will be showcasing their ke r yoghurt and are looking forward to providing consumers with more information on their agship products.

For Colette Twomey, owner of Clonakilty Blackpudding, the ploughing is an annual outing.

‘We’ve been there for about 25 years, going from the early days,’ she said.

‘It’s very important, where else do you get to meet so many people together in one place?’

Even though her company is a household name, the event is still important to Colette.

‘It’s a great platform to launch products and to showcase other products we have.’

Her favourite part? ‘Engaging with people – that’s what it’s all about.’

A bonus for this year is Ireland’s hosting of the World Ploughing Championships at the same time, which was originally due to take place in Russia. It means a bigger in ux of people from overseas.

‘It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and even overseas buyers, not just from Europe but across the world,’ Jill Turner, sales manager for Carbery Plastics told West Cork Farming magazine.

e three-day event is the biggest on the calendar for Car-

bery, who have a stand in Ratheniska every year. is year’s will be manned by four people at a time, such are the crowds expected.

‘We’re massively excited about it,’ said Jill. Carbery will be launching a new liquid fertiliser transport tanker at the event, which Jill says is ‘a major shop window for our brand and to showcase new products.’

‘ e best thing about it is the chance to explain products to people. It’s very di erent being able to actually see what you might be buying in person.’

Kevin O’Neill, owner of O’Neill Ballinadee Engineering is no di erent. ‘We’ve been going for at least 20 years now,’ he said. ‘It’s the most important event of the year.’

Kevin’s company released a new hand yard scraper just before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and this will be the rst time they get to showcase it.

‘It’s longer lasting and easier to push than anything that was on the market,’ he said. ‘It’s been selling well but it will be great to be able show it in person and to introduce ourselves.’

While the main attraction for many businesses going to Laois next week is the opportunity to meet potential customers, for Clonakilty’s Jer Coakley it’s all about the art of ploughing. ‘I love it,’ he said. ‘Getting to see competitors from all over the country is great and there’s good competition in my class.’

Jer is no stranger to the ploughing, having attended from a young age. ‘I’d say I was in a buggy!’ he told West Cork Farming of his rst time going. ‘My Dad ploughed and we’re a big ploughing family.’

‘I’ve been competing since 2002 and haven’t missed a year since.’

Revenge may be on the cards next week – Jer came second in the recent European Championships behind Dan Donnelly of Wexford.

‘I’ll give it my best. It’s very important to get a good plot.’

While the addition of the world championships means people will be travelling to Ratheniska from all over the world next week, West Cork’s ngerprints will be all over the festivities as always.

From top: Pio Ronan, Jill Turner, Liam Delahunty, Jo Cahalane and Vicky O’Hara of Carbery Plastics; Colette Twomey of Clonakilty Blackpudding and Jer Coakley, ploughman, Clonakilty.

Firmly in the

In the lead up to the National Ploughing Championships, Niamh Hayes meets two young women who will be flying the flag for West Cork in Ratheniska

2019. Katie spent the first couple of springs ploughing at home, building up experience as she was too young to get her tractor licence to compete.

‘For as long as I can remember, I always enjoyed being outdoors watching the machinery pass and being offered a spin. I’m from a family with generations of farming so it was natural for it to be in my blood,’ says Katie.

Katie lives on a tillage farm in Castlefreke and her dad is an agri-contractor. There was no specific moment when her interest in farming was sparked, it’s just the way she grew up. ‘There’s always a variety of work going on. During summers, I help out when I can by driving the silage harvester or driving a tractor and trailer.’

Katie and her family have visited the National Plough ing Championships many times over the years.

‘While lots of people go to see all the trade stands, we were always the ones to spend the day watching the ploughing.’

The Hayes’ bought their plough at the beginning of

‘As soon as I turned 16, I immediately went to get my tractor licence, but Covid started and everything shut down so we had to put competition ploughing on hold. Once there was sight of matches taking place again, we started to practice and learn the technical side of it.’

Katie took part in her first ploughing match just last November and she is already heading for national level.

‘I was thrown in at the deep end being against the clock and having spectators was for sure some extra pressures to get used to. The fact that I won was a major encouragement to continue ploughing.’

Being an accomplished coastal rower, Katie is hoping that her experiences of competing at local, county, and national level in sport will calm any nerves.

‘I never expected to get this far in my first year com peting so I’m very grateful and looking forward to the experience.’

‘I will spend as much time as I can practicing before going to Laois. I will mainly be practicing in our fields at home. I’m extremely grateful for the help I’m getting, from dad’s work on setting up the plough to Stanley and Marion, who have put a lot of time into the training and technical side of it.’

So, what is it about ploughing and farming that Katie enjoys?

‘It’s an escapism. On the day of a match, all that is on my mind is the plough, the plot and doing the best that I can. From starting ploughing, I’ve met lots of people who I would never have otherwise met.’

‘I love being outdoors. Especially during the school year, it’s a chance to get away from the books.’

Katie has just started sixth year and studying agricul tural science in college is something she has in mind, but she wants to see how the year goes for her first.

We wish both Katie and Ellen the best of luck in their respective categories at the National Ploughing Champi onships.

KATIE Hayes from Castlefreke will be competing in the National Novice Conventional Plough Class, Senior. It will be the 18-year-old’s first time competing at such a level.

driving seat

(Photo: Donie Hurley)

ELLEN Nyhan from Ballinspittle will compete in the Farmerette Conventional Plough Class. She grew up on her family’s farm and some of her fondest childhood memories are of being outdoors helping out on the farm with her dad Jimmy, mum Rose, brother Noel and sister Deirdre.

‘Dad always brought us out on the yard, and we’d go for spins on the tractor and helped out with feeding the animals. I particularly loved helping with the livestock side of things,’ says Ellen.

She learned how to drive the tractors around the fields at home and got her license when she turned 16.

‘I actually used to drive the tractor to The Speckled Door restaurant where I worked during the summers until I got my own car, but it was great experience getting used to driving out on the roads.’

Ellen has been going to the National Ploughing Cham pionships for as long as she can remember.

‘It’s basically our annual holidays. My family love going every year whether someone in the family is competing or just going up to support the rest of the Cork West team.’

Ellen began ploughing in 2016, as soon as she got her tractor licence. ‘I suppose the driving force behind it all was my father who’s been ploughing since 1988 and he actually won an All-Ireland in previous years. Growing up I remember being at all the qualifying matches here around West Cork.’

‘He really knows his stuff. He coaches my brother also and it’s really nice to see a father-daughter and father-son dynamic.’

Ellen’s mother Rose also took up ploughing and has represented Cork West at the Ploughing Championships.

‘I always loved watching my mother competing and just watching the farmerette class in general, as the num ber of females back then in ploughing was very scarce compared to males, so it was just fascinating to watch.’

Ellen took part in her first match shortly after taking up ploughing. ‘Prior to this I had never turned a sod be fore or did any adjustments on the plough so you could say I was thrown into the deep end.’

To date, Ellen has competed in four All-Irelands and has made it to the top three in each one.

Her brother Noel will also be competing at this year’s

Championships in the U21 Class, and she says it’s only a matter of time before her sister Deirdre takes to it.

‘I mostly enjoy the fact I’m following in my father and mother’s footsteps, getting the next generation involved, and now that my brother and sister are also heavily involved, shows the genuine interest in it. We enjoy it and all three of us have done so since a very young age and we just want to make our parents proud.’

‘I love encouraging other younger people, especially young women, to get involved if they can, but I mainly just love representing the Cork West division and my local club, Kilbrittain Ploughing Association, which I am very lucky to be involved in and I get great support, encouragement and help from them.’

While Ellen has just started into her final year in col lege where she is studying Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, she plans to spend as much time as possible practicing in the lead up to the Championships.

‘You honestly cannot practice enough for it. Practice makes perfect, and it does pay off in the end,’ concludes Ellen.

From the smallest gadget to the biggest machines – think about your tech

BY DYLAN MANGAN

FOOD production is as important as ever, with the world’s population projected to reach close to 10 billion by 2050, according to the UN. is means that farming and agriculture need to increase production while also staying wary of the perils of climate change and reducing emissions.

Technology, both present and future, will provide the tools for farmers to be able to deliver in increasingly di cult conditions.

With that in mind, we have put together a list of products – big and small, complex and simple – which use technology to make farmers lives easier and improve productivity on farms across West Cork.

1. ZENADRONE

Drones are becoming increasingly popular for use on farms.

Using a robust drone to quickly survey land can save time over walking the land yourself.

Drones have been helping a new generation of farmers automate crop spraying and seeding, monitor and inspect crop growth and improve farming e ciency, leading to increased output, and maximising productivity.

ZenaDrone is one such device which, according to its manufacturers, can help alleviate some of the problems caused by a lack of labour, especially in tillage farming.

According to their website, the drone’s functionalities can ‘streamline inspection and monitoring processes, save eld technicians from hazardous work, reduce workforce and operational costs, automate and perform tasks e ciently, and complete tasks that may be di cult or impossible for humans to do.’

It is an expensive outlay at €55,000. at does include the price of the drone, charging pad, set up, and training, based on guidelines from the Irish Aviation Authority.

ere are more a ordable options available in the €1001,000 range – perfect for when you need to quickly nd a missing animal.

2. AUTOMATIC PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER

Sometimes the best gadgets are the one which – on paper at least – are not the most exciting.

Every farm will have mounds of paper towels and rags to clean or dry yourself o with, and dirt can get everywhere.

An automatic hand towel dispenser has the potential to be a lifesaver on the farm. In the search for e ciency, something as simple as not having to worry about tearing paper with wet hands can really make a di erence, as it can be infuriating.

e Tork Matic dispenser comes in at just over €200 and will make a small task hassle-free.

put them through crushes. According to the manufacturers, it is 95% accurate, and could be a way to improve e ciency on the farm.

A small optical device, about the size of a matchbox, attaches to the back of a smartphone via a magnetic plate plugging into the phone.

A picture is taken of an animal by the operator who then draws lines over the image to match key measuring points, at which point the system starts estimating the animal’s weight.

Age, breed, sex, and condition score are added, and the so ware calculates a weight, which can be added to an excel spreadsheet.

Prices range from €395 for the lite version to €695 for the pro model.

3. BEEFIE

Weighing cattle is important but can o en be time-consuming. Bee e is a digital/optical device which allows you to estimate a cow’s weight without having to

4. TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES

Touchscreen gloves are life-changing and can save you from the cold while also allowing you to use the phone.

So much of what we all do takes place in our smartphones, and they are essential for farmers now. ere are a whole host of apps used to manage various aspects on the farm, but what use are they on a cold day if you have to keep taking o gloves to use them?

is is an inexpensive and simple piece of technology and clothing which farmers can’t live without.

A good pair should only cost €10-15 and last for years.

5. JOHN DEERE’S AUTONOMOUS TRACTOR

Self-driving cars are fast becoming a possibility thanks to Tesla, and now John Deere are following suit with their autonomous tractor.

e machine combines the company’s 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plow, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. e tractor’s six pairs of stereo cameras detect obstacles and distance and continuously check its position relative to a geofence.

In other words, all you will have to do is bring the tractor to a eld, set it up and let it do its thing.

Revealed earlier this year, the manufacturers say that it is ready for large scale production and could be a game-changer for farmers going forward.

6. SOIL SENSORS

Data is having an increasingly large impact on how farmers go about their work, allowing them to understand how and where they need to change what they are doing. With that in mind, soil sensors are an essential piece of kit. Murata has introduced a highly accurate three-in-one soil sensor for data-driven sustainable agriculture.

By simultaneously monitoring the electrical conductivity, water content and temperature of the soil, the sensor enables farmers to maximize the yield and quality of crops while reducing water and fertiliser use.

As climate change continuously a ects weather and how soil behaves going forward, it’s important to know what changes need to be made, and a soil sensor provides you with all the information you need.

It’s in the bloodlines

Niamh

INTEREST in horse farming in West Cork is growing year on year, but it is certainly not a new industry. Some families have been involved in it for generations, including the Burchill family from Castlehaven, who recently featured on RTÉ’s series, Horse Country.

Deirdre Burchill is 22 years old. It was her grandfather’s work with horses that

sparked her own love a air with the animals, but her family’s involvement with them goes back even further than that.

‘My father has memories of his grandfather introducing Irish Draughts to plough the land’, says Deirdre.

Deirdre’s father John is therefore the third generation of his family to work with horses, and it was his own father,

Sammy, who started into the breeding business.

‘My grandfather Sammy started the breeding side of things. He bred purebred Irish Draughts and laid the foundations for us. He really is the backbone of all our bloodlines’.

‘Our current Irish Draught mare is the great granddaughter of the original mare Sammy started o with! is makes you feel really connected to your ancestors’, says Deirdre.

A er growing up around the breeding of horses, her dad John diversi ed the breeding and changed route to breeding Irish sport horses to keep up with the change in the market.

As well as breeding, the family also take part in Horse Showing. Deirdre won her rst show when she was just two years old.

together to make sure the horses and the horse business still thrives.

‘We love working with the horses, but we all have to have a safety net behind us’.

While the prospect of working with horses full-time seems like a lovely lifestyle, Deirdre thinks things are working better the way they are.

‘Now it’s lovely. It’s not too serious. If we became full-time, there would be more pressure. I think it would become more of a chore rather than a passion’.

‘For instance, last weekend I was working my part-time job in the Church Restaurant until 11.30pm, got home at midnight and the alarm was going o at 5am to get the horses ready for two shows. I only do that because I love it. I think if we had to do it all the time that it wouldn’t be enjoyable anymore’.

‘

ere’s a photo framed in the sitting room of me at my rst show. e jacket is down to my ankles, the helmet is nearly covering my face. I was thrown up on the horse and won! From then on, I haven’t missed a summer season’.

Although being involved with horses means there is always something to do, John works full-time in construction. His wife Kerry works too. Deirdre has just nished college and her younger sister Emma, who is also involved with the horses, is in school. But they all come

‘We all do our jobs and then the horses are a way to socialise. We meet so many people through them and it’s great fun. I think I’ll stick with going down the same route as dad; being involved for the love of them, rather than it becoming a chore’.

Deirdre is the eldest of ve children. Although they all did horse-riding as kids, her three brothers never caught the bug. ey got involved in other sports instead. But Deirdre and 12-year-old Emma are ying the ag high for the family.

So, how do they t the horses in around their busy lifestyles?

Deirdre Burchill from Castlehaven, with ‘Honey’, one of the Burchill family’s foals, in a scene from the RTÉ series Horse Country.

‘You have to accommodate them. You can’t make them wait for food just because you’re busy’.

‘It’s not too bad in the winter because they are out on grass. From March onwards, we are preparing for show season, so the horses have to come in as they have to be maintained to a higher standard’.

Show season usually starts around May and continues right up until September, with a show every weekend. Come the autumn, they have a great family routine going.

‘Dad is up at six to feed them and let them out if the weather is good. Emma goes to school and when she comes home, she is straight up to the yard until ve or six and then she starts her homework. Mum always helps too’.

Deirdre herself just nished studying Law and Business in UCC. While living in Cork, she came home on a Friday and stayed until Monday morning, so the weekends were her time to chip in. ‘Whatever we’re doing, it works!’ e shows themselves can be hard to crack, but the Burchill family have had many successes over the years.

‘When I was 12, I had a really good pony. He won nearly every day out. Emma now has one that is very reliable. Dad too won many shows over the years’.

‘We’d be really minding a show horse from March onwards, thinking it’s a great one. en we’d go to the rst show, and it could come last. It’s all down to the judge’s opinion. But that means that

everyone has a chance because the judges always di er’.

Although winning at the big shows is great, Deirdre loves the local ones just as much.

‘If you win a championship in Leap, it’s nearly better than winning anything big up the country because all the locals are there and there’s great support’.

e family recently featured in three episodes of RTÉ’s Horse Country series. It was lmed last summer, and Deirdre says none of it was staged.

‘We became friends with the producer, Kate O’Callaghan, and she’d be chatting away to us, asking us questions and we wouldn’t even realise that the cameras were rolling, it was all very natural. What you’re watching on tv is what really happens on a day-to-day basis’.

It’s now the time of year when the horses have nished up their show season, have come home, got rugged and put outside for the coming months, before it all kicks o again next spring. In the meantime, Deirdre says they might get a notion come November when they’re bored to take to hunter trials or other winter events, but they’ll just wait and see.

‘ ose events are a di erent ball game altogether, but I do know we’ll take part in local chevals and charity rides’, says Deirdre.

e Burchill family feature in episodes one, two and ve of Horse Country. Catch up now on the RTÉ Player.

Top: John Burchill, whose father Sammy started breeding the Irish Draught horses whose bloodlines continue in the family’s stables to this day. Above: Emma Burchill with her pony ‘Joey’ in a scene from Horse Country.

2022 In association with Who will win this year’s West Cork Farming Awards?

Young Farmer of the Year Award | Diversification Award | Dairy Farmer of the Year Award | Drystock Farmer of the Year Award | Hall of Fame Award | Farming Family Award

All will be revealed at our Gala Awards lunch on Friday, Oct 7th at e Celtic Ross Hotel

SPECIAL GUEST AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Tim Cullinan

President of e Irish Farmers Association

ank you to our sponsors for supporting West Cork Farming and these important awards

BANTRY SHOW

This page, clockwise from above: Farm ers prepare their sheep for judging in the Texal Ram category at the annual agricultural show in Bantry on Septem ber 4th last; Preparing their hoggett rams for showing were John and Jack Buckley from Rathmore, Co Kerry; Liam Carroll, Ballydehob and Robbie Dukelow, Durrus speak with Alan Shan non, Schull and his donkey Ted; Patrick Jones from Burnfort with Junior and Joey Williamson at Bantry show; Sisters Grace and Ella O’Donovan with Katie Lordan and Caitlín Creed with some resting Belgian Blue cattle; Abbie Battles from Drimoleague plays the concertina at Bantry show.

(Photos: David Creedon, Andy Gibson)

This page, clocwise from top left: Preparing to show their beef Shorthorn calves at Bantry show were Zoe and Gemma Salter from Castlehaven; Mikaela Mulcahy from Sneem; Shauna Murphy from Inchigeelagh with her Suffolk sheep; Killian, Maurice, Róisín and six-month-old Sophia taking a break at Bantry show; Alan Jennings and Anthony Whooly watching the sheep judging; Two-year-old Eddie Williamson from Leap on his pony Cindy. (Photos: David Creedon, Andy Gibson)

BANTRY SHOW

Huge problems for fishers –

‘not enough is being done’

BY HELEN RIDDELL

ACCORDING to a 2019 Bord Iascaigh Mhara report, the fishing industry accounts for 40% of the local economy in Castletownbere, yet there are currently 65 boats in the local fleet tied up at the pier unable to fish – a third of the town’s fleet.

The past two years have seen the fleet impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, crippling fuel costs, and decreased quotas. As a direct result of the Trade and Cooperation Agree ment between the European Union and the UK, Ireland is set to lose 26,412 tonnes of quota per year on a phased basis up to 2026, valued at around €43 million. These factors have left many fishers in Castletownbere, Ireland’s largest white fishing port, with no choice but to seriously consider their future in the industry. Many feel that despite var ious schemes such as the Tie Up Scheme and the Decommissioning Scheme, the Irish Government are not giving enough support to the industry.

Patrick Murphy, CEO of the Castletownbere based Irish South and West Fish Produc ers Organisation is adamant that more needs to be done by the Government to ensure the industry has a future. ‘There are huge problems in the Irish fishing industry, but not enough is being done to help. The Government introduced the tie-up scheme, but it’s not enough, it’s like a doctor saying a patient is doing better, but at the end of the day the patient is still on life support.’

The Brexit Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme was recommended by the Seafood Sector Task Force in its June 2021 Interim Report. The Task Force was set up in March 2021 by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue in order to

examine the implications for the Irish fishing industry and coastal communities arising from the Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The aim of the Tie Up Scheme was to mitigate the impacts of quota cuts on the fish ing fleet, by inviting white fish vessels to tie up for a one-month period in return for a payment compensating the loss of fishing income. Under the scheme, vessel owners are required to tie-up at the quayside and cease all fishing activities for that month. Owners are also required to distribute one third of the payment to the crew. Payment rates vary from €4,000 for boats between 10-12 metres to €88,700 for boats from 22-24 metres.

Patrick Murphy said that despite the plight facing fishers in Ireland’s coastal commu nities being highlighted through high-profile protests, which saw flotillas of trawlers from Castletownbere and fishing ports on the south coast head to Cork and Dublin ear lier this year, not enough is being done to ensure the future of the fishing industry for the next generation. ‘Of the total of 529,704 tonnes of fish quota species caught in our waters, only 105,455 tonnes, just 20% are caught by Irish boats, the majority of which are family-owned boats. How can we encourage the next generation to go into fishing when there’s a very real chance there won’t even be a family boat for them to fish from?’

Castletownbere fisherman Daniel Healy, who has been fishing for 29 years, started fishing when he left school, crewing with his father on his boats. He currently fishes from his 20m trawler, the Robyn RJ. ‘I’m a born and bred fisherman. It’s very difficult at the moment, we feel we’re being forced out of the industry. The Government think they’re providing help to the fishing industry, but in reality they’re not, there’s never been any support for us.’ (Continued >>)

A large section of the Castletownbere fishing fleet tied up at the pier which is central to the busy West Cork town.

(Photo: Anne Marie Cronin)

Daniel, who fishes with a crew of four to five, is tying up his boat up for the month of September. ‘I hope to be back fishing in October, but with the cost of fuel at the mo ment, and we’re heading into the winter with the increased chance of bad weather, who knows if and when I’ll be able to head out.’

The current energy crisis means Daniel is now spending up to €1100 on fuel a day. ‘Our average trip could be 4-5 days, so I’ve spent over €5,000 on fuel, before we’ve done any fishing, and then there’s other expenses, food costs and insurance for the boat. I was speaking to the Castletownbere Fishermen’s Cooperative, and they’ve said fuel will go up again before the end of the month.’

Daniel, who has two sons and a daughter feels the future for the Irish fishing industry is very uncertain. ‘We’re out there competing against huge trawlers from the foreign fishing fleets. They have the quotas, and they’re supported by their Governments and have fuel subsidies, compared to them the Irish fishing industry is just a small dot in the ocean.’

Daniel feels that more support is needed. ‘The Irish government needs to do more for us, but it’s getting too late in the day now with fish stocks being depleted.’ He said he is giving serious consideration to availing of the Decommissioning Scheme and leaving the industry. The Decommissioning Scheme, which was launched by Minister McCo nalogue, seeks voluntary decommissioning of boats, making payments based on the of the trawler. ‘I need to look into the paperwork and see if it’s worth my while. It’s not as straightforward as it looks and you’re penalised depending on the size of the boat, and tonnage. Realistically I honestly can’t see a future for fishing in Castletownbere, not for the size of boat I have. Maybe inshore fishing will be all that’s left.’

FISHING

Hooking sea anglers as citizen scientists

ESRI Ireland, the market leader in Geo graphic Information Systems (GIS), and Inland Fisheries Ireland are calling on the community of up to 250,000 recre ational sea anglers in Ireland to play an active role in helping to conserve marine fish stocks. ESRI recently announced that its digital mapping system is being used by Inland Fisheries Ireland to help safeguard fish populations and protect marine ecosystems.

ESRI’s ArcGIS system supports the Irish Marine Recreational Angling Sur vey (IMREC) which aims to estimate sea anglers’ catches along the 3,000km of Irish coastline. Whether they are shore anglers, small boat anglers or charter boat anglers, each member can sign up to access ESRI’s Survey123 web-based app where they can record their catches and angling successes with a personal ised dashboard.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the state agency for protecting, managing and conserving inland fisheries and sea angling resources. To meet its EU data collection requirements around species, locations, and volumes of fish caught annually in European waters, Inland Fisheries Ireland saw a need for a collab orative approach to collate its own data with self-reporting by recreational sea anglers.

Turning anglers into citizen scientists, the easy-to-use app enables anglers around Ireland to gather and upload real-time information from any device about the fish they catch and release. This anonymised information is then automatically transferred to a shared repository, where it can be easily viewed by the anglers and monitored by Inland Fisheries Ireland to identify patterns in the species distribution, volumes and weight of fish caught, and estimated catch rates.

In turn, Inland Fisheries Ireland has greater control over and confidence in the accuracy and consistency of the data collected. The EU is particularly inter ested in data on cod, pollock, sharks, rays, sea bass and highly migratory spe cies such as tuna, but the solution can be configured to capture data on other species too.

Sea anglers of all experience levels can sign up via the Inland Fisheries Ireland website (www.fisheriesireland. ie), and they will also find a quick and easy video guide on how to use the app. September is one of the busiest periods for sea angling around the Irish coast, so

it’s a great time to start recording your catch, according to William Roche, a Senior Research Officer at Inland Fish eries Ireland.

He said: ‘With more anglers collect ing data, we will be able to build up a better picture of the state of fish stocks off Ireland’s coast. ArcGIS will enable us to work with anglers as citizen scientists and crowdsource the large volume of data that we require for EU and national reporting. The personalised dashboards will help to make the recording of data a habitual activity for anglers, and we hope they will enjoy entering their catch data and take pride in their roles as

stewards of the sea.’ Schalk Van Lill, Customer Success Manager, ESRI Ireland: ‘We are de lighted to work with Inland Fisheries Ireland on this project and enable the ongoing monitoring and safeguarding of fish populations. Citizen science like this provides broad spatial coverage all around the coastline of Ireland, enabling Inland Fisheries Ireland to efficiently comply with requirements. The solution can be easily scaled up to accept data uploads from more and more partici pants, allowing Inland Fisheries Ireland to expand the scheme over time.’

Castletownbere fisherman Daniel Healy with his sons Jamie and Ryan on their boat the Robyn RJ. (Photo: Anne Marie Cronin)

Angler Brian Cooke with William Roche, Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland, and Schalk Van Lill, Customer Success Manager at ESRI Ireland, at the announcement that ESRI’s digital mapping system is empowering Inland Fisheries Ireland and the sea angling community to safeguard marine fish stocks.

Grant

CRAG is a pro-farming environmental advocacy group. Our aim is 100% reduction in Agriculture’s carbon footprint.

• We are engaging with the world’s leading climate scientists and legal advisors.

We are undertaking research into emissions, removals, legal issues, and political roadblocks to a fair and just transition for Irish Agriculture Forestry and the Marine.

• We engage with Irish Emissions and Removals experts to bring clarity and accuracy to the climate debate.

• We are engaging with Farming Forestry representative bodies with up-to-date research findings.

CRAG is focused on

• Environmental action-based knowledge in the delivery of sustainable Information and change

Research on the preservation of private property and other rights related to carbon

We are building our ‘Agri-positive’ social media channels of information and research exchange on agriculture’s contribution to climate change

Forest Owners Co-op and Carbon Removals Action Group call on government to agree forest-carbon strategy

‘OVER the past five years forestry farm ing growers in the private sector have been badly treated by the Government – none more so than the present Taoi seach Michael Martin TD.’ Dr Kathryn O’Donoghue told a gathering of farming forestry growers in Cork recently.

Climate change is banging at our door and the forestry sector is being ignored. This was the message from the Forest Owners’ Co-operative (FOCS) spokes person in unison with Carbon Removals Action Group (CRAG) chairperson John Hourigan, a dairy farmer and forester himself. Developments to date by the Department of Agriculture in champi oning farmer forester interests in the volatile climate crisis have engendered an expressed lack of confidence in the gov ernment, beginning with An Taoiseach through to Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue and Minister for Forestry and Land Use, Pippa Hackett.

FOCS AND CRAG, in defending farm er forester interests in relation to carbon have been very vocal in challenging the scientific research around the meas urement of methane and bio-methane emissions from livestock and its impact in terms of climate change.

Dr O’Donoghue stated that it was ‘both essential and long overdue’ that the government set out a credible strategy to provide a clear plan for how forestry and farming entities should have the right to carbon removal credits against their farm emissions.

Nadaline Webster of CRAG said ‘It seems ridiculous that an energy company burning biomass for energy production has their emissions offset against the carbon removals by the forester, but the forester themselves cannot offset emissions against removals on the same plot of land that they own. The decision to split the agricultural sector in two, with the majority of emissions being grouped in one sector and the majority of removals being grouped in another needs urgent questioning in light of the way government ministers are presenting information to the general public around agricultural emissions.’

The Chairman of the Forest Owners Co-op, Michael Greaney in meeting growers in the Munster region over the past months is very clear in his message of ‘forestry being the best land-based en terprise for sequestering and storing car bon from the atmosphere. Science, both national and international, has confirmed this and the processed timber taken out of the woods keeps carbon locked up for generations in buildings and other wood products as well as the natural carbon

cycle such as fabrication fibre, pulp paper, packaging, pellets etc. Mr Greaney went on to stress the fact that carbon trading is now becoming a valuable income stream for growers who took the leap of faith and planted forestry.

John Hourigan and Michael Greaney are jointly campaigning to secure farmer forestry ownership and control of the carbon sequestration capacity of agricul tural land.

The Forest Owners Co-op and the Carbon Removals Action Group are, for the past number of years, working toward a potential solution to what they see as the government’s failure to calculate the cost of carbon. Both organisations have high lighted the fact that continuous learning engagement is important for every farmer and forestry owner and they are asking the Taoiseach, and Minister McCona logue, about their carbon credits and the impediments to using them.

Nadaline Webster stated ‘It’s important to be very clear about what reductions in emissions from agriculture and increas es in forestry and other carbon sinks are intended to achieve. They are not to reduce a contribution to warming from the agricultural and LULUCF (Land Use, Land-use Change and Forestry) sectors but rather to offset continued fossil fuel use in other sectors. It remains to be seen whether the decision to heap

the burden of fixing decades of failed government policy in transport and energy onto a small group of financially vulnerable Irish citizens is either fair or in compliance with Constitutional protec tions.’

‘The Paris agreement is a temperature goal.’ stated John Hourigan of CRAG ‘The aim is (1) to limit temperature increases to a maximum of 1.5 degrees, and (2) ultimately to have no further impact on temperatures, i.e. to be neutral in our impact on global temperatures.’

At a recent Oireachtas hearing, one of the world’s leading climate scientists, Professor Myles Allen of Oxford Univer sity told the government that, for biogenic methane to be neutral in its effects on global temperatures, we must reduce methane by 0.3% p.a. or 3% over 10 years. At the same hearing Prof Barry McMullen of DCU, founder and first chair of the An Taisce Council on Climate Change, told the government that biogenic methane must be reduced by 50% over 10 years. The FOCS and CRAG organisations are questioning who the government is lis tening to and what agenda is in play with regard to these differing figures.

At that same Oireachtas hearing, Professor Allen and Dr Frank Mitloehner were asked what would be the effect on the climate if the entire global ruminant population was removed (1 bn domesti

cated and 0.1bn wild)?

‘Over 10 years we would shave a few hundredths of a degree off of global tem peratures. This would be a once off, and masked by the two tenths of a degree rise per decade from CO2.’

Last year Irish Livestock emitted approx. 500,000 tons of methane. Before those animals can emit that methane, they must first take in 54 million tons of car bon dioxide from the atmosphere through the forage they consume. All of this CO2 is returned to the atmosphere. About 2.5% of the CO2 is emitted as methane, and after 10 years converts back to CO2, and the returns to the atmosphere – part of a natural cycle that has been going on for 40 million years.

FOCS and CRAG say that global warming is caused by ‘additional’ carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. It is not being driven by any natural cycle. They are demanding that Irish farmers who own land must be allowed to count removals and emissions all happening on the same parcel of land, that foresters must be allowed to own their carbon removals and get credit for them. The believe that no ‘just transition’ could pos sibly ignore the complete picture of Irish agriculture’s ultimately positive contribu tion to climate change, nor diminish con stitutionally protected private property rights in order to deny this to them.

Forest Owners Co-op Biodiversity Training Day with Sarah the FOCS in-house training manager for members and associate clients.

Eugene Lynch, Bantry, winner of the Class 22 category at the Irish Angus All-Ireland Championship, which took place at the Iverk Show in Piltown, Co. Kilkenny recently.

At a Teagasc 'Swards for the Future' conference and workshop last week in the Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy were speakers Prof Michael O'Donovan, Teagasc; Mary McEvoy, Germinal; Prof Pat Dillon, Teagasc Director of Research; Niall Ryan, DAFM and Luc Delaby, INRA, France. The objec tive of this conference and workshop was to provide an overview of the latest research findings and current best practice in grass-white clover and multi-species swards. The conference provided the first opportunity to view cutting-edge research on mixed species swards, including new species under trial. The development of a rank ing index for clover was also introduced. Advisors, farmers and researchers all shared their experiences, providing excellent opportunities for discussion and learning.

(Photo O’Gorman Photography)

Use waste, make energy

ANAEROBIC digestion has long been used in farming as a way to cut waste, diversify farm revenue, improve energy independence and create a more sustaina ble food production line.

While the process has been in use on farms to convert manure, wastewater biosolids and other organics into biogas and digestate, Clonakilty-based compa ny MyGug are bringing the benefits to homes, schools, restaurants, hotels and beyond with their food waste digester.

MyGug and company manager Fiona Kelleher will be at the upcoming National Ploughing Championships in Rathenis ka, Co Laois to showcase their product, which she says is a ‘climate-friendly way to deal with food waste.’

‘Anaerobic digestion is a well-known process in farming,’ Fiona said. ‘It’s some thing we can harness as we try to off-set fossil fuel use.’

Anaerobic digestion is naturally occur ring and happens in landfills across the country, where methane gas is produced and goes straight into the atmosphere.

Methane is one of the primary contrib utors to climate change and MyGug finds a use for it by converting it into either biogas, which can be used for cooking, or biofertilizer, which can be used on flow ers, food, and crops.

More than 30% of all food is wasted, or 1.3 billion tonnes every year according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organ isation, and if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China.

Fiona says that MyGug is suitable for any smaller business which produces food waste and will be a useful way to cut into rising energy costs.

It’s a clever solution to a problem which has only been exasperated by the current

energy crisis amid the war in Ukraine.

‘In Ireland we are reliant on overseas sources of energy,’ Fiona said. ‘This is a way in which you can remove yourself from that situation.’

‘Our smaller unit can take 1.5kg of food waste per day, which will provide 2 hours of cooking time,’ which could prove popular among restaurants and cafes in the future. The anaerobic digester can also be used to dispose of 99.9% of food waste (hard bones and large fruit stones are not suitable) and is much more effective than composting due to its ability to dispose of cooked foods and liquids, and will pro duce a constant source of fertiliser.

The Ploughing Championships take place in Ratheniska, Laois, from this

ICSA calls for immediate convening of the Sheep Vision group

ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara has called on Minister McConalogue to convene a meeting of the Sheep Vision group as soon as possible to examine what is going on in markets and what is the outlook. ‘Sheep farmers are getting very frustrated at substantial price drops in recent weeks at a time when other markets just seem to be more and more inflationary.’

‘A lot of work has been done to open international markets as well as develop EU markets, but it does not seem to be yielding results for the sheep sector.

At current lamb prices of around €6/kg, there is no profita bility in sheep farming at a time when all input costs have gone off the charts.’

‘Some markets such as the USA, Sweden and other EU des tinations have the potential to deliver significantly improved returns to farmers but there seems to be various reasons why

this is not being developed. Farmers want to know the score and they need better prices. We need to look at how the less intensive, biodiversity friendly system of sheep farming can be better communicated and monetised. The carbon footprint of most sheep farms is low, and this is not being recognised.’

‘ICSA is calling for full engagement from sheepmeat proces sors on this. The sheep processing sector will not be sustain able if sheep farmers here cannot make a profit and already, there are signs of significant culling of ewes. Farmers are also dismayed by the apparent lack of demand from processors but at the same time, there are significant numbers coming in from the North.’

‘We need a good and frank exchange of views in an appropri ate forum rather than shouting outside the gates and the ideal way is through the Sheep Vision group.’

September 20th-22nd, and MyGug’s chief technical officer Kieran Coffey is excited to bring their product to market.

‘We are very much looking forward to

showcasing the technology and flying the flag for innovation and enterprise in West Cork at the National Ploughing Champi onships.’

CTO Kieran Coffey with various sized Mygug systems and a gas bag to his left. Below: a indication of the space required for one of the smaller set-ups.

Sean McNamara, sheep chair of the ICSA. (Photo courtesy of icsaireland.ie)

Kinsale agri-business creates technology for smarter more sustainable farming

BY EMMA CONNOLLY

A KINSALE based provider of smart rumen monitoring systems thinks metrics should switch from biogenic methane reduction and reducing the national herd, to improving animal efficiencies in dairy and meat production.

And Moonsyst International Ltd, which has been cquired by Agri IoT Ltd, secur ing additional investment and expanded its senior management team, is intent on helping farmers in this area.

With sales in Ireland, Europe and North America, Moonsyst are planning to expand in Ireland and globally over the coming years.

The Moonsyst solution presents farmers with an easy-to-use cloud-based technol ogy that monitors all facets of the individ ual animal in real time, while contributing to more sustainable farming practises.

It consists of a rumen bolus sensor and a cloud based data processing application,

with an assisted mobile app. The sensor is swallowed by the animal where it sinks to the bottom of the rumen/stomach and settles in the reticulum for the duration of the animal’s life.

The sensor is capable of multiple phys iological and chemical data monitoring such as pH level, temperature, rumen and body activity and has a lifespan of more than six years. The system can alert farmers of calving, heat, repeats, fever, abnormal water intake and other health related issues allowing the farmer to make more efficient and effective decisions to increase their livestock’s fertility and per formance, while maximising productivity and avoiding potential health problems.

Moonsyst International, co-founder and COO, Desmond Savage said: ‘The Moonsyst Monitoring System collects data from the animal via a communica tion gateway to dedicated cloud-based servers. This means that farmers can access specific information anywhere via

our Mooncloud app. This app works 24/7 to provide accurate information to pro vide the farmer with relevant and timely data on their livestock that is accessible on smartphone, tablet or computer.

‘Automated heat detection and health monitoring systems can reduce time watching your livestock and act as an early warning system with animal heat and health alerts sent directly to your smartphone. With this information to hand, farmers can better understand the health of their animals and optimise the feed conversion rates, which in turn will minimise the biogenic emissions, helping the environment.’

Metrics matter, he said, when it comes to making long term decisions on the future of Irish farming.

‘The current metrics on which the Irish government are basing their decisions, namely biogenic methane reduction and reducing the national herd are wrong, in my opinion. Ireland has the opportunity

to be a leader in high yield sustainable farming practises which will benefit Irish farming families and the wider world, as the demand for animal proteins continues to rise.

More focus needs to be placed on improving animal efficiencies in dairy and meat production. By incentivising farmers to better understand the health of their herd they can optimise feed conversion rates and in turn minimise biogenic emissions and help the environment in the long term. A “quick and fast” solution is never the answer when farming the land or planning for the future, therefore a longer-term sustainable approach is key and Irish farmers are well placed to take the lead on this. With the assistance of Moonsyst, farmers can work smarter and more sustainably and the benefits for the environment and animal health will be seen. This is what the government should be focused on for the continued success of Irish farming.’

Desmond Savage (left) of Moonsyst with Conor O’Leary on his farm in Donoughmore, Co. Cork.

(Photo: Provision)

FARMING LIFE

Above: Taking time out from the busy pace of Bantry Agricultural Show on Sep tember 4th last were Michael Connors, Wexford; Christy O’Neill, Kerry and Johnny Connors, Wexford.

YouTube stars Philip and Derek Stewart (aka Farmer Phil and Father Phil) opened the recent charity working vintage day on the O’Leary Farm in Castleview, Clon akilty. (Photos: Andy Gibson, David Creedon)

The 160-strong herd of dairy farmer DJ Keohane is milked at his farm in Timoleague. DJ's son, Daniel (11) and daughter Clíodhna (15) help with the milking. The parlour holds 20 cows each side and milking is completed within an hour. DJ is currently yielding approximately 20 litres per cow.

Bank of Ireland Launches €100m Agri Assist Loan Fund

Recognising the challenging environment facing farmers, Bank of Ireland launched a €100m Agri Assist loan fund, to support farmers dealing with the rapidly increasing cost of farm inputs such as feed and fertilisers. The fund which is open until the end of November 2022, provides additional working capital to farmers at competitive rates with extended repayment terms of up to 3 years.

With the price of fertiliser tripling over the course of the last year in tandem with feed prices doubling, the Agri Assist loan fund is now open to farmers looking to better manage their farms through a period of high input price inflation and ongoing supply pressures.

With Bank of Ireland’s support farmers can also now apply to the Agri Assist Loan Fund to;

• Finance the cost of growing grass, silage and tillage crops

• Provide funding to pay merchant or co-op bills for feed or fertilizer

• Avail of loans up to €100,000 under a discounted rate

• Set suitable loan terms ranging from 6 months to 3 years depending on need

Bank of Ireland with its dedicated Agri support team will continue to keep the situation on farms under constant review, working with farmers as they enter into the costly winter season.

John Fitzgerald, Agri Manager with Bank of Ireland in the Munster Region said: “Bank of Ireland currently provides more than 50% of new lending to the agri sector, and our primary role is to support and advise farmers on meeting challenges as they arise. There is no doubt that the increasing price

of farm inputs, has placed extra strain on farm cashflows. Given that only one third of farmers currently have borrowings, we have launched the Agri Assist loan fund to ease some of this strain.”

“This €100m fund provides an additional level of support to farmers so that they can ensure they have sufficient cash to manage their farms through the Autumn months. Bank of Ireland is proud to be the first Irish bank to bring this to market, and has worked as part of the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to devise our own practical solution that will help farmers, many of whom may never have taken out a loan up to now. I would encourage farmers looking for assistance to come and talk to us, so that we can explore the steps on offer to enhancing their financial wellbeing.”

John Fitzgerald Agri Manager Munster Bank of Ireland

To find out more, farmers can log onto bankofireland.com/credit/ farm-loans/agri-assist-loan or apply for an Agri Assist loan by calling 0818 210 614

Bank of Ireland Managing your finance

“From an Agri Background .21 years

West

A group attending a recent open day at Farm Zero C, Shinagh, near Bandon.

Ground-breaking work at Zero C

A unique collaboration between academia, farmers and industry partners near Bandon aims to create a viable, climate-neutral dairy farm, writes Tommy Moyles

FARM Zero C, the Science Foundation Ireland-funded project based at Shinagh near Bandon has focused on a holistic approach in its e orts to reduce the overall carbon footprint on the 250-cow dairy farm.

Along with reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving biodiversity and water quality along with lowering ammonia levels are key elements to the success of the venture.

e project, a unique collaboration between academia, farmers, and industry partners aims to create an economically viable, climate-neutral dairy farm. ere’s certainly a diverse cohort of people involved. Academics from Munster Technical University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin get to pool their expertise with West Cork farmers through Shinagh estates and Carbery. State agency, Teagasc is also involved along with two other entities that readers may be less acquainted with. Grassa, a Dutch green bio-re nery company and BiOrbic, a national collaboration of researchers, focused on the development of a sustainable, circular bio-economy.

Gavin Hunt from BiOrbic is project manager of Farm Zero C and he is happy with the early progress.

‘Looking at our most recent carbon footprint from 2021, we have seen a reduction of 18% compared to 2018 when the early stages of the project began. Our key messages to farmers are around maximising what’s available already in order to reduce emissions. Among these methods would be incorporating clover, use protected urea, multi species, low emission slurry spreading, and renewables.’

With air quality, the focus has been on ammonia, it’s not a greenhouse gas but it is an air pollutant. To date ammonia levels on the farm have been reduced by 40% with most of this coming through changes in fertiliser type and slurry management.

Water quality is di cult to measure on individual farms, so the emphasis has been placed on demonstrating best practice guidelines as directed by ASSAP (Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme). Despite the challenges regarding quantifying water quality at farm level, e orts are being made in Shinagh. is year, while the water level was low, ceramic cups were installed at di erent points which will examine potential leached nitrogen from di erent sward types.

Methane from cow’s natural digestive process has been the headline grabber in terms of the climate debate and e orts to try and reduce it form part of the project in Shinagh.

‘At 52%, methane is a big part of our carbon footprint. We’re looking at new technologies that are at an early stage but there’s promising results, particularly from including a feed additive in a TMR (Total mixed ration) showing up to

a 30% reduction. e use of TMR would largely be in systems where cows are housed. e challenge is how we get that working in a grass based system, like we have in Ireland when 99% of the cows are outdoors on grass for most of the day.’

With signi cant progress made to date and various trials occurring on a continuous basis, it can sometimes be forgotten that this is a functioning dairy farm. Working in those circumstances could be tricky for most farms but Gavin was full of praise for the team at Shinagh estates. He said:

‘A lot of credit has to go to farm manager Kevin Ahern and the team here. ere’s a great drive in this collaboration to make the farm more sustainable and we’re pushing an open door in that regard.’

Enda Buckley, head of sustainability with Carbery says:

‘ is is the template for Irish dairy to decarbonise and so far we are doing in a way that’s not impacting the bottom line. What we do here has to be replicable on farms and that’s a very important element of the project.

We had our rst open day recently and the feedback has been very positive. ere’s been so much doom and gloom with how farming is being portrayed in the climate debate and some farmers have become disheartened. I’d like to think when they see what’s happening here, they can see the positives that are possible and should o er encouragement to them on their own farms.’

BIODIVERSITY AND HABITAT

One of the key elements of Farm Zero C is to demonstrate that dairy farmers can make space for nature while being a pro table business. Cian White from Trinity college is ecologist with the project and detailed a number steps taken by the farm to increase its habitat area without impacting on production.

‘We had 7.5% land area as habitat when we started in 2020. at was mostly composed of woodland and lots of hedgerows since then we’ve increased it and the strategy we’ve used is to prioritise win-wins between production and habitat. First of all we focused on non-farmed areas. Any bit of waste or rubble around the farm we attened those and created habitats. By doing that we got 0.2 or 0.3 ha.

A er that we looked at the least productive areas of the farm. We created a new wetland and that is from the wettest part of pasture on the farm. It was wet throughout the whole year, it was rushy and the tractors couldn’t get in. It was essentially a wetland already but it wasn’t being counted, so we just pulled the fence out. at was 0.3ha. Lastly there was a bit of pasture that was rather than reseed that or graze we’re keeping it as a semi natural grassland. It might be cut for silage but it won’t be reseeded and will be a species rich grass land. at gets us to 8.64% and to get to the 10% target, there’s a 0.8ha Sitka spruce plantation which we’re going to convert over to native woodland,

Gavin Hunt is the project manager at Farm Zero C.

Six key elements to the Farm Zero C project

Soil and Soil Carbon

Capturing carbon within the soil by planting multi-species swards. is allows reduction of fertiliser and produces more resilient grass.

Animal Diet and Breeding

Trialling di erent types of diet that change animal digestion, reducing the amount of methane emitted by cows.

Biodiversity

Maintaining and improving biodiversity on the farm and leveraging the natural ecosystem to reduce the reliance on pesticides and fertiliser.

Life-cycle Analysis

Analysing the total environmental inputs and outputs on the farm to understand overall carbon emissions and where savings can be made.

Renewable Energy

Sourcing renewable energy where possible to reduce the farm’s reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

Clover and Multi Species

Trialling multi-species swards to improve productivity and reduce fertiliser use.

Details of

Organic Beef Open Day announced

A NATIONAL Organic Beef Open Day on the farm of John Purcell, Ross, Golden, Cashel, Co Tipperary will take place on Wednesday, 28th September from 10am to 3pm. e open day is jointly organised by Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and will provide all farmers with the opportunity to see an organic beef farm in operation and discuss all aspects of production and marketing of the beef produced on the farm.

e planned organic beef open day was launched on the farm of John Purcell by Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Speaking in Tipperary Minister Hackett said: ‘ e Irish beef industry has a strong reputation, which I believe can only be further enhanced by increasing our Irish organic beef o ering. is will help to stimulate new market opportunities for producers, both at home and abroad.’

Minister Hackett said: ‘As Minister with responsibility for Organic Farming, I have

secured signi cantly increased premium rates for the Organic Farming Scheme and a new participation payment for all scheme members. is enhanced package of measures will help to ensure that the necessary foundational support is there for all farmers who want to go organic.'

Dr Stan Lalor, Director of Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc, joined Minister Hackett in Tipperary to review the plans for the open day. He said: ‘Many stakeholders operating in the organic sector including certi cation, education and retail will be in attendance and will provide a one-stop-shop for farmers to cover all aspects of organic farming, from technical knowledge to education to market development to nancial supports and much more. Teagasc has enhanced its organic specialist and organic advisory teams and they will provide detailed information to all farmers attending on the opportunities.’

Topics for discussion at the open day include beef production systems, organic markets, nancial supports, clover, soil

Pictured at the launch of the open day (L to R) were: Joe Burke, Bord Bia; John Purcell, Host Farmer; Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Dr Stan Lalor, Director of Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc

health, farm buildings for organic beef production, economics, habitats and biodiversity and an organic food village with exhibitors.

e nal part of the open day will feature an open forum to discuss the future of the Irish Organic beef sector.

e date for National Organic Beef Open Day is signi cant, as it is just in

advance of the opening of the next application window for the Organic Farming Scheme in October.

For more information on the open day and to register, visit www.teagasc.ie/ organicbeef22

A video highlighting what will be on show on 28th of September can also be viewed at the link above.

New Fulbright-Teagasc Scholar award launched

POSTGRADUATE students are being en couraged to apply for a Teagasc sponsored Fulbright-Irish Award.

In addition to the existing Ful bright-Teagasc Award, candidates can now also apply for the new Fulbright-Teagasc Scholar and Professional Award which offers the opportunity for a scholar, or pro fessional to research, or lecture at a Higher Education institution, or organisation in the fields of agriculture, food, forestry, or the environment, in the US.

Successful candidates of both awards will receive a monetary stipend, travel costs, accident and emergency insurance, visa administration support, cultural and professional programming, and an intro duction to a vast international professional and academic network.

A webinar event will take place on the Fulbright-Teagasc Awards 2023-2024 on 12th September at 1pm. This informative webinar will be packed full of useful infor mation, giving candidates the opportunity to learn about both Fulbright-Teagasc awards and the application process.

The closing date for both awards is 27th October. For more see fullbright.ie

Supports for AgTech businesses

APPLICATIONS are now open for early-stage ag-tech and agri-food startups with global potential, join UCD’s dedicated accelerator programme.

The 2022 AgTechUCD Agccelerator Programme, commencing this October, is an intensive 12-week programme, which includes dedicated business development workshops and investor readiness training, mentoring from industry experts and business advisors, guest speakers and facilitated introduc tions to AgTechUCD’s venture capital and business angel networks.

Niamh Collins, director, AgTe

chUCD, said, ‘This dedicated pro gramme is tailored to address the particular needs and challenges facing start-ups in these sectors and aims to fast track the business development and leadership skills of participants and to provide them with the support and guidance needed to accelerate their start-ups.’

The programme will conclude next January when all participating start-ups will pitch their businesses to a panel of investors with the opportunity to be awarded prize funding. See ucd.ie for more.

Teagasc Fulbright scholarship winner Conor Hammersley (second from left) with Helen Hammersley, Frank O’Mara, Teagasc director and Joe Hammersley.

At UCD Lyons Farm were: David Bowles, managing partner, The Yield Lab Europe; Dr Jerome O’Connell, co-founder, ProvEye; Niamh Collins, Director, AgTechUCD; Mark Elliott, founder, CropHound and James Maloney, senior development advisor, Agritech, Climate and Sustainability, Enterprise Ireland. (Photo: Nick Bradshaw, Fotonic).

Pictured at the agricultural show at Ballygarvan Co Cork was Jenniffer Sheehy from Ballygarvan taking part in the ewe class. (Photo: Denis Boyle)

Soil Conditioner with Root Stimulant

THE PRODUCT

Soil Surface pH

Soil Health

Nutrient Uptake

Source of Calcium

plant

Grow & Use more Grass

Grass Quality

The answer to high fertiliser prices is under our feet

health is drawn into fo cus as the challenges around fertiliser price and fertiliser limits continue. Irish soils are amongst the most produc tive and healthiest soils in the world, however we can do more to tackle the short, medium and long term chal lenges of Irish agriculture.

The soil contains a large pool of labile nitrogen (N). The labile N can be convert ed from an organic form to a plant available form of N through the process of miner alisation.

Mineralisation is driven by soil biological activity. Studies carried out by Grassland Agro have found that grassland soils across the island of Ireland have on average a store of 350 kg/N/Ha of labile N which could potentially be made available throughout the year.

FERTILISER

The key to unlocking the soils labile N is through opti mising the three pillars of soil health: Soil chemical, physical and biological properties. Soil chemistry is the representa tion of a soils fertility using soil pH and Morgan’s soil test. It is important that soil pH is maintained as is the single major factor dictating overall soil health. Soil biology can now be tested by using the Bioscan Solvita test.Soil struc ture can be assessed using the Grass VESS method.

Grassland Agro have over 40 agronomists across the country working with farmers to optimise soil health and perform sampling. In the same study performed in 2021, it was found that soil structure poses a major threat to overall soil health and soil

mineralisation potential on grassland soils.

SOIL BIOLOGY

It’s our soil biology that turns organic N (plant unavailable) into plant available N through a process called mineralisa tion. Mineralisation is a simple process where the organic nitrogen is broken down by fungi, bacteria and earthworms and turned into plant available forms. It is paramount that soil pH is optimised (6.3-6.5) to en sure a habitat for soil biology to live and work effectively.In creasing the bacteria and fungi in the soil will release more N.

Mineralisation will also increase phosphorus (P) and Sulphur (S) availability from soil reserves. The soil supply of N from mineralisation will become available throughout the year from the soil reserves. Subsequently by increasing this baseline of N from the soil reserves, application rates of chemical N can be reduced.

SOIL STRUCTURE

Soil structure is very im portant to provide the best living conditions for soil fungi, bacteria and earthworms. Soil pH has a very important role in soil structure as it can help create structure in the soil and also increase biological activity and root development. Structure is also very important in determining nutrient avail ability; the impact of poor soil structure can be seen during the summer as P becomes less available to the plant and as a result, animals can be seen licking or chewing on stones. This is sometimes witnessed on soil P index 4 soils but the nutrients cannot be taken up by the plant because of poor soil structure. Soil structure also

results in poor or shallow root ing. Roots are very important as they are responsible for the uptake of nutrients. Optimal soil structure creates better drainage, warmer soils, early grass growth and causes better nutrient filtration and storage to improve water quality.

ity will offset chemical N and maintain growth as legislation and fertiliser reductions loom.

These soil properties are fundamental to tackling the environmental, economic and social sustainability issues facing all Irish agriculture. If you would like to find out more about Grassland Agro and what services we provide, you can do so by:

Contacting you local Grass land Agro representative; Aisling Sheehan: 0871957867

E: aisling.sheehan@grassland.ie

Covering areas of Lisavaird, Barryroe, Ballinhassig and Carrigaline.

Thomas O’Sullivan: 0879903775

E: thomas.osullivan@grass land.ie

Covering areas of Drinagh, Bandon, Tarelton and Kil lumney

Visiting our webpage www. grasslandagro.ie and follow ing us on our social media channels.

You can also tune in to our podcast “The Sod Pod” streaming fortnightly.

SOIL HEALTH

Through priming and kick starting soil biology and improving soil structure through the application of a soil conditioner like Physiolith, more N can be unlocked from the soil reserves. On farm trials have shown an additional release of 60 kg N/ha from the soil in a single season. These soil conditioners will increase the efficiency of the chemical and organic fertiliser applied throughout the year, reducing the requirement for chemical N.

Physiolith is an ideal partner for organic manures such as slurry and will fast track the release of the organic fraction of slurry N which can be used to offset chemical nitrogen.

Maximising the soil supply of N through mineralisation due to increased biological activ

JMC Parts expanding and looking to the future

JMC Parts is a leading supplier of quality farm machinery parts based in Reenascreena, West Cork. Built from the ground up by John McCarthy, JMC Parts has been serving farmers for over 30 years.

‘When I started in this business, I drove the length and breadth of Ireland calling on farmers. Now I have an expert, dedicated team engaging with customers from all over the world.’

Following a very successful year, John now has plans to both expand the business infrastructure and the team, and will be looking for local talent to ll roles in sales, purchasing, e-commerce, stores and more.

‘We have highly skilled and educated young people here in West Cork. I’d like them to feel there were exciting opportunities for them in their area. at they didn’t have to commute away from home in order to develop professionally.’

Last year saw JMC Parts hit €10,000,000 in sales and break through to more international markets. A UKbased outlet is also on the cards for 2023.

JMC Parts will be recruiting across all departments in early 2023 but are accepting applications from interested candidates now. To apply, go to www.jmcparts.com/careers.

BUSINESS EXPANSION

JOIN OUR TEAM

John McCarthy, founder and manager of JMC Parts.

Soil test results indicate early signs of soil fertility decline

A RECENT review of soil samples taken by Teagasc in 2021 shows that the number of soil samples taken across all farming enterprises increased in 2021.

Over this period, 62% of soil samples came from dairy farms, 25% from drystock farms and 11% from tillage farms. Overall soil sampling number have increased by 13% compared to 2020 with the largest increase happening on tillage farms. e 2021 soil fertility results indicate that soils with optimum pH, Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) fertility decreased between 3 to 6 % compared to 2020.

Soil pH levels decreased by 10 to 13% across all three-farm enterprises. Results in 2021 now show that 47% of dairy farms had soil pH below the optimum of pH 6.3. In the other enterprises, soil pH was below optimum in 53% and 39% of soil samples taken on dry-stock and tillage farms, respectively.  is shows that there is still a large requirement for lime on Irish farms despite record levels of lime applied in 2021.

Dr. Karl Richards, Head of the Teagasc Soil, Environment and Land use Research centre said that increasing soil pH (where appropriate) reduces nitrogen fertiliser requirements by 50-70 kg Nitrogen per hectare per year, improves clover establishment and improves nutrient use e ciency.

Optimal soil pH has also been shown to directly reduce greenhouse gas emission from fertiliser.  Improving soil fertility needs to be prioritised going into this winter, to improve clover establishment and reduce expensive fertiliser demands in 2023.

Over the last two years, the number of soil samples from grassland with optimum P (Greater than Index 3) have shown a decrease, while soil K levels have remained stable over the same period.

On tillage farms, a similar trend is emerging in 2021, with a drop in soil P levels and an improvement in soil K levels. Close attention is now required to manage soil fertility and prevent a reverse of fertility improvements achieved in previous years.

Dr. David Wall, Teagasc Soil Fertility Researcher at Johnstown Castle said: ‘these trends could indicate early signs of declining soil fertility levels nationally. Unfortunately, these downward trends coupled with reduced fertiliser (P & K) use in 2022 will likely lead to further running down of soil nutrient reserves, which will impact negatively nitrogen use

e ciency and crop yields in the coming years.

Farmers should take heed of this early warning in order to put plans in place to protect the productivity and long-term sustainability of their farming business.’

During the period 2015 to 2019, good progress was made across all farming enterprises in relation to soil fertility improvements. In the last 2 years both dairy and drystock farms are showing a combined 5% drop in soil fertility. On tillage farms, a similar trend is emerging in 2021 with a 6% decrease in soil fertility.

Mark Plunkett, Soil and Plant Nutrition specialist with Teagasc, said: ‘maintaining good soil fertility is the cornerstone of farm production systems, is key to utilising soil and applied nutrients as e ciently as possible and reducing emissions.  Now is the time to take action, to use this soil sample information and to develop a plan to manage soil fertility to ensure good grass and crop production in 2023.’

Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc said: ‘with arti cial fertiliser costing almost three times as much as two years ago, preparing and implementing a nutrient management plan has never been more important.  Plans should be based on up to date soil samples, should focus rstly on correcting pH, secondly on getting the most from slurry and manures by identifying where it is needed most, and thirdly select a suitable P and K fertiliser blend to maintain farm soil fertility.’

CORK WEST

FOR CORK WEST

Local Teagasc

Local Teagasc Advisory

Macroom

John J McNamara

Farm and Industrial

LIFE

Main: Denis Duggan of Duggan Agri Contractors harvests barley near Ballinacarriga, using a 1992 John Deere 1177 Combine Harvester averaging 3.3/t per acre at a moisture content of 17%.

Inset: Clonakilty Distillery barley being harvested near Galley Head Lighthouse, Ard eld. John Hayes Agri spent the day harvesting the barley with vintage New Holland combines. e barley will be used in whiskey, vodka and gin.

Le : PJ and Jack Moloney from Lislevane, Bandon at Ballygarvan show with their overall champion Hereford ‘Dunworley Iris’.

(Photos: Andy Gibson, Denis Boyle)

FARMING LIFE

Clockwise from top left: Dairy farmer Michael John Twomey supervises his dairy herd of 180 cows as they cross the R599, with assistance from Eamonn Sheehan and Hannah O’Hea; Mervyn Helen collects silage using a 1998 John Deere 6850 forage harvester near Clon akilty; Denis, Rory, Johnny and Tara Collins from Drimoleague with their Welsh pony Nor man and Shetland sheepdog Heidi at the annual agricultural show in Ballygarvan recently; Dairy farmers Marguerite and Michael Crowley in their milking parlour in Bauravilla near Skibbereen.

(Photos: Andy Gibson, David Creedon)

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