Grain growers assembled at Brett Brothers in Callan on Wednesday for an open day showcasing the considerable investment and operations that are taking place within the company.

Managing director Jimmy Brett told those assembled that the company purchased 45,000t of wheat and barley directly from growers last harvest and that they had led the way on price when they paid €140/t for green barley. This grain forms the basis of the 140,000t of animal feed produced, with about 50,000t of this going as pig feed, which is over 50% native grain.

The company hopes to increase capacity to over 200,000t in the coming years. It also takes in 9,000t of oats for Flahavans annually.

There are a number of arms to the Brett Brothers business and there has been considerable investment in recent years.

The company has increased its grain handling and storage capacity from about 12,000t in the 1980s to over 50,000t today. The last grain store with 20,000t capacity was just completed in time for last harvest and can hold either dried or conditioned grain. Grain handling capacity at the Callan site is now 200t/hour.

Bretts also produces pigs, with 1,500 sows producing 39,000 pigs per annum. The intention here is to increase this output up to 50,000 pigs per year.

Brett Brothers Ltd plans to add value and its Oakpark Foods plant in Cahir, which processes pigmeat, increased its capacity by 250% recently following a €2.5m investment. It is now selling about 3m rashers per week, much of which are exported.

Grower support and husbandry are important and Brett Brothers intends to roll out the Gatekeeper record system to all its growers shortly.

It is also actively involved in improved soil nutrition through precision farming technology and prescription nutrient application.