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Moycullen, Co Galway
Gerard is a part time farmer with 35ha of mixed marginal land consisting of dry and wet meadows, mountain and naturally regenerated scrub and woodland. He keeps about 12 pedigree Belted Galloway cows.
He sells the heifers for breeding, and the males as both store bullocks and bulls. He took over the family farm in 2011 from his aunt. Gerard decided to move to Belted Galloways as he was looking for something easier to keep and from research he identified these as an ideal breed.
Through farming, he developed an appreciation of nature and describes his practice as High Nature Value Farming, which draws on the likes of the Burren Trust model and Sligo/Galway Institutes of technology ecology sections for inspiration.
Battlebridge, Co Roscommon
Robert, Helen, Emma, Rebecca and Annie Birtwistle have a small mixed organic farm on 25ha.
A large proportion of the farm is a proposed NHA and this provides habitat for Greenland White-fronted Geese, Whooper Swans, Waterfowl, Curlew, Woodcock, Snipe, Jacksnipe, Lapwing, Red Shank, Hen Harrier, Otters, bats and many other species.
Animal husbandry is the priority, but the use of anthelminthics is kept to a minimum. Herbal anti parasitic treatments are used along with grazing management plans as herd strength and natural resistance are being established.
Conservation grazing with Dexter cattle and horses has led to an increase in wild flowers. Expansion of Marsh Fritillary Butterfly caterpillar colonies has been seen as a great success.
Co Roscommon
Mervyn farms a mixed farm of cattle, sheep and tillage with his father Robert near Lough Ree.
For the last ten years, slurry has been spread using a low emission system on more intensively farmed land.
In the last five years, crops, namely barley, oats and beans, have all been established using a low disturbance strip till system.
The plough is not used, leading to enhanced soil structure and soil health, which in turn reduces leaching and soil erosion. This also greatly reduces carbon release from the soil. Mervyn is an innovative farmer and enjoys finding new ways to help nature with his farming.
Co Sligo
Clive is an organic farmer in Co Sligo. His business model is 100% grass-fed organic beef from livestock that are free to graze in species-rich swards.
His brand is called Rare Ruminare and on the farm Clive has a mix of traditional breeds such as Hereford, Shorthorn and Angus.
These breeds are selected for temperment and because they can make the best use of the farm’s species-rich grasslands. Clive and his family take a holistic approach to farming, where livestock production, welfare and ecosystems are all of equal importance.
Measures to enhance the farm ecosystem or increase ecosystem function are Clive’s primary long term focus. He says building the farm’s resilience is the best investment and the fastest way to farm in the black.
Co Kildare
When Mark and Alison Hurst started their farm, they planted thousands of native woodland areas and hedgerows and dug large ponds – all with the aim of encouraging wildlife and in its truest sense – farming with nature.
It is very obvious that nature and biodiversity comes first on Featherfield Farm. They have Dexter cattle, a small sheep and broiler enterprise, as well as a collection of rare breed poultry.
Mark and Alison realise that all aspects of the farm are interrelated and this includes all farm enterprises as well as the nature around them.
They recently had an insect survey done at the farm and the results showed that the insect population has massively increased since they started farming.
Co Kilkenny
Suzanna farms a small acreage and recognizes that her farm must create high-value products if it is to remain a successful and financially viable business.
Her Zwartbles sheep are sold for meat or breeding and she is highly active in promoting natural fibres produced by Irish farming.
She sells her 100% Irish wool yarn and blankets under the Zwartbles Ireland brand, and works with the nearby heritage Cushendale Woollen Mill to further promote her fibre products.
Suzanna embraces a suite of farming practices that results in healthy animals and high-quality produce, while simultaneously encouraging farmland biodiversity to thrive.
She avoids pesticides and artificial fertilisers as she believes progressive farmers do not require them.
Co Louth
Gareth Culligan’s home farm consists of 30ac. Supplementary to this, 100ac is leased in and 400ac are rented in.
In 2001 Gareth ceased ploughing and implemented min-till crop establishment, until 2008, before progressing to directing drilling and finally, to full no-till crop establishment.
Throughout the years, Gareth has based his crop establishment on the key principles of conservation agriculture (CA).
The three fundamental principles of CA are “no till”, “cover crops” and “rotation”. Along with these principles, he has incorporated the reduction of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertiliser,and does not use any insecticides whatsoever.
With the success of last year’s sunflower cover crop mix, his goal is to sow a similar mix so that the local football club and school children can harvest the crop, retail it and use the proceeds for their activities.
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