James O’Connell from Co Tipperary was announced as the organic oat grower of the year for 2025 at the Flahavan’s Organic Oat Growers’ Conference held in Portlaoise on Tuesday of this week.

The event attracted a crowd of over 200 people.

James has been supplying Flahavan’s since 2017 and the grain he delivered this year reached 62 to 63 kilogrammes per hectare (KPH).

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He mainly grows winter oats, along with spring oats, winter barley and winter wheat and has drystock on the farm.

Johhny Flahavan said the award celebrates excellence, innovation, care and consistency over time.

Data

He showed data outlining how the quality of organic oats being delivered to the mill in Kilmacthomas has improved consistently over the past 11 years.

In 2014, the average KPH of organic oats was 52. The average KPH in 2025 was 56.5, while the three-year average KPH in 2025 was at 55.7.

Soil health lecturer and agronomist John Geraghty said many organic growers are now artisan producers given the quality of the grain being produced.