I see that a well-known Laois tillage farm could soon be partly converted to grass. David Walsh-Kemmis from Stradbally is in talks to lease out part of his farm to a local dairy farmer in order to focus fully on his brewery, Ballykilcavan Brewing.

While holding on to enough ground to produce malting barley for his own brewery and Waterford Distillery, he is negotiating to lease out up to 200ac for silage and heifer rearing.

Originally a mixed tillage and suckler farm, the property has been tillage-focused since 2004.

In addition to the brewery, Walsh-Kemmis plans to add a visitor centre and taproom in his farm’s stone farmyard.

Poor grain prices have been a driver in his plans to diversify into brewing and other farm developments.