The farm: “We farm around 500 acres of potatoes, 125 acres of carrots and 50 acres of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. We also grow winter barley, winter wheat and spring barley. We buy in weanlings, mainly Charolais-crosses, in the autumn and finish them.”
This week: “We are digging new-season Queens, packing old-season Roosters and cutting winter barley. We are also harvesting broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and swedes, and starting into the carrots.”
Family business: “My father started out as a farm labourer before growing small gardens of strawberries, carrots and other vegetables. He bought one field, then another field and then another. He retired in 1993 and myself and my brother Martin took over the business. Martin’s son Gerard is now a big part of the business, while Martin’s wife runs the farm shop.”
My family: “My late wife, Niamh, was a country woman who loved animals. We have three daughters Anna, Aoife and Sadhbh. Anna works in the yard and Aoife works part-time in the shop.”
Farm shop: “We opened the shop in 1998. At the time, more and more people were coming into the farmyard looking to buy produce. We decided there was too many people calling not to do something about it.”
Staff: “We have around 20 staff across the farm and shop, and we are very lucky to have a brilliant team working with us.”
Fresh produce: “Some of the produce in the shop will have been cut that morning. A customer could come into the shop at 9am and the cabbage might have been cut only an hour earlier.”
Weather: “If this weather continues, we are going to see a fairly substantial reduction in yield and potentially in quality. There has also been a reduction in the area planted nationally, so we could have a double reduction – fewer acres and a lower yield. We could see yields reduced by as much as 25%.”
Costs: “Input costs are putting massive pressure on the business. Packaging costs have increased by around 12% this year, while our diesel costs during the planting season was approximately €35,000 higher.”
SHARING OPTIONS