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CHALLENGING BUT REASONABLE THE FARMING YEAR IN REVIEW
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WELCOME EDITOR: Joseph O’Connor DEPUTY EDITOR: Conor Forrest EDITORIAL STAFF: Orla Connolly, Rachel Murray, Jane Quinn
Hello...
MANAGING EDITOR: Mary Connaughton CONTRIBUTORS: Ruraidh Conlon O’Reilly, Valerie Jordan, Ian Maleney, Darragh McCullough, Aisling Meehan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jane Matthews DESIGN: Alan McArthur, Antoinette Sinclair, Jennifer Reid, Alejandra Camacho
Welcome to our winter issue of Ear to the Ground magazine, the ideal companion to a television series now in its 23rd year, currently showing on Tuesday nights on RTÉ One at 8.30pm.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jocasta Clarke, irishairpics.com, Irish Photo Archive, Lensman Photographic Agency, Thinkstock PRODUCTION MANAGER: Mary Connaughton PRODUCTION: Nicole Ennis SALES DIRECTOR: Paul Clemenson Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 432 2200 All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2015.
As we approach the end of another year, it is always the perfect time to reflect back on the previous 12 months. As Ian Maleney reports in our year in review feature, farmers in general deemed 2015 to have been a challenging but reasonable year. Key events included the abolition of dairy quotas, the introduction of the GLAS payment schemes, the replacement of the single farm payment with the Basic Payment Scheme and, of course, the IFA pay scandal, events that have all had a part to play in a year of mixed fortunes. For our cover story, Darragh McCullough shares details of his own mixed fortunes as a dairy farmer, as he provides us with an insight into the challenges and opportunities of entering a profit-sharing partnership with a neighbouring farmer. On a blue-skied October afternoon, Darragh welcomed the crew out to his Elmgrove farm where photographer Jocasta Clarke got some fantastic imagery of him and his herd of cows for the front cover.
ISSN 2009-4310 Elsewhere in the magazine, Mairead McMuinness addresses the much debated issue of GM technology in food, a topic rarely off the agenda in Europe. We also look at other agri issues such as farm safety, carbon emissions, cattle theft, solar power, as well as the impact of Budget 2016. In our usual mixed bag of lifestyle features, we have the latest on motoring, fashion, books, food, art, wildlife and a whole lot besides.
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REMEMBERING DUBLIN’S CATTLE MARKET
CHALLENGING BUT REASONABLE
THE FARMING YEAR IN REVIEW
PLUS
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DARRAGH’S DEAL WITH DAIRY
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THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE BEHIND THE FOOD ECONOMY
COWTOWN
IRELAND’S FLYING FARMER // CIDER // CATTLE THEFT // LAW // WILDLIFE // BRONZE TURKEYS // SOLAR FARMS // ART // MOTORING // FASHION // FOOD // AGRI APPS // ZURICH FARM INSURANCE
23/10/2015 11:56
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EAR TO THE GROUND WINTER 2015
IFA
IN CRISIS
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
John Cummins Executive Producer Independent Pictures
ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Jocasta Clarke LOCATION: Gormanston, Co Meath
EAR TO THE GROUND 3
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Contents
90
FLYING FARMER
FEATURES
IFA IN CRISIS A look at where the association goes from here.
MILKING A MILITARY COLLECTION The farmer who turned his hobby into a museum.
34
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Mairead McGuinness on the GM food debate.
SHINING LIGHT ON SOLAR Farming and solar power making a perfect match.
38
CIDER HOUSE RULES The apple grower turning his hand to cider.
44
SETTLING FOR BRONZE Bronze turkey producerson opting for the free range alternative.
CHALLENGING BUT REASONABLE The Farming Year in Review.
12
15
PROUD SPONSOR OF EAR TO THE GROUND MAGAZINE
33
09
19
FARMING NEWS
29
TALES ON FARM SAFETY A new book series has a lesson for kids on farms.
48
LOW CARBON COWS Efforts to make our cows more energy-efficient.
53
MERGING SCIENCE & TRADITION Plans for the food sector under Food Wise 2025.
56
DARRAGH’S DEAL WITH DAIRY Darragh McCullough on entering into a farm partnership.
66
SEEDS FOR GROWTH The ACORNS initiative for rural-based female entrepreneurs.
4 EAR TO THE GROUND
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
76
73
MAKING IT BIG IN DAIRY The Waterford farmer managing an 800 cow operation.
76
MOVING ON We meet the migrant workers playing a vital role in the food economy.
82
DRIVE TO DIVERSIFY The Cork farmer who established a driving school on her land.
85
TAKING STOCK Addressing the issue of cattle theft in Ireland.
86
AIDING AMBITION The Macra President on helping young farmers succeed.
90
COWS CAN FLY Ireland’s flying farmer takes to the skies.
93
BUDGET 2016 The legal implications for farmers.
99
REMEMBERING COWTOWN A look back at Dublin’s Cattle Market.
106
FUTURE FARM A preview of the 2016 exhibition at Science Gallery.
129
AGRI APPS Twelve handy mobile apps for farmers.
HOBBY FARM A look at convenient pastimes for the weary farmer.
134
THE CROP OF THE SEA Tours on foraging for seaweed.
141
THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL Quirky accommodation in Ireland.
146
THE MADNESS OF ERIC DEMPSEY Birdwatcher Eric Dempsey on his new memoir and his feathered friends.
150
SKELLIG WARS The debate over Star Wars filming on Skellig Michael.
110
115
LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD Bolstering broadband provision for rural Ireland.
121
ZURICH FARM INSURANCE The farm insurer building a strong reputation.
134
HARVEST THE OCEAN
MEET THE MIGRANTS
LIFESTYLE
152
OLD STORY, NEW LIFE The Museum of Country Life in Co Mayo tells a unique story.
154
HORSE DRAWN Artist Patrick Cahill on painting scenes from the Smithfield Horse Fair.
159
BOOKS
161
FOOD
167
FASHION
170
MOTORING
176
DOWN ON THE FARM Q&A with Briege Corkery.
141
QUIRKY ACCOMMODATION
161 MARKET GRUB
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Almost half (47%) of all farm deaths are caused by contact with tractors/machinery or vehicles*1 so you should always ensure that: • All power take-off shafts are adequately guarded. • Tractors and other vehicles are properly maintained, with the hand brake on and the cab locked when not in use. • Chainsaws are in proper working order.
Safety with Livestock 13% of farm fatalities involve handling animals*2 so: • Maintain cattle handling units, cattle crushes and holding pens regularly. • Bulls should be ringed and the ring regularly inspected. • Holding fields for dangerous animals should be securely fenced off.
References: *1 Farm Safety Action Plan 2013 – 2015, HSA. *2 Farm Safety Code of Practice, Risk Assessment Document, HSA.
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Insurance for now and for the future Strength & Security Children’s Safety Children accounted for 11% of farm deaths in Ireland between 2005 and 2014*3, so explain the dangers to them and regularly remind them. • Do not carry children as passengers on attachments or trailers. • Keep slurry pits covered. • Store chemicals and pesticides safely.
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Slurry pits produce dangerous gases like hydrogen sulphide and ammonia so warn people to steer clear unless necessary. • High levels of ventilation during agitation are vital. • Only undertake agitation of the pit with two people present, if possible. • Always avoid naked flames near pits.
Electrical Safety • Conduct electrical repairs right away. • Always use a qualified electrician and comply with government regulations. • Watch out for overhead cables. We understand the particular safety risks involved with farming and want to do everything we can to help reduce them so we offer insurance premium reductions for various farm safety procedures. We also offer further discounts to those holding multiple policies with us.
Give your farm the protection it needs For more information about Aviva Farm Insurance or to get a farm insurance quote, please contact your local Insurance Broker.
*3 Agriland Article,March 2015 publication. *4 Aviva global information source www.aviva.com
Aviva Insurance Limited, trading as Aviva, is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.
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Farming Energy from the land
Bord Na Mona requires 300,000 tonnes of biomass to co-fuel its power plant at Edenderry,Co. Offaly. The company is now offering long term sustainable contracts for the supply of:
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FEATURE
“Challenging but reasonable.” Ask any farmer about how their year went in 2015 and you’re likely to hear this answer. Across the agricultural sector as a whole, a combination of relatively good weather, low production costs and high yields were matched by somewhat disappointing prices. Profit margins were low, but given the big shake ups taking place in several parts of the industry this year, few had it as bad as they might have feared. Perhaps the biggest farming story in 2015 was the controversy surrounding the IFA, which was thrown into the worst crisis of its 60-year history in November by revelations that its former general secretary Pat Smith received a salary package totalling nearly €1 million over two years. This is a story we can expect to rumble on well into 2016. But key events having a direct impact on Irish farmers in 2015, such as the
Challenging THE FARMING YEAR IN REVIEW but Reasonable
IAN MALENEY LOOKS AT HOW THE YEAR WAS FOR IRISH FARMERS AND HOW THEY FARE GOING INTO 2016. EAR TO THE GROUND 9
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FEATURE
KEVIN SAYS:
“IT CAN’T BE A TWOTRACK RECOVERY. IT’S ABOUT SUPPORTING THOSE RURAL AREAS, RURAL JOBS, OUTSIDE THE MAIN URBAN CENTRES WHERE THERE ARE LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES.” abolition of dairy quotas in the EU, the introduction of the GLAS payment schemes and the replacement of the single farm payment with the Basic Payment Scheme, all had a part to play in a year of mixed fortunes. The abolition of dairy quotas was a heavily anticipated event within the Irish dairy industry, with many farmers investing in expanding their dairy operations over the past few years. While some dairy co-ops reported as much as a 20 per cent increase in milk production, prices remained low due to a combination of factors, both political and natural. A Russian ban on imported produce and increased government intervention from the Chinese reduced demand in those markets for European milk, and a year of relatively uninterrupted good weather across the continent meant supplies increased across the board, driving prices down. Most Irish farmers would likely have got an average of around 29c a litre throughout the year, with co-ops absorbing price hits on behalf of their farmers to the tune of around €100 million. ICOS estimates that low prices devalued the dairy industry by as much as €500m this year alone, and many Irish dairy farmers have seen their incomes drop significantly in 2015, often as much as 40 per cent or more. One consistent worry for dairy farmers this year has been the increased levels of debt taken on by farms as they expand and scale in the post-quota era. The combination of reduced incomes and increased debt liability saw Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney calling on
banks to be patient with dairy farmers, suggesting “repayment holidays” in acknowledgement of dairy’s medium-tolong term profitability. “While the debt levels in dairy farming are significant, it would be fairly sustainable on most farms,” says Frank O’Mara of Teagasc. “I think so far, most of the farmers that have gone into expansion have done so in a very prudent way. They’ve done their financial planning and banks have been fairly responsible I’d say in terms of the lending that they’ve done. Even despite the downturn in milk prices, so far at least, we don’t seem to be having farmers in difficulties. They’re managing.” 2015 was somewhat more stable for sheep and cattle farmers around the country. After a rough year in 2014 which saw large-scale protests by beef farmers against the low prices being offered by factories, there was some upward movement in prices which contributed to an overall increase in incomes for dry stock farmers, albeit coming after a couple of particularly lean years. Low input prices and favourable exchange rates with Britain, our primary export market, also contributed to this increase. Overall, dry stock farming remains a generally low-income activity, with farmers in this area heavily reliant on national and EU payment schemes. The introduction of the Beef Data and Genomics scheme this year could have a potentially large impact on the beef sector in Ireland over the coming decades. The scheme hopes to provide detailed genetic information on the national beef
herd in order to enable better breeding practices and greater farming efficiency across the sector. “Unlike the dairy sector, where we’ve made great progress in genetics and breeding in the last ten years, we haven’t been able to make the same progress in the beef sector,” says O’Mara. “One of the plusses that’s going to come out of the Beef Data and Genomics scheme is the amount of information. The genomic information that we’re going to have on the cattle herd, we’re going to be way ahead of any other country in relation to genotyping our cattle herd. That’s going to be of long-term benefit to the beef industry.” Tillage farmers, particularly those east of the Shannon, had a bumper year for yields but again faced great downward pressure on prices. Input costs were low across the sector, but a late harvest and prices much in line with 2014 were significant in keeping profit margins below what farmers would have been hoping for. Budget 2015 saw the introduction of incentives to encourage the long-term leasing of farms and farm partnerships. These incentives have encouraged a move away from conacre arrangements in the past 12 months, and 2015 has seen a great increase in farming partnerships, collaborative farming and longterm leasing. That this has largely been to the benefit of young farmers has been recognised by Macra na Feirme, who founded their Land Mobility Service as a pilot scheme connecting young farmers with land owners during 2015. Longterm leases are also a key component of qualification for GLAS, further increasing the incentives towards leases of fiveor-more years. One negative effect has been that the need for particular types of land has driven up prices, with some auctioneers around the country reporting rental arrangements of up to €300/ acre during the year. Budget 2016 further increased the incentives for land mobility, introducing the Partnership Scheme which will allow any parent and child to formalise the transfer of land over a period of up to 10 years. As well as providing tax relief, it also allows for the parent to hold up to 20 per cent of the land at the end of the process. Changes to PRSI, support for the self-employed and removal of forestry income from the high earners restriction tax are also expected to have a positive impact on farmers’ incomes as they plan for 2016. While 2015 has certainly not been an easy year for many farmers, the agriculture industry has generally reported an encouraging resilience to market volatility. While no one wants prices to fall further, most farmers will feel in decent shape going into the year ahead.
10 EAR TO THE GROUND
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07/12/2015 13:18 11/11/2015 12:32
COMMENT
IFA
IN CRISIS
AS FARMERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY DIGEST THE DETAILS OF THE IFA PAY REVELATIONS, IAN MALENEY LOOKS AT WHERE THE ASSOCIATION CAN GO FROM HERE. One of the most surprising things about the chain-reaction of scandals which beset the Irish Farmer’s Association at the end of 2015 was just how long this particular time-bomb had been ticking away under the surface. Ever since August 2014, when Con Lucey, the organisation’s former chief economist, resigned from his role as chairman of the IFA Audit Committee, suspicions had been heightened regarding the nature of the organisation’s executive salaries and corporate governance. The remuneration details of the organisation’s top brass still came as a shock to grassroots members, shattering a trust that, for many, had been built up over decades. To see former General Secretary Pat Smith being paid almost €1m during his final two years in office is undoubtedly an insult at a time when the struggles of traditional farmers have been considerable, and many farm incomes have either stagnated or fallen. It smacks of an executive out of touch with its members. The IFA has immediate work to do as it attempts to patch itself up. The restoration of Con Lucey to the Audit Committee and the publication of his report was the first step. With Lucey’s guidance, there is a chance a more equitable and transparent payment structure can be developed. Any such structure must be subject to the review of a totally independent committee, and open to scrutiny from any member of the association. In an organisation like the IFA, built on the
strength of its members’ contributions, there should be no need for typical corporate secrecy. Empowering individual members to understand and analyse the organisation will help to develop a greater level of trust and oversight throughout the IFA. In the longer term, the IFA must continue to negotiate on behalf of farmers, and keep the interests of farm families at the heart of its operations. This is what the organisation has done best for the past 60 years, earning its reputation on this basis, and it must not allow the mistakes of its executives to impact on the lives and livelihoods of its members. Farmers will ultimately judge the organisation by what it can deliver for them, and the negative publicity these scandals have attracted cannot become excuses for politicians hoping to ignore or relegate the issues of Irish farmers.
A full and thorough investigation into past mistakes is required, and a far greater measure of transparency and accountability – not just to the executive committee but to farmers on the ground – must be put in place for the future. The IFA will only survive if it can regain the trust of those whose loyalty, financial or otherwise, gives it the means to exist. If the payment structure of the organisation can be overhauled and made suitably democratic, if farm families can be given a greater hand in both the local and national governance of the organisation, and if those at the top of the association can clear the way for a clean slate, then perhaps that trust can slowly be rebuilt. One thing is for sure, whoever steps into Eddie Downey’s office and becomes the 15th president of the IFA has one hell of a job on their hands.
RIGHT: An image loaded with irony: Former IFA President Eddie Downey leading a protest outside the European Commission offices in Dublin calling for action on farm incomes.
12 EAR TO THE GROUND
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07/12/2015 15:52
COLUMN
SPUDS is a community-based research project launched in 2012 in response to the decision to trial genetically modified (GM) blight resistant potatoes in Ireland. It takes a proactive approach to promoting non-GM crops, potatoes in particular. The project has produced a film, Potatoes with Purpose: the Story of SPUDS, which was funded by GIY Ireland (Get Ireland Growing) and Allied Irish Bank’s Get Ireland Growing fund. The Spuds project is yet another sign of unease about GM crops, which is mirrored in many EU countries. The most recent Eurobarometer survey shows that Europeans are divided in their view about biotechnology and genetic engineering with 70 per cent regarding GM foods as “unnatural” and 61 per cent indicating that future research in this area should not be encouraged. Irish farmers do not grow any GM crops but trial work on assessing the impact of GM crops has and is taking place here. Across the EU, GM crops are thin on the ground, although Spanish farmers are growing a GM maize variety called Mono 810, which is resistant to the corn weevil.
Food for
thought EUROPEANS ARE DIVIDED IN THEIR VIEWS ABOUT THE USE OF GM TECHNOLOGY IN FOOD AND WHILE CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS SPUDS ARE KEEPING THE ISSUE ON THE AGENDA, WE ARE SOME WAY OFF A CONSENSUS, WRITES FORMER EAR TO THE GROUND PRESENTER MAIREAD MCGUINNESS MEP, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. EAR TO THE GROUND 15
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COLUMN Mairead chairing a debate on GMOs during a sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
“ALL AROUND THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE DEBATE ABOUT GMOS AND THEIR PLACE OR OTHERWISE IN THE FOOD CHAIN IS RARELY OFF THE AGENDA.” MAIREAD SAYS:
Teagasc is involved in an EU research project across 15 countries studying the potential of GM potatoes to resist blight. Three varieties, one control and two which have been genetically modified through the addition of wild genes from other potato varieties are under study. It is analysing the blight responses of each potato variety and the soil microbes in the area planted. The aim is to evaluate the agri-environmental impact. Results of the trials, which are not linked to any commercial biotechnology industry, are expected by the middle of 2016. Blight resistance attracts much interest because of the huge costs of keeping potato crops blight free. Farmers in Ireland spend up to 10 per cent of their potato production costs on fungicides, spraying crops weekly when weather conditions favour the spread of blight. We’re all familiar with Met Éireann blight warnings alerting farmers to weather conditions that favour the spread of blight and the need to spray. All around the European Union, the debate about GMOs and their place or otherwise in the food chain is rarely off the agenda. And the issue is firmly back on the political agenda as the European
Commission struggles to get member states to take responsibility in the approval process of GM crops. When a new GMO is developed by a plant breeding company it must be approved by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). This takes time and is a complex process. The next stage in the authorisation process is for the Commission and member states to sign off on the decision of the EFSA. However, very often member states fail to take this step and it falls back to the Commission to do the job. Member states appear to not want to take the responsibility of voting for a crop and a technology about which, back home, there is confusion and public opposition. So, faced with this political dilemma the Commission generally does the job itself, leading to concerns about the process. Times are changing and the European Commission has recently put forward two proposals to give member states greater freedom around GM technology. The first proposal – to allow member states to ban the growing of GM crops on their territory – is in place with several member states opting into such a ban. However, a second
proposal – to allow countries to ban the use or importation of GM food or feed – has fallen at the first hurdle. This proposal would have given the freedom to countries to block the importation of GM protein for livestock feed, if they so choose. Given the huge reliance on these imports in practically all member states, such a prospect has caused concern in the livestock feed sector. Over 90 per cent of the protein needs of livestock farmers in the EU comes from GM soya. The vast bulk of the world’s soya bean crop is grown from GM seeds. Finding non-GM alternatives is increasingly difficult and costly, but not impossible. Added to that is the concern that if some countries were to ban GM food and/or GM feed imports, there would be a consequence for the internal market and free movement of animal feed across borders. Science and policy making have never been further apart than on this controversial issue. So is science important? Yes, I believe it is. Climate change, for example, is based on scientific evidence and policy is being guided by it. Yet, here too, there are some who doubt the science. With GM technology, it’s a more complex story. Citizens welcome developments in medicine to treat diseases and conditions using GM technology but when it comes to food they are not at all sure. Many of the companies and researchers involved in plant GM technology are working outside the EU on other market outlets for the technology. And just as the debate about GM rages, expect it to deepen as plant breeders come up with new ways of developing resistant, higher yielding plant varieties using technologies which are only being developed. Techniques with intriguing names like oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis, zinc-finger nucleases, cisgenisis and intragenesis are being used by plant breeders and researchers. Right now the Commission is trying to decide if some, all, or any of the newer plant breeding techniques, like oligoneucleotide directed mutagenesis, should be governed by existing GM legislation. In the new year there will be lots more about this complex issue as the Dutch who have a significant plant breeding sector take over the EU presidency. So expect to hear more, not less, about emerging plant breeding techniques but given the divided views on GM don’t expect a consensus any time soon.
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Expanding horizons in Food and Beverage
Leveraging over 40,000 people in over 100 countries, Grant Thornton’s global market entry team can help your company understand and analyse multiple operating scenarios and consider the range of influencing factors, criteria, business priorities and constraints. Patrick Burke FCA | Partner Ciara Jackson Head of of Food Food and and Beverage Beverage T ++353 (0)1 6805 353 (0)1 6805 650640 E ciara.jackson@ie.gt.com Patrick.burke@ie.gt.com Grant Thornton Grant ThorntonIreland Irelandcomprises comprises over over 700 700 people people operating operating from from offices offices in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, Kildare and Limerick. in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, Kildare, Limerick and Longford. @GrantThorntonIE
www.grantthornton.ie/Expandinghorizons © 2015 Grant Thornton. All rights reserved. Authorised by Chartered Accountants Ireland (“CAI”) to carry on investment business. Grant Thornton is a member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd. (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered independently by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see www.grantthornton.ie for further details.
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FARMING NEWS
For grazing... AGRI DEGREES LAUNCHED IN CARLOW The Institute of Technology Carlow has launched two new agricultural degree programmes, aimed at combining agri knowledge with farming technology, skills and entrepreneurship. The BSc degrees in sustainable farming and agribusiness were launched by Government Chief Whip and Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe, in conjunction with President of the IT Carlow Patricia Mulcahy. The courses will be offered at the institute’s Wexford campus, starting in September 2016.
FORESTRY: THE NEW CROP IN TOWN
Farmers are being encouraged to think of forestry as a “new crop” on farmland amid efforts to reduce carbon emissions in agriculture to help tackle climate change. The Government hopes to rapidly increase forestry plantation levels from a low base, with 43,000ha planted by 2020. Agriculture accounts for over 30 per cent of Ireland’s emissions profile as the country does not have a large scale manufacturing sector.
SNAPSHOT:
Livestock in Ireland
6.9M CATTLE
Cattle health event to generate €6m for economy The World Cattle Health Veterinary Congress, which is being held at Dublin’s Convention Centre next July, is expected to boost the economy by €6m, according to Veterinary Ireland. The
veterinary congress, also known as the World Buiatrics Congress (WBC), is held every two years and was last held in Ireland in 1986. Michael Sexton, Head of the Local Organising Committee for WBC2016, said they are expecting over 2,500 delegates from more than 60 countries to attend the event, which will take place from July 3rd to 8th 2016.
Meanwhile, Finbarr Murphy, Chief Executive of Veterinary Ireland said that with the Irish Government planning to grow food exports to €12 billion by 2020 and further ambitious targets set out in Foodwise 2025, cattle health will be an important factor in maintaining and improving the competitiveness of our dairy and beef exports.
5M
SHEEP
1.6M PIGS
95,000
HORSES AND PONIES
12,200 GOATS
8,100
Teagasc Hiring Freeze Lifted
Teagasc, the state’s farm advisory body, has begun hiring again with 75 people to be recruited, after the six-year Government ban on new jobs was lifted. Teagasc confirmed it received permission from the Agriculture Department in October 2015 to raise the limit on total permanent pay from €62.2m in 2015 to €63.2m for 2016 and 2017.
MULES, JENNETS AND ASSES
2,300
FARMED DEER The Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2015, published in October 2015 by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), presents a statistical picture of Ireland, compiled mainly from the data published by the CSO for the most recent full year. Included in the data is information on livestock numbers in Ireland for June 2014. EAR TO THE GROUND 19
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FARMING NEWS
SNAPSHOT:
Irish Out In Force At Trade Expo
Land Under Cereal Production in Ireland
71.6 WHEAT
18.6 OATS
215.7 BARLEY
0.8
OTHER CEREALS
West Embraces Bereavement Group
306.7
TOTAL CEREALS Figures in 1,000 hectares taken from the Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2015
Embrace FARM, the voluntary bereavement group set up to support families in the aftermath of fatal and non-fatal accidents, is establishing a network in Cork. The new Embrace FARM group for the west of Ireland will support families in Cork, Kerry, west Limerick and south Tipperary. The move follows one of the worst years on record for farm accidents, with 30 people killed on Irish farms in 2014 – almost triple the death toll of five years previous. Cork was the worst hit county in 2014 with six of the 30 fatal accidents taking place there.
Farming Briefs
There was strong Irish representation at the world’s leading trade fair for farm machinery, held in Hanover, Germany last November. Agritechnica 2015 featured numerous innovations in all areas of farm machinery, with the likes of McHale, Keenan, Hi Spec and Tanco all taking out stands. No fewer than 311 innovations were registered with show organisers, the DLG (the German Agricultural Society), ahead of the fair. They reported that hundreds of Irish farmers and contractors attended the show, which is infamous for the amount of walking involved in order to see all the machinery and equipment on display. The Irish were the fifth biggest foreign visitor group with over 5,800 people from these shores present.
A round-up of stories making the news...
Boost for EU-NZ Trade in Animal Products
Just 4 per cent of Northern Ireland farmers are under the age of 35, according to the EU Farm Structures survey for Northern Ireland. This compares to the Department of Agriculture’s figure that 6 per cent of farmers in the Republic of Ireland are under 35.
Australia’s largest dairy farm, Van Diemen’s Land Company (VDL) has been sold for a price in the region of €163.7 million. The sale includes the 17,800 herd of cows which produce 7.66m kg of milk solids each year.
Glanbia plc has announced that it has agreed to acquire thinkThin, a US sports nutrition company for €202m.
Bord Bia has signed a partnership agreement in Shanghai with SF Best, one of China’s leading ecommerce platforms which will see online promotion and sale of Irish food and drink over the next 12 months.
A FARMER IS EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN HIS OR HER WORKPLACE THAN A WORKER FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE HSA STATS REFLECT THE EVERPRESENT WORKPLACE DANGERS FOR FARMERS.
DID YOU KNOW?:
Amendments to the EU-New Zealand Agreement on sanitary measures in live animals and animal products have been made in a move to boost existing trade relations.
427m
€
THE NET WORTH OF EU AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO NEW ZEALAND IN 2014
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At the heart of business in Ireland
The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International
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COMMERCIAL NEWS
Legal ... DOG MICROCHIPPING TO BE COMPULSORY Regulations introduced this year mean that, going forward, all dogs will have to be microchipped. The programme, which is compulsory, will be rolled out across the country on a phased basis. Newly born pups come under the new regulation from September 2015, while all dogs must be chipped from March 2016. Should the authorities come across an unchipped dog, particularly in relation to investigations into animal welfare and illegal activities, owners could face fines of up to €5,000 per animal. The microchipping scheme has proved successful in the past in reuniting lost or stolen pets with their owners. Going forward, it is hoped that it will have a number of positive impacts – reducing pressure on animal charities and dog pounds (as they can quickly locate owners), or trace the owner if their dog has been worrying sheep or other livestock. It’s also more effective than using dog collars, and less painful than tattoos – the tiny chip, which is about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted between the dog’s shoulderblades and fuses with the surrounding body tissue, with almost no chance of rejection. Each microchip contains a unique 15 digit number, which must be registered alongside the owner’s details on a database. The process must be completed by a veterinarian.
O’Egg Available in More Stores O’Egg is Ireland’s only processor of Bord Bia approved free-range eggs turned into handy bottle form. Each 500g bottle of Liquid Whole Egg contains ten free-range Irish eggs. Each 500g bottle of Liquid Egg White contains the whites of 15 free-range Irish eggs. Both sets of liquid eggs are pasteurised and homogenised, which makes them safer for pregnant women, the elderly, and the very young to eat in recipes that include partially cooked or raw eggs, like soufflés or runny scrambled eggs. Their liquid eggs contain absolutely no additives – it’s all egg, and it’s becoming available in more and more stores every day.
THE MICROCHIPPER TO TRUST Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, welcomes the Government’s commitment to animal welfare by signing compulsory microchipping into law. Dogs Trust has long campaigned for the introduction of compulsory microchipping in Ireland, which has proven to be the most effective way of ensuring lost dogs are returned to their owners. The microchipping programme will be rolled out on a phased basis, beginning with newly born pups from September 2015 and will be extended to all dogs from March 2016. Dogs Trust is urging dog owners to check that the details on the microchip are current and correct. If your dog has changed ownership or you have moved address you must ensure that you have contacted your microchip database. Dogs Trust has microchipped over 5,000 dogs across Ireland in 2015, and will continue to offer subsidised microchipping in 2016. Visit www.dogstrust.ie for more information.
Blood Testing for Food Intolerances Irish economic development brought about a sharp rise in food intolerances, respiratory allergies and coeliac disease. Even our economic crash failed to dent the growth in free-from foods. Nutricentric’s Peter Conry lived through similar developments in mainland Europe and the Far East. He believes diet is key and advocates conscious substitution of less valuable (and downright harmful) parts of our diet with a broader range of micronutrient rich foods. Located in Enniskerry, Nutricentric provides, uses and distributes affordable blood tests to help this process. Home blood testing for food intolerances starts from €79.95 (plus P&P). For further details see nutricentric.com.
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3098_DM_Graduate_Ad_AW2_Layout 1 26/11/2015 09:30 Page 1
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Contact Dawn Meats T: +353 51 309200 E: gradie@dawnmeats.com
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07/12/2015 13:21
ADVERTISING
SEASONAL FLU VACCINE Getting the flu vaccine as soon as possible could prevent serious illness or death. Influenza (flu) is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness caused by the flu virus. Flu affects people of all ages, with outbreaks occurring almost every year. Flu symptoms come on suddenly with a fever, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. This is different from a cold which is a much less severe illness compared to flu. A cold usually starts gradually with a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose. Symptoms of a cold are generally mild compared to flu. In some instances, flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death. Serious breathing complications can develop, including pneumonia and bronchitis, to which older people and those with certain chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible. Data from the 2014/2015 influenza season shows that nationally 978 cases of flu were hospitalised and 53 were admitted to ICU. Those aged 65 and older, children under four years of age and those with long term medical conditions and pregnant women are at particular risk. Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains. The flu virus changes each year, so
this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year. The best way to prevent flu is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for: n Persons aged 65 and older n Those aged 6 months and older with a long-term health condition such as: Chronic medical illness requiring regular follow up including chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, and neurological disease, diabetes mellitus and haemoglobinopathies n Immunosuppression due to illness or treatment n Down syndrome n Morbid obesity i.e. body mass index over 40 n Children with moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders n Children on long term aspirin therapy (risk of Reye’s syndrome) n Pregnant women (vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy) n Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions n Carers n Healthcare workers Vaccination should ideally be undertaken in late September or October each year. Flu
vaccines have been used for more than 60 years worldwide and are very safe. Flu vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and therefore cannot cause flu. It does, however, take 10-14 days for the vaccine to start protecting you against flu. n The vaccine and consultation are free to those within the recommended groups who have a medical card or GP visit card. n GPs charge a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine to those who do not have a medical card or GP visit card. More information is available from your GP, public health nurse or pharmacist. Influenza vaccine remains the best protection against influenza and is recommended by all major expert bodies including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. www.immunisation.ie provides details about flu vaccination, along with answers to any questions you may have about flu.
PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE IF YOU ARE OVER 65 OR HAVE A LONG TERM MEDICAL CONDITION YOU SHOULD ALSO ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THE PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE WHICH PROTECTS AGAINST PNEUMONIA, IF YOU HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED IT. YOU CAN GET THE FLU VACCINE AT THE SAME TIME AS YOUR PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR GP, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE OR PHARMACIST. WWW.IMMUNISATION.IE PROVIDES DETAILS ABOUT FLU VACCINATION, ALONG WITH ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT FLU.
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EVERY YEAR FLU CAUSES SEVERE ILLNESS AND DEATH. IF YOU ARE: Over 65
Have a longterm illness
Pregnant
A health care worker
GET YOUR FLU VACCINE NOW.
w
on
ww
.i m
.ie
IT’S A LIFESAVER m u nisat
i
For more information, talk to your GP or Pharmacist
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07/12/2015 13:16
ADVERTISING
L-R: Michael Murphy , a Tipperary farmer and an Origin Green certified member Aidan Cotter, Chief Executive, Bord Bia
Food Industry Puts Green Targets in Place Three and a half years after its initial launch, Bord Bia’s Origin Green has gained traction at home and won plaudits abroad, and has outlined its latest ambitions in a new report. A new report launched by Bord Bia in November 2015 sets out the Irish food and farming industry’s ambition to be a world leader in sustainable food and drink production. The report is a comprehensive summary of the first three years of Bord Bia’s groundbreaking Origin Green programme. Launched in June 2012, Origin Green is the world’s first sustainability programme for a country’s entire food and drink sector. Although Ireland’s green image has been a key platform for the success of the Irish food and drink export industry – last year Ireland exported to 175 markets and generated in the region of €10.5 billion for the Irish economy – Bord Bia insists that it is no longer sufficent for Ireland to simply declare that the we are ‘green’. In a world facing challenges from climate change and resource scarcity, we must prove it as well. Since Origin Green was established, more than 55,000 Irish farms and 122 food and drink companies have become fully verified members of the programme. These farms account for 90 per cent of
Ireland’s beef production and half of its milk output, while the companies are responsible for 85 per cent of the country’s food and drink exports. As part of the programme, food and drink manufacturers have commited to over 800 sustainability targets around raw material sourcing, manufacturing processes and social sustainability. The targets provide for reductions of €12m and €17m in energy and water usage respectively by 2017, and seek to reduce general waste generation by 14,000 tonnes. According to Bord Bia, Origin Green has met with universal acclaim from the World Bank, the World Wildlife Fund, and from global leaders in the food and drink industry. “Three and a half years following its launch, Origin Green has gained traction at home and won plaudits abroad, and on a scale few of us might have imagined,” said Bord Bia Chief Executive Aidan Cotter. “It is transforming our thinking about how we produce food and how we do business. It has presented our industry with a renewed sense of purpose; of how
we can be different, and make a difference, in a challenging marketplace and a changing world.” The Bord Bia report indicates total greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture could be reduced by 6 per cent, or by 1 million tonnes if the lower performing beef and dairy farms were brought back in line with the national average. Ireland’s dairy herd already enjoys the joint lowest footprint in the European Union, while its beef herd ranks at number five. Under Origin Green, food and drink companies are required to create three to five year sustainability development plans in which targets are set in areas such as raw material sourcing, energy usage and emissions, water and waste management and social sustainability. While 122 companies to date have had their membership independently verified, a further 352 companies are preparing or have submitted plans for verification. Bord Bia’s ambition on launching the programme in 2012, and which it regards to be on track, was to have the entire industry signed up by 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ORIGINGREEN.IE 26 EAR TO THE GROUND
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“We’re improving the environment, while also getting the best from our farm.”
David Johnson, Co. Wicklow.
For David Johnson, it’s a no-brainer. As part of Origin Green, he has joined the many Irish farmers who are recognising that improved sustainability practices are good for business too. A world leading national sustainability programme, Origin Green’s system of measuring and feedback helps to identify steps to increased efficiency – changes which both benefit the environment and result in more cost-effective ways of working for our farmers. Join us. Make sustainability part of your plan and see business grow too.
www.origingreen.ie
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an initiative by
07/12/2015 13:23
Clover Safe Dock Control All grass seed mixtures contain clover as its higher protein content and ability to fix nitrogen from the air significantly increases the productivity of the sward. Use Eagle in a programme to control broadleaf and curled docks in grass without affecting the clover. • Controls both broadleaf and curled docks • Does not affect the clover
www.bayercropscience.ie Eagle is a registered trademark of Bayer and contains amidosulfuron, a sulfonylurea. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Pay attention to the risk indicators and follow the safety precautions on the label. Bayer Freephone: 1800 818 534. www.bayercropscience.ie. © Bayer CropScience Limited 2015
Triple rinse containers at time of use, puncture and invert to dry.
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07/12/2015 13:24
SAFETY
Alma and her son Eamon
Tales from a Where did the motivation for the Tales from Riverside Farm book series come from? The rise in accidents in 2014 really frightened me. I looked at my husband and my young son and I felt helpless to the fact that they too could end up as a farm safety statistic if things didn’t change. I researched what resources were available to help me raise awareness and educate. I soon realised that there was a need for a dedicated strategy specifically for children, something that was positive, engaging as well as being educational and empowering. The illustrations are great. How were they developed? I asked a contact I knew in publishing for advice on getting an illustrator. I was directed to the Illustrators Ireland website where I could see various styles. I arranged for some quotes but I kept reverting back to the work of Martin Beckett, who is based in Donegal. I really liked how colourful
Farmer’s on Wife Safety THE NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES FROM AGRIKIDS IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE POSITIVES OF RURAL LIFE WHILE EDUCATING CHILDREN ON THE HAZARDS THAT EXIST ON OUR FARMS. EAR TO THE GROUND CAUGHT UP WITH FOUNDER AND FARMER’S WIFE ALMA JORDAN.
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SAFETY RIGHT: Alma with her son Eamon and Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney
and engaging his style was. It seemed a perfect fit for what I was trying to do. 2014 was one of the worst years on record for farm safety. What measures can we take to address the issue? It has to be a collaborative approach. I have always been vocal about why all awareness campaigns must include everyone, not just the farming family, but the entire rural community. We all have a role to play in improving farm safety and we can only hope to do so by everyone coming together with a uniformed approach and expected outcome. I would love to see a dedicated authority set up specifically for farm safety and a programme to be established in primary schools because that’s the time we need to formally start educating our children. Through my work with Repak I saw how children were taking the recycling message from the classrooms and taking them into the homes. The same could be expected for farm safety. Do you think we are now seeing a change of mindset amongst farmers to ensure we don’t create a new generation of risk takers in farming? I am seeing some evidence, but not nearly enough. We need people and families to not only talk or be aware of farm safety but to actually practice it. Farmers are fully aware of the risks they encounter every day, but it’s getting them to change some of their approaches and practices that is ultimately going to make the difference and again this needs to be across the board. I watched a TV show recently and was horrified by a farmer entering a pen with a cow and her newly born calf, with no attempt was made to restrain the cow in advance. Naturally the cow was extremely upset and made
it very obvious to the farmer about. The farmer made jokes to the camera about how he is going to get a kick. Another programme on silage saw tractors and trailers working right next to a child’s playhouse. These incidents should not be put in the public domain, they fly in the face of every safety campaign that was ever made. They are clear examples about how far off we actually are with regards to improving our farm safety behaviour. How difficult is it to strike a balance between allowing your child to appreciate all that living on a farm has to offer and ensuring
Who is... Mr Brambles? Mr Brambles is a magical hedge sprite with a very important day job – he creates all the different smells and perfumes in flowers, he ripens blackberries on the bushes and apples in the orchard. Alma says that from the beginning it was important to create something a bit different, that had a little bit of magic and plenty of fun. She also wanted to appeal to boys and girls and wasn’t satisifed having a ‘boy’ and a ‘girl’ fairy, feeling that it lacked imagination.
that their safety is always paramount? I am always conscious not to scare and deter any child from going onto a farm, I grew up on one myself as did many of my cousins. Many children who grow up on a farm may one day work on that same farm and it is hugely important that they understand all that entails. By making them safety conscious from a young age they will not just be aware of the need for safety but it will be something they already are and will practice with a certain degree of fluency. Do you have any plans to expand the business or to release another book series? What started out as a book writing exercise has certainly found new feet along the way. I have just launched my initial range of ‘farm safe’ themed clothing and accessories and more recently I have started to co-ordinate events in schools and libraries. However, the books are the core of the business and will always be the one aspect that makes the AgriKids’ concept so unique. I plan to do another four books with the third instalment, The Red Tractor, due out in time for Christmas. Alma Jordan is a participant of the ACORNS initiative, which assists female entrepreneurs living in rural areas.
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ADVERTISING
Keep safe around tractors and farm machinery Safety is key when working around tractors and other farm machinery.
There’s no doubt that modern agriculture is absolutely reliant on the efficiencies that come with the use of tractors and machinery. They create labour saving efficiencies that are at the very core of the modern system. Because of their large size, weight and immense power they also create a huge danger to farmers and those people who are close by. Over the last 30 years, tractors and machinery collectively have been the main cause of fatal accidents in agriculture. Although the total numbers of accidental deaths in agriculture has declined, this trend has not changed. Between 2005 and 2014, almost half of the 193 fatal accidents in the farming sector involved tractors and machinery. In addition, there are large numbers of serious injuries involving the use of tractors and machinery. The effects of a tractor or machinery accident are more likely to be catastrophic, causing death or very serious injury. The resulting injuries can ruin the lives and the livelihoods of farming families. Good farm management must always include the management of health and safety within the farm business. Simple and low-cost solutions will usually prevent accidents and serious injuries.
When working with tractors, always ensure that: n The tractor is maintained in good working condition n A cab or safety frame is fitted n All controls are in good working order and clearly marked n Brakes are checked regularly and are always in sound working condition n All relevant guards are in place and that PTO and hydraulics are functioning correctly n Mirrors, lights and wipers are in working order at all times n The tractor is always parked safely n The guidance in the operator’s manual is followed Operating machinery can expose the user to various hazards associated with movement or mechanical actions, typically: n Revolving shafts, chains, wheels or discs n Revolving augers, worms or spirals in casings n Revolving drums, spiked cylinders or beaters n In-running nip points n Reciprocating, oscillating or sliding motions
Help prevent machinery accidents by keeping the machine in good working order, ensuring the operator is competent, ensuring safe stopping of the machine and adopting practical and safe working methods. An easy way to consider machinery hazards is to ask yourself five basic questions in relation to any machine and consider the possible severity of injury: TRAPS Can I suffer an injury from it trapping a limb or being crushed in any closing motion or passing movement? For example - silage shears, crushed by slow rolling vehicle. IMPACT Can I suffer an injury due to speed of movement? For example - being struck by moving vehicles, hammer of a post driver. CONTACT Can I suffer an injury following contact due to sharpness, electrically live, hot or cold? For example - chainsaw blade, circular saw. ENTANGLEMENT Can I suffer injury due to being drawn into the machine or entangled in its moving parts? For example - PTO shaft, flail hedge cutters, combine harvester. EJECTION Can I suffer an injury due to materials being worked on by the machine being ejected or thrown out at force from the machine? For example - timber mulching machine, circular saws.
WHILE THERE ARE MANY RISKS IN FARMING, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A DANGEROUS OCCUPATION IF SAFETY IS GIVEN A HIGH PRIORITY. TAKE PARTICULAR CARE AROUND TRACTORS AND MACHINERY AND ALWAYS BE ALERT FOR DANGER. THE ABOVE HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AUTHORITY’S ‘GUIDANCE ON THE SAFE USE OF TRACTORS AND MACHINERY ON FARMS’. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION IN RELATION TO FARM SAFETY OR TO DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF THIS PUBLICATION VISIT WWW.HSA.IE EAR TO THE GROUND 31
ETTG_Winter 2015_CF HSA Safety.indd 31
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FEATURE LEFT: William Sullivan, Founder, Irish Military War Museum
Milking His
military collection FUELLED BY A PASSION FOR MILITARY HISTORY, CO MEATH FARMER WILLIAM SULLIVAN LEASED HIS FARM AND SET UP A MILITARY WAR MUSEUM ON HIS LAND. ORLA CONNOLLY TOOK A HANDSON LESSON IN HISTORY.
It was the discovery of an old coin given to his grandfather for service in the Royal Irish Fusiliers that sparked William Sullivan’s interest in Irish military history as a young boy. While his peers were busy collecting stamps and swapping football cards, Sullivan began building a vast collection of all things military, which years later would become part of what is now the Irish Military War Museum. Located on a 5,000sq ft site at Starinagh in Co Meath, the beef and dairy farmer opened his museum to the public in June 2014. Through his collection, Sullivan provides visitors with an insight into Irish participants’ involvement in
World War I and World War II, as well as other military conflicts in world history. Unlike traditional museums awash with ‘do not touch’ signs, the Irish Military War Museum prides itself on offering a fully interactive experience, encouraging visitors to hold weapons and artifacts, try on replica uniforms and even learn how to drive a tank. He describes feedback so far as one of both shock and delight. “What we do that no one else does is offer a hands-on experience, so that’s where the shock part comes from,” he says. Sullivan believes that one factor that has helped put his own stamp on the museum and offer this hands-on experience is, in fact, his dyslexia. Having experienced difficulties through traditional learning himself, he felt that the best way for people to gain knowledge about our military past is through interaction rather than reading long descriptions or listening to laborious lectures. “It’s learning by having fun and fun by learning,” he says. The result is a museum built in a way Sullivan believes he can best share his passion, and what helped bring it to fruition is funding through the Leader programme, as well as the sale of parts of his farm. Despite the early success of Sullivan’s venture, it’s clear that a piece of him will always be rooted in agriculture. Having leased out the farm to concentrate on the museum, he has plans to return to his original trade and “tie it in with the museum”. Due to the close proximity of the two, he has the ability to divide his time between both interests in the future. “It’s right beside me,” he says. “I can work on both, so I’d like to go back into beef again.” This could mean some new attractions too. “I want something on my own doorstep where people can go down and see the animals. It’s all about interaction,” he adds. So while you’ll most likely see Sullivan back on the farm again, it won’t scupper ambitious plans for his military collection. He’s currently in the planning stages of a 5,000sq ft extension that will double the size of the museum. The new section will exhibit artefacts from the 1916 Rising, appropriately timed given the upcoming centenary. For now, Sullivan is encouraging members of the public to “come up and say hello” to the Irish Military War Museum. “We’re unique. We’re the only ones in Europe that does hands-on history,” he concludes. EAR TO THE GROUND 33
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SOLAR POWER
Shining on Light Solar
RENEWABLE ENERGY IS ALL THE RAGE, AND WITH THAT COMES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS. EAR TO THE GROUND LOOKS AT HOW SOLAR POWER AND FARMING CAN MAKE A PERFECT MATCH.
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SOLAR POWER
I
reland’s ambition to transition to a low carbon society by 2020 has been described by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, as “one of the greatest projects of our age.” It’s also a plan dictated, at least in part, by EU policy. By 2020, 16 per cent of our energy use must come from renewable sources. Noting the prominence of on-shore wind in renewable energy generation in Ireland, the Minister said: “the next period of energy transition will also see the development of new commercial and late-stage solutions, which are likely to change the mix of renewables as technologies like solar PV, off-shore wind, and carbon capture and storage mature, and become more cost-effective.” One interesting company operating in this arena is Lightsource, an owner-operator developer of large scale solar projects across Europe, with most running in the United Kingdom. Earlier in 2015, the company announced a €500 million investment in new solar energy projects in Ireland, with plans to remain here long-term – focusing on the midlands in particular. These projects are normally built on agricultural land, producing anything from 25 kilowatts up to 50 megawatts. “Our inception was November 8th 2010. We’ve generated about 1.1 gigawatts of solar [power] in that period of time,” explains Conor McGuigan, Director of Business Development. “That was all born out of the FIT [Feed-In Tariff Scheme], a subsidy put in place by the Labour government of the time in the UK to generate solar and basically to kick start the industry.”
Broadgate solar farm, UK
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SOLAR POWER
Newlands sheep under solar panels, UK
There’s no doubt that this represents an opportunity for rural farmers and landowners – the recent Food Wise 2025 strategy preaches the need for diversification and innovation in terms of the products the Irish agri food sector produces, and the same principle can be applied here. For the most part, Lightsource enters into a long-term partnership with farmers, leasing their land for a number of years. The company has said that it pays rent which would provide a return greater than that from simply farming the land, at a price linked to inflation. “We’ve bought two parcels of land out of every 300, mostly it’s on a rental basis for 25 or 30 years,” McGuigan says. One of the interesting aspects of this model is that the solar panel designs leave room for dual land use. Lightsource’s panels and attendant equipment, for example, take up approximately 30 per cent of the leased area, leaving room for farmers to farm, grazing small livestock like sheep and poultry or, where the field margins are larger, cropping is also a possibility. The panels themselves can be raised off the ground, and can also provide shelter to livestock during adverse weather conditions. “We think solar, for Ireland, is the perfect fit. It is a lot less of an obtrusive technology than wind or other forms of energy generation. It can be blended in with the landscape – panels are no more than 2.5 metres off the ground – and can be placed anywhere, meaning sites tend not to be very visible,” founder Nick Boyle told the Irish Independent earlier this year. There have been worries,
CONOR SAYS:
“YOU NEED TO GO IN WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN, THERE’S A LOT TO CONSIDER. YOU REALLY NEED TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. THAT’S THE BIG THING.”
however, concerning the environmental impact these solar farms may have – with concerns raised over the potential impact on local eco-systems and wildlife. “The thousands of solar panels that would be needed would stop sunlight reaching the ground, would reduce the amount of vegetation that grows and would therefore reduce the land’s agricultural potential. Careful management of the fields and hedges brings much better benefits to wildlife without the need of a power station despoiling the countryside,” Penny Mills, from Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), told the North Devon Journal about a proposed solar farm across the water. Lightsource, for their part, include a biodiversity management plan during the design process of each solar farm. Environmental additions can include habitat enhancements such as bird and bat boxes, and log piles. Other projects
that are built on ungrazed lands can be sown with wildflowers, or have bee hives installed on site. As part of these plans, Lightsource also examines the enhancement or planting of hedgerows and trees, and works with both ecologists and landscape consultants to find the best way forward for all concerned. “There’s actually great potential in a solar park because you tend to be dealing in fairly low grade agricultural land to begin with, so there’s room for improvement with wildlife,” explained Dr Guy Parker, an independent ecologist in the UK, speaking in a documentary with journalist Fergus March of Solar Media. “There’s south facing grassy slopes which are very good for flowers and insects, and these sites are in place for 25-odd years, which is a good long time for good land management practices to really bite and to really start showing improvements for wildlife. So all those things I think are stacked in favour of solar parks.” “There’s been a lot of press, and a lot of farmers have benefited from this,” McGuigan adds. “You need to go in with your eyes wide open, there’s a lot to consider. You really need to do your homework. That’s the big thing. We want to sit down with people and understand where they’re coming from. And if they do their homework the majority will probably get involved.” Though no government subsidies exist as yet in Ireland, while public perception remains relatively poor – particularly in relation to the perceived expense – a move towards solar is being supported where it matters: investment. Apart from Lightsource, Irish company Amarenco also announced a €200m investment in 35 solar farms around the country, five of which could be operational in 2016, with the remainder to come on stream by 2019. Whatever happens, it seems that the future for solar in Ireland is, both literally and figuratively, bright.
Manor Farm, Dorset, UK
36 EAR TO THE GROUND
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IRELAND’S CENTRE FOR INNOVATION
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INDUSTRY
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INDUSTRY
Cider House rules DAN KELLY’S MAY BE A NEW NAME IN THE IRISH CIDER MARKET, BUT THE FAMILY BEHIND IT KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT APPLES, A KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK GENERATIONS. ITS FOUNDER OLAN MCNEECE TALKS TO JOSEPH O’CONNOR.
EAR TO THE GROUND 39
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INDUSTRY
lan McNeece was a young man in his 20s when he first considered producing cider from apples harvested at his father’s Boyne Grove Fruit Farm in Drogheda. It wasn’t, however, until almost two decades later that he took the plunge and brought to market a high quality cider that had previously been produced on the family orchard for personal consumption. Reflecting on it now, McNeece is satisfied that it wasn’t the right move back then. For two reasons: firstly, cider wasn’t a very fashionable drink at the time, and secondly, the case of a young man having an unlimited supply of alcohol probably wouldn’t end well. And so, an older and wiser McNeece launched Dan Kelly’s Cider in 2013 and in the short period since, it has forged a place among the new wave of respected
craft brewers and cider producers in Ireland. McNeece comes from a long tradition of apple growing dating back to the 19th century. It was during the late 1880s in Clonmain, Co Armagh, that his great grandfather, Michael McNeece, planted a Bramley orchard on part of his small farm. One of Michael’s sons, Gerard, went on to buy his own farm in Annaghmore, Co Armagh, in 1933, planting more Bramleys there. But it was McNeece’s father Gerard who, in 1962, bought the current farm in Co Louth at the tender age of 23. It was there that he planted trees for the orchard, which now make up 80 acres of the 200-acre farm, Bramleys accounting for the bulk of the apples. As any farmer knows, the ability to diversify is hugely beneficial as it ensures that business is not overly reliant on any individual crop. Apple growing is no different. According to McNeece, adding cider to his Boyne Grove Fruit Farm’s portfolio (which also includes a cider vinegar and apple juice) took pressure off the performance of the apple producing side of the business, which can be fragile at the best of times.
know it ... A HARDPRESSED INDUSTRY Craft cider producers were left with a sour taste in their mouths after their calls for the harmonisation of the tax bands for cider were ignored by the Government in Budget 2016. Currently, cider with a rate of up to 6 per cent alcohol
by volume has a duty rate of €94.46 per hectolitre produced, while cider with a rate of 7-8 per cent has a duty rate of €218.44 per hectolitre. Cider producers say the rate “is unfairly penalising growth of the craft cider industry”.
“In our case, the apple growing wouldn’t have been very good over the past few years,” McNeece says. “Our principal variety is Bramley and we store that for 12 months of the year for our customers, and with that comes its own problems. Apples can break down in storage. It doesn’t necessarily affect the quality but it affects the look and customers buy with their eyes. So in terms of the farming side of things, you need a little bit of diversification, you need the extra product to make the whole thing stack up.” McNeece grows around 20 different varieties on the farm; three culinary types (Bramley, Grenadier and Howgate) and about 17 dessert varieties. These are all hand-picked to ensure they are of a supermarket standard. The harvest itself typically starts mid-August and runs until late October or early November, finishing with the dessert apples. McNeece says each variety has different characteristics and so, needs to be harvested in a particular way. “You have to be cognisant of what the food is telling you,” he explains. “As an example, the Irish Golden Delicious is a very nice apple, and you leave it on the
MCNEECE ON HOW TO PICK AN APPLE
“YOU NEED TO GET THE APPLE INTO THE PALM OF YOUR HAND, AND WITHOUT CLOSING YOUR FINGERS AND PLUCKING IT OFF THE TREE, YOU NEED TO TWIST IT OFF. THAT WAY IT’S HANDLED NICE AND GENTLY IN ORDER TO AVOID BRUISING. APPLES BRUISE VERY EASILY AND THAT’S OKAY IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR CIDER QUALITY APPLES, BUT FOR THE SUPERMARKETS OR RETAIL, IT’S NOT ACCEPTABLE.”
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INDUSTRY
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INDUSTRY
pairing ... PAIRING CIDER AND FOOD You might be surprised at how many foods cider can pair with. Its natural fruitiness makes it easy to drink and easy to pair with a number of dishes. Here’s some suggestions: PASTA Creamy sauced dishes are cider’s natural territory so a creamy risotto or pasta is a perfect match.
tree in order to get the right colour and sugars. It might be almost ready and the next thing you get a night’s frost and they end up all over the ground. Then we have another variety called Ida Red. It could snow and freeze and they would still be there in December.” McNeece takes his cider producing very seriously. While he credits the likes of Bulmers for making cider mainstream in Ireland, the UK and further afield, his approach is somewhat different to that of the big producers. Dan Kelly’s Cider is naturally fermented using wild yeasts and it contains no additives. The cider is aged for a minimum of one year before bottling and with the farm and cider manufacturing operation both part of the Bord Bia Origin Green programme, McNeece says business is always carried out in as sustainable a manner as possible.
SALADS Particularly those based on chicken, ham or cheese with a light creamy dressing.
ROAST PORK Roast pork belly is excellent with cider, especially with black pudding.
This philiosophy helps him set his cider apart from some of his competitors in the market, most of whom don’t grow their own apples. The real challenge, however, lies in getting this message across to consumers who in recent years are looking for more authentic products with added flavour, something they’re willing to pay a little extra for too. “You have to rely on them to be naturally inquisitive and to see the difference in what they’re eating or drinking,” he says. “As with anything you buy, there’s always a cheaper, lower quality and more expensive, higher quality option. The customer who wants to go out and get a craft cider or craft beer, they’ve already decided that they want something with flavour and they want something with integrity. They’re prepared to pay more and perhaps drink less because it’s more
MILD CURRIES A medium dry cider goes well with spicy Indian snacks or a mild curry like a korma.
CHEESE Camembert-style cheeses are the outstanding pairings but Cheddar and semi-hard cheeses like Gruyère and Appenzeller are also good.
flavoursome. “Previously people would have gone out and only drank a pint of Guinness. That’s not the reality anymore. It is for some people but for the consumer in the craft sector, they will have their favourites but they will try everything. It means everyone gets a little bite of it.” So that’s the cider, but what about the name? Who is Dan Kelly? Well, he turns out to be another of McNeece’s great grandfathers, who drove trains for the Great Northern Railway and who would have passed by the orchard’s current location along the main Dublin-Belfast line on a regular basis. McNeece says he’s proud to see his great grandfather’s name live on through the cider. And live on it surely will. With vinegar, juice, cider and apples now in McNeece’s
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INDUSTRY
locker, the success of the family business looks set to continue, and you have to wonder if there’s anything else from the orchard or farm in Co Louth that could be developed into another enterprise. McNeece laughs. “I feel I’d have to cut myself in more pieces if we did anything else. We’re going to bring out a couple of different variants of the cider along with seasonal specials. The expression ‘if you’re not going forward you’re going backwards’ is very true in the craft cider market. People like to see something different. They like to see innovation and if you’re not doing it people will move away from you to somebody who is. We need to keep upping our game. After that, Christ, who knows?”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Olan at the 2015 Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards where Dan Kelly’s Cider won Best in County; an aerial shot taken of the Boyne Grove Fruit Farm; Olan with his father Gerard on the farm.
Find It... STOCKISTS OF THIS CIDER Dan Kelly’s Cider is widely available in bars, restaurants and off-licences throughout the country. You can view a full list of stockists at www.dankellyscider.com/ stockists. It is also available at a number of festivals nationwide, including the Big Grill and the Irish Craft Beer Festival. The cider is now exported to the US and recently a deal was reached to have it stocked in the major German outlet, Manufactum. EAR TO THE GROUND 43
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TURKEY
IS A BIG PROPONENT OF THE SUPERIOR QUALITY OF BRONZE TURKEYS, WHICH IS MARKED BY A DIFFERENCE IN THE COLOUR OF THE MEAT WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DARKER AND IN THE TASTE.
BYRNE
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TURKEY
Settling for
Bronze at Christmas
CONOR FORREST SPEAKS TO TWO IRISH PRODUCERS OF BRONZE TURKEYS ABOUT WHY CONSUMERS SHOULD OPT FOR THEIR FREE RANGE ALTERNATIVES.
You may have noticed in recent years that your Christmas turkey doesn’t taste quite the same as it used to – perhaps there’s less marbling in the fat, or maybe there’s less taste or less moisture than you might like. That’s because the turkey industry in Ireland is contracting, with many of the country’s turkeys now imported from industrial operations abroad. Such turkeys may not be grown to their fullest potential, instead slaughtered when they reach a certain weight. In 2013, 160,000 turkeys were imported to Ireland for sale over the Christmas period and, last December, IFA Poultry Chairman Nigel Reneghan urged consumers to support Irish farmers by buying turkeys reared in Ireland. “Buy an Irish turkey and be sure of what you’re getting for Christmas,” he said. “Irish turkeys are reared to the highest possible welfare standards and are fully traceable back to farm. By buying Irish, you will be supporting the hard work put in year-round on family farms throughout the country to produce top quality, sustainable food, you’ll help to support your local economy.” One of these Irish turkey-rearing operations can be found in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, going by the tongue-in-cheek name of Termonfeckin Delicious. At the helm of the farm is David McEvoy, who raises a particular breed of turkey for the Irish Christmas market – the bronze turkey, which is considered to be one of the best tasting turkeys around. What sets McEvoy’s turkeys apart from the rest is a mixture of breed and rearing, he explains. “Our turkeys are completely different than 99.9 per cent of the turkeys sold at Christmas, which are fast growing and killed between 12-16 weeks of age. Our turkeys are 26 weeks old at Christmas. If you were to compare a 5kg bird of mine with a 5kg bird from the supermarket, there’s 53 per cent more meat on my turkey versus the industrial turkey. Industrial
turkeys are not grown to their full potential anymore, they’re basically killed when they hit a weight,” he says. McEvoy also places an emphasis on how well his flock is treated. Fed on a diet of whole wheat, his flock is allowed to roam free as much as possible. In addition, while indoor turkeys are debeaked to prevent them attacking one another and causing damage, McEvoy doesn’t have to resort to such measures. “The birds are out every day and they’re not bored. It’s an animal welfare thing as much as anything – the taste, touch and smell of a turkey is in its beak.” So, what can the ordinary consumer do to ensure they’re purchasing a quality turkey at Christmas? McEvoy recommends checking the label first to ensure its origin is Irish. “Then, a really good way to tell if the turkey is reasonably finished is if they place the flat of their hand on the breast of the turkey through the bag, and if they feel a bone coming up through the breast they know they have an immature turkey,” he explains. “The meat should build around the bone and if the turkey is grown like ours, over the correct period of time, you will have a good breast of meat. If you can feel the bone it means the bird was killed before it should have been.” Ronan Byrne, also known as The Friendly Farmer, operates his poultry farm along similar lines, producing free range bronze turkeys and geese on his farm in Athenry, Co Galway, selling
direct from the farm as well as via a pop up farm shop in Galway market. “We’ll hopefully do about 900 turkeys for Christmas and maybe 150 geese. Raising turkeys is like walking a tightrope – everything has to be paid particular attention to. It takes very good management of them to make sure that everything is spot on – bedding is very important. Geese are a lot easier to handle. Then we have our own on-farm abattoir so we’ll slaughter for a lot of farmers in the locality as well,” he explains. “We’ll be flat out here from the December 5th onwards. We do bronze turkeys and the traditional goose as well. We sell a lot of our products to the higher end restaurants.” Byrne is a big proponent of the superior quality of bronze turkeys, marked by a difference in the colour of the meat – which is slightly darker – and in the taste. “Taste is the big difference; bronze turkeys are the Angus of turkeys, basically. There’s a better taste, better texture in the meat, flavour, and more marbling in the meat, like a good steak.” And his advice on cooking your Christmas turkey this festive season? “Breast down, no tinfoil, and 20 minutes per pound at about 180 degrees.” Simple as that. For more information on bronze turkeys, raising methods and how to order a bronze turkey for Christmas, you can visit www.termonfeckindelicious.ie or thefriendlyfarmer.blogspot.ie. EAR TO THE GROUND 45
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FEATURE
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FEATURE
Low Carbon Cows EcoFriendly Cows
THE DAIRY AND BEEF SECTOR ARE SET FOR GROWTH WITH THE ABOLITION OF MILK QUOTAS AND THE OUTPUT TARGETS OF HARVEST 2020. BUT AS THE STOCK OF COWS INCREASES, HOW CAN CARBON EMISSIONS BE MANAGED? EAR TO THE GROUND INVESTIGATES.
IRISH GRASSFED BEEF HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST CARBON FOOTPRINTS GLOBALLY IRELAND
19 KG OF CO2/KG
EU
22.2KG OF CO2/KG
BRAZIL
80KG OF CO2/KG Study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, based on a full lifecycle analysis
Cows, of course, are of enormous value to the Irish economy. Beef accounts for 21 per cent of our food and drink exports; Ireland is the fifth largest beef exporter in the world and the largest exporter of beef in Europe. Harvest 2020 set a target for the beef sector of a 20 per cent increase in output by the end of this decade. In terms of dairy, Ireland is the tenth largest export nation in the world, exporting 85 per cent of all dairy outputs. Dairy presents the largest growth opportunity for the Irish food industry with the recent abolition of milk quotas and, in line with the objectives of Harvest 2020, dairy production is set to increase by 50 per cent. In Ireland, agricultural emissions account for approximately 30 per cent of national emissions; beef and dairy production accounts for 50 per cent of agriculture greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Ireland. However, things are
improving. Irish farmers have been on a journey to reduce emissions for quite a while; research by Teagasc has shown that in 2013, each meal of Irish food produced 15 per cent less GHG than the same meal in 1990. The export potential of both beef and dairy are hinged on Ireland’s reputation as a green island, our grass-reared beef and dairy cows and sustainable farms. The question is how can these industries be intensified and sustained? Around the world there’s talk of eco cows and lowcarbon herds. In Devon, scientists at Rothamsted Research are studying three herds of eco cows. One field is packed with ‘novel’ grasses that contain more sugar and are easily digested; a second herd will be fed plants that produce protein. Each herd will be measured and compared with each other. In New Zealand, AgResearch is developing a grass plant that has almost triple the of lipids of standard grasses, which it estimates
EAR TO THE GROUND 49
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FEATURE
view ... MANAGING EMISSIONS EVA SAYS:
“THE QUANTITY AND TYPE OF FEED ALSO INFLUENCES THE MILK SOLIDS PRODUCTION OF A DAIRY COW. THEREFORE IT IS POSSIBLE TO ALTER THE METHANE EMISSIONS PER KILO OF MILK SOLIDS PRODUCED.”
could lead to a 30 per cent reduction in methane. Eco cows: they are what they eat. Dr Eva Lewis is a dairy cow nutrition research scientist at Teagasc and is currently looking at the dietary effects on cows’ production of methane. “The quantity of methane produced in the rumen is dependent on the quantity of feed consumed and the type of feeds consumed. In general, the more an animal eats per day the more methane per day is produced. And in general poor quality feeds produce greater quantities of methane per day than high quality feeds. “The quantity and type of feed also influences the milk solids production of a dairy cow. Therefore it is possible to alter the methane emissions per kilo of milk solids produced.” Teagasc Moorepark has conducted research on the effect of a dairy cow’s diet on milk production and enteric methane emissions. Dr Lewis says in grass-based dairy cow production, controlling the herbage mass of the grass is an important management tool – herbage mass is related to grass quality and better grass leads to better milk production. “We measured the effect of grass herbage mass on the enteric methane emissions of dairy cows in mid lactation in summer. Cows grazing lower herbage mass grass produced less methane per cow per day and per kilo of milk solids than cows grazing higher herbage mass grass.
KEVIN SAYS:
DR EVA LEWIS, Research Scientist at Teagasc says that, in general, poor quality feeds produce greater quantities of methane per day than high quality feeds.
KEVIN TUCK, MD, Alltech European Bioscience Centre believes that improved farm efficiency and profitability will improve Ireland’s carbon footprint.
“Implementing good grazing management by grazing lower herbage mass grass results in increased milk solids production, which is good for farmers and milk processors, and reduces methane emissions, which is good for the environment.” Dr Lewis is currently involved in a project called PrecisionNutrition at Teagasc Moorepark, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Research Stimulus Fund. “Generally in the spring time and in the autumn time there is not enough grass on a farm to fully feed the cows, and so farmers graze the cows but also offer them a supplementary feed. The objective of PrecisionNutrition is to test the effect of a number of different supplementary feeds on the milk solids production of the cows, but also on milk quality, nitrogen efficiency and enteric methane emissions,” she says. At Alltech European Bioscience Centre Kevin Tuck, Managing Director, agrees feed is key to simultaneously achieving production and environmental targets and thereby the profitability of dairy and beef farms. “Reductions in GHG emissions are a consequence of animals using their feed intake more efficiently and as a result, producing less waste. It is important to understand that all feed ingredients, grazed grass included, have a global warming potential (GWP) value set by the Carbon Trust.” Alltech has developed a tool called
“REDUCTIONS IN GHG EMISSIONS ARE A CONSEQUENCE OF ANIMALS USING THEIR FEED INTAKE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND AS A RESULT, PRODUCING LESS WASTE.”
the In Vitro Fermentation Model (IFM), a monitoring technology using the laboratory-based artificial rumen to measure both digestibility and production capability of a feed and its potential gas production. “This allows us to make adaptations to the proposed feed for more precisely defined potential methane emissions whilst maximising digestion and nutritive value,” explains Tuck. All areas of GHG emissions are controlled by the Carbon Trust, which has predetermined the GWP values for every feed ingredient. Tuck also points to a range of additive technologies (such as YEA-SACC® and OPTIGEN®) which have been shown to lower the GWP of a diet by up to 20 per cent. Recent environmental assessment conducted by Alltech on 58 dairy units across Europe has shown just how much efficiency improvements can boost a farm’s profitability, while also reducing its carbon footprint. In the study which was carried out utilising Alltech E-CO2 environmental tools, various herd efficiency improvements delivered on average an extra €238 per cow per year, yet there was a significant drop in the level of CO2 emitted. Tuck says these results show that improved farm efficiency and profitability will improve Ireland’s carbon footprint. “This will allow Ireland, through its unique Bord Bia Origin Green platform, to stand over its claim to be the world leader in sustainable dairy and beef production.”
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This revolutionary system controls intake from full rations down to 2kg/day for cattle and 200g/day for sheep.
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FOODWISE 2025
Ireland’s recent economic troubles have had a number of impacts, including the reinforcement that the agri-food sector is critical to the wider economy. According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture, Irish food and beverage exports have continued to perform strongly – rising to a record high of around €10.5 billion between 2009 and 2014, a 45 per cent increase, demonstrating an impressive resilience as a whole. This resilience has meant that Government and other interested stakeholders have taken a keen interest in ensuring that this growth is sustainable, and continues on a long-term basis. The Harvest 2020 strategy, for example, published in 2010, set out a roadmap for the growth of Irish agri-food, forestry and fisheries, and aimed to increase these sectors’ primary output value by €1.5 bn, with export targets of €12bn, among others. Building on a successful decade thus far, the successor to Harvest 2020 arrived this year in the guise of Food Wise 2025, which projects export growth to rise to €19bn per annum by 2025, representing a not insubstantial 85 per cent increase should it come to fruition. “I think it’s about continuing the ambition for developing, modernising and growing the food sector in Ireland through innovation and new thinking, while prioritising the environment and sustainability, and bringing a new generation of people and graduates into the food sector,” ex-
Merging
Science & Tradition IN THE WAKE OF THE LAUNCH OF FOOD WISE 2025, CONOR FORREST SPOKE WITH MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE SIMON COVENEY ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAMME AND WHAT IT ENTAILS.
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FOODWISE 2025
Minister Coveney launching Food Wise 2025
plains Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Coveney also notes that the new programme could be seen as continuing and building on the aims outlined in Food Harvest 2020, with the addition of the aforementioned environmental and sustainability concerns, as well as a consideration of the importance of climate change for the agri-food sector. “Food Harvest 2020 was primarily about adding value to product and increasing value,” he explains. “Food Wise is an extension in terms of continuing the growth story, but also having a big focus on adding value through innovation and new technology, and also ensuring that we provide the audit and management systems to prove that we are actually creating food in a way that is sustainable.” What is also important is a clear shift in thinking – Coveney notes that the focus has now moved from simply producing commodities like milk to the production of premium products that will come with a premium price tag – increased organic and gluten-free products, infant nutrition, sports-based products and more, broadening the sector’s depth and breadth, an important step if the aim of increasing the
value of agri-food exports by 85 per cent to €19bn is to be realised. Innovation is key here. The report notes that “research, development and innovation (RDI) are key drivers of competiveness and central to maintaining competitiveness in the long-term,” and calls for increased investment in research and development across the country in order to deliver on economic growth and targets. Another major point of the new strategy, and one which Coveney is keen to make reference to, is the need to move forward with both the environment and sustainable practices in mind, “identifying smarter and greener ways to deliver sustainable growth so that it can contribute to our ongoing recovery,” in the words of Taoiseach Enda Kenny. In the face of increasing pressure on natural resources, brought about by a mixture of global food demand and the impact of climate change, Ireland faces a significant challenge in meeting targets in relation to air quality, biodiversity and water quality, in which the agricultural sector has a large role to play. If the growth of this sector is to come about on a sustainable basis as set out in Food Wise, these challenges must be addressed head on. Coveney in-
“WHAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT IS A CLEAR SHIFT IN THINKING COVENEY NOTES THAT THE FOCUS HAS NOW MOVED FROM SIMPLY PRODUCING COMMODITIES LIKE MILK TO THE PRODUCTION OF PREMIUM PRODUCTS.”
SIMON SAYS:
sists that that will be the case, using the dairy industry as an example. “People ask me all the time ‘how can you increase dairy output by 50 per cent in five years and not damage the environment?’ Of course my answer to that is that every dairy farm in the country is going to be operating under a sustainability plan in terms of the dairy sustainability scheme, which all dairy farmers are signing up to, so we’re going to monitor the growth in a way that ensures we protect the environment and limit emissions.” There’s no doubt that this strategy is both comprehensive and ambitious. But will the sector be able to overcome the hurdles that stand in its way to such success? Price volatility, for example, remains a major challenge, particularly in relation to the core strands of the food industry – dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and poultry. To combat this, Coveney notes that solutions are being researched, including the development of a futures market for dairy products in Ireland, which would allow for a price benchmark and could result in a decrease in risks surrounding the pricing of milk, as well as the establishment of a beef and dairy forum to discuss the required strategic changes. Land availability also remains an issue – young farmers who are looking to expand and grow but are unable to do so. “We’re also looking at generational change in agriculture in terms of getting a new generation active and wanting to farm, and that’s a policy that’s working,” Coveney adds. “There are more young farmers in agricultural college at the moment than we’ve ever seen before, and now we need to help them take over the reigns and ownership of the family farm over time. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I think the actual structures to find a way forward in those areas and to overcome obstacles are very much there.” Overall, Coveney remains optimistic – that the agri-food sector will overcome the challenges in its path, and that Food Wise 2025 will represent a very achievable target, assuming widespread support from all parties. “There are exciting things happening in farming and agriculture. We’re essentially merging science with tradition in terms of maintaining family farm structure but actually applying innovation and science to the way in which we measure and audit, and on the back of that improve the way in which we produce food.”
54 EAR TO THE GROUND
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COVER STORY
56 EAR TO THE GROUND
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darragh’s with deal dairy WITH THE FIRM BELIEF THAT DAIRY PRODUCTION IS AS SUSTAINABLE IN IRELAND AS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, EAR TO THE GROUND’S DARRAGH MCCULLOUGH RECENTLY ENTERED A PROFITSHARING PARTNERSHIP WITH A NEIGHBOURING DAIRY FARMER. HERE HE OUTLINES THE THINKING BEHIND THE DEAL AND HOW IT HAS GONE THUS FAR.
I
n 2014 I happened to be talking to my neighbour Joe Leonard. He had casually asked if there was any chance of renting “a few acres”, the same way that all commercial farmers are habitually on the prowl for land, but especially so in this little 40km stretch north of Malahide. Joe was only doing what every farmer worth his salt does when sounding me out for those few acres. The difference in this case was that it was something that both myself and my Dad, Eamon, were interested in. Except, maybe not in the way that Joe had originally intended. We had rented out parts of the farm in previous years for various different crops, and were beginning to feel that the land was gradually being mined of its core fertility. This isn’t a reflection on quality of the farmers that were renting the land from us. It was just a fact that constantly cropping land gradually diminishes the organic matter, pH and major nutrients in the soil. You could say that this is the price you pay for the ‘easy money’ that short-term rental provides. At the same time, we were watching the rise and rise of the Irish dairy industry, with its world class research in the form of Teagasc, and global reach through the likes of Kerry, Glanbia and EAR TO THE GROUND 57
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DARRAGH SAYS:
L-R: Eamon and Darragh McCullough with Matt, Joe and Peter Leonard
Ornua (formerly the Irish Dairy Board). I’ve had the benefit of being able to travel the world looking at all types of farming systems, but especially dairy set-ups. I’ve worked on a 80 cow farm in Italy’s Po Valley where the world-famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese hails from. I spent over six months working with top class pedigree herds in Germany and Illinois where individual cows were worth more than $100,000. I also accompanied nutritionists advising large, housed dairy herds the length of California and reported from 20 cow hand-milked herds in Romania, a 15,000 milking ewe farm in New Zealand, and a 20,000 mega-dairy in Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, in every one of these systems there was an Irish connection of some sort, from outright management in the case of Saudi Arabia to the Irish students milking in New Zealand. Not only were these experiences fascinating, but they reinforced in me a belief
that dairy production is as sustainable in Ireland as anywhere in the world, allowing it to go toe-to-toe with any competition in the perilous international marketplace. So when Joe came knocking, both myself and my Dad saw an opportunity. Not only was this a chance to put hardworked land back into permanent pasture (and thus build the organic matter and fertility to optimum levels again), but here was possibly a chance to get back into a sector that had long-term prospects. You might notice the word ‘back’ in that last sentence. We were milking cows at home until the mid-noughties. But my increasing media opportunities, coupled with my Dad’s desire to ease back his own workload, made us hang up the clusters one last time in 2005. In the interim, Eamon went into partnership with a cousin. So the possibility of forming a partner-
How is ... DARRAGH COPING WITH THE PRICE DROP? Farm lobbyists won’t thank me for saying this, but I think that the Irish dairy industry escaped the worst of the price falls this year. Yes, prices have fallen to uneconomic lows of 25c/l, but for the spring calving herd, the majority of the milk was sold at much higher prices. In fact, CSO data shows that the average milk price for the first six months of 2015 was 30c/l. When bonuses for milk fat and protein and hygiene are added in, I expect the average milk price for the farm to come in at 30c/l. While it’s certainly a long way off last year’s record highs of over 40c/l, it is still above the level that all our long-term budgets have been structured around.
“MY CONFIDENCE IN BOTH THE SECTOR AND JOE’S SKILL AS A LOW COST OPERATOR ENCOURAGED ME TO LOOK FOR A PROFITSHARING PARTNERSHIP.”
ship with Joe and his brother Matt and their Dad Peter wasn’t far from our minds when Joe mentioned his interest in utilising our land. While the simplest thing for both parties would have been to simply agree on a straight rent or lease, my confidence in both the sector and Joe’s skill as a low cost operator encouraged me to look for a profit-sharing partnership. The basis of the partnership is a 90:10 split on the profits from a 500 cow herd. How did we come up with this percentage? We supplied 10 per cent of the cows and replacements, but we also had to supply 10 per cent of the infrastructure required to facilitate both the milking of and the accommodation of the whole herd. My Dad was the main architect of this - and it did take a lot of figuring out. In simple terms, we used costings from projects such as Teagasc’s Greenfield demonstration farm in Kilkenny to get valuations on facilities such as accommodation, laneways, milking parlours, and slurry storage. The land is simply valued on the basis of the amount of livestock units that it is able to support. All the labour and management is supplied by the Leonards, which suits both parties. For the Leonards, it gives them total control over the day-to-day operations, and indeed the bigger decisions that are shaping the profitability of the herd. For myself and Eamon the ability to focus on our other occupations and enterprises allows us to continue without taking on extra workload. Obviously, we pay for the privilege of Leonard’s time and management, but again I like to think that this is a good deal for both parties in that it allows the Leonards to leverage their excellent management skills. Personally, I don’t think that anyone could do a better job. As with any new venture or major expansion, there were teething problems. The biggest of these by far was an outbreak of salmonella in the calves during the spring that resulted in a demoralising
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mortality rate of over 20 per cent. It was a sore loss, and one that has prompted a €7,500 vaccination regime. Crucially however, we will still have enough female replacements when the first of these calves begins to calve down in spring 2017. In addition, it has prompted a complete overhaul in the rearing plan to cope with newborn calves in 2016. One of the biggest problems during spring 2015 was that low value bull calves were harbouring disease that subsequently infected the replacement heifer calves. One of the unsavoury options on the table was to simply shoot these calves at birth. Horrific as it sounds, the reality is that the bull calf from dairy crossbreds that include the dreaded Jersey (if you are a beef farmer) is often worth little more than €10. This barely covers the cost of tagging the animal and feeding it milk for the first two weeks of its life before you are allowed to sell them. When you add in the risk that they pose to their €300 heifer counterparts, cold economics suggests that they should be simply ‘disposed of’ at birth.
DARRAGH SAYS:
“ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS DURING SPRING 2015 WAS THAT LOW VALUE BULL CALVES WERE HARBOURING DISEASE.”
Thankfully, a different solution has been put in place, with beef finisher being sourced to remove the bull calves as early as possible and for free. It’s one of those elements of modern agriculture that just doesn’t seem right. But the research and the numbers don’t lie crossbred Friesians repeatedly come out of Teagasc trials with higher profitability
than their pure Friesian equivalents due to the hybrid vigour that crossbreeding delivers for fertility and productivity. But there’s got to be a better way to deal with the crossbred dairy bull calf that is rapidly being consigned to biological waste - it’s one of the issues that I am keen to explore during the filming of the next Ear to the Ground series. Surely this problem’s moral element should make the introduction of sexed semen technology a priority for the national breeding industry? That whole episode increased an already heavy workload and, when combined with the emotional stress of the scenario, has also prompted a greater determination to introduce more labour into the mix during spring 2016. Grass growth was good and looks set to equal last year’s record 15t/ha, and the excellent grazing conditions throughout the year has enabled projected meals to be kept at just 150kg per cow for the year, and good quality silage to be saved for the winter.
The Land Hunt DARRAGH ON THE VEG MEN’S SEARCH FOR SOIL The soils in north County Dublin, east Meath, and on up into Baltray and Clougherhead are early (due to their proximity to the sea), accessible (good road network and close to the cluster of fresh produce merchants based in Dublin), and workable (light soils). This last trait is most prominent around Rush, where soils are a beautiful sand that are capable of being cropped up to three times a year. The best realised this years ago - so much so that families of farmers from as far away as Holland and Belgium were drawn to the area to ply their legendary vegetable, fruit and flower growing skills. Consider for a moment then, the tragedy that is the disappearance of these soils forever under concrete as housing estates and retail parks creep out from Dublin. As the traditional market gardening areas of Rush, Lusk, Kinseally, and Donabate are being sacrificed for housing and development, the north County Dublin veg growers have drifted further north, up to my area of east Meath, and further still, across the Boyne into the wee county of Louth. However, the reality is that the North County men were going to be forced to look beyond their patch sooner rather than later. The intensity of the cropping practiced
does take a toll on the natural structures that allow soil to breath and nourish crops, and more and more land is classed as ‘spun out’ by the veg men. The specialisation of cropping hasn’t helped either. I encounter the same problems with my daffodil enterprise. If, like me, you grow 60ac of a high value crop like flower bulbs, you cannot take any chances with the rotation required to ensure that you are not planting into land with pest residues from the last crop of bulbs. The recommended rotation for daffodils is extreme - seven years break between harvesting one crop and the next time you can go back into the same field again with narcissi - but the same principle applies to spuds, cabbage, carrots, or any other crop you care to mention. So in order to grow 60ac of daffodils, in theory I need 200ac of light land to rotate that crop - I’m not that lucky. The same is the case for the majority of fresh produce growers. We are all involved in this delicate diplomatic dance where we are combing the countryside looking for suitable blocks of land to rent or lease, conscious always of the incumbent and the acrimony that changes in tenancy creates.
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ADVERTISING
Henry Shefflin pictured with Cathal, Catherine and Kieran O’Sullivan, overall winners of the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards, 2015 #MadeForThis
Irish Dairy Farmers are #MadeforThis The NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards highlight the best of Ireland’s dairy sector. The NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards are a celebration of the best of Irish dairy farming. Zoë Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council explains: “Through this award programme we see the passion for progressing and learning the newest and best way of doing things; combined with a heartfelt wish to take care of and improve on the farm, so that it can be passed on to next generation with care and pride.” Kevin Lane, Chief Executive of Ornua, says that finalists and winners each year are role models who raise the bar for everyone in the industry, encouraging all of us to work harder and do more. The 13 dairy farms shortlisted for the 2015 national awards were put under intensive scrutiny involving rigorous analysis of milk quality reports and technical data spanning a full 12 month period. It included an inspection of the farms by the judges, allowing the judges to gain insights into the farm’s practices around areas such as milking routine, animal welfare and sustainability. The
national judging panel included Professor Patrick Wall, Associate Professor of Public Health at UCD; Dr David Gleeson, Milk Quality Research, Teagasc; and Dr. Jack Kennedy, Dairy Editor & Deputy Editor, Irish Farmers Journal. On October 20th last, ten time All-Ireland hurling champion Henry Shefflin and Minister Tom Hayes TD presented the prizes at the national awards ceremony. The country’s top prize for farming the best quality milk was awarded to Kieran and Catherine O’Sullivan, from Dunmanus, Goleen, Co. Cork, who supply their milk to Drinagh Co-op. Kieran and Catherine were accompanied by 18-year-old son Cathal, who farms with them, and by Kieran’s parents Donal and Mary O’Sullivan. They received a prize of €5,000 and the coveted NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards perpetual cup. Kieran and Catherine are the fifth generation of their family to farm at Dunmanus, which is close to Mizen Head. “I inherited how my father used to do things but am still learning every day,”
says Kieran. “Now I see how Cathal is learning the ropes and I’m very proud to be able to pass on this knowledge and expertise to my son.” Runners-up in the national awards are Denis, Siobhan, Barry and Jane O’Mahony from Shanakiel, Kilbrittain, Bandon, Co. Cork, who supply milk to Barryroe Co-op. “All of the finalists clearly recognised that they are producing milk for the consumer and their attention to detail is outstanding, with an emphasis on healthy cows, spotless facilities and hygienic practices,” said Professor Wall, speaking for the judges. “The finalists and winners are fantastic role models for all dairy farmers and are great ambassadors for Ireland the Food Island.” A celebratory campaign under the heading #MadeForThis highlights the importance of heritage and the sense of collective kinship that exists in farm communities. These factors are behind the success of every great farmer and at the heart of what makes Irish dairy the best in the world.
FULL DETAILS ABOUT THE WINNERS, CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS AND FINALISTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.QUALITYMILKAWARDS.IE 62 EAR TO THE GROUND
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ADVERTISING
DeLaval’s Tim Hussey introduces Herd Navigator at the National Ploughing Championships. Tim is pictured with PJ Murphy from Co Limerick
Ahead of the Herd With its latest technology for dairy farmers, DeLaval is leading the way in the Irish agricultural revolution. Herd Navigator™ provides revolutionary insights into how science, research and technology is transforming dairying and giving the farmer a superior financial yield on each cow in his/her herd. The brainchild of robotic milking giant DeLaval, Herd Navigator™ is designed to provide producers with an enhanced overview of their entire herd whilst offering specific valuable information on individual cows. It allows Irish milk producers to identify significantly more cows in heat than can be seen with current heat detection aids – such as activity meters – or visual checks to spot mastitis before it affects the milk. Milk producers will also be made aware of cows affected by different metabolic disorders before actual symptoms are visible to the naked eye. DeLaval’s Herd Navigator™ does this by automatically measuring different components in the milk while the cow is being milked. “This is undoubtedly the management tool of the future. It takes so much pressure off the farmer and delivers accurate results, which will increase the financial yield from each cow by around €267 per cow per year,” says Kieran
FitzGerald, VMS Solutions Manager, Britain and Ireland. “Herd Navigator works as an add-on to DeLaval’s successful robotic milking system, the Voluntary Milking System or VMS.” Early warnings alert the milk producer to the appropriate quick action needed for individual cows, for reproduction, udder health and nutrition. Proactive action will also improve animal welfare and food safety. Herd Navigator™ focus areas include reproduction, udder health and feeding. Using sophisticated bio-modelling, analytical results are presented on the farmer’s computer in a clear form that makes it easy to spot animals that need special attention including: n Cows in heat, pregnant cows and cows with reproduction disorders or abortions n Cows that are developing mastitis, days before clinical signs can be seen n Early detection of ketosis cases or imbalance in feed ration The new system will give the milk producer a better overview of the whole herd while providing valuable
information on individual cows. DeLaval is a worldwide leader in milking equipment and solutions for dairy farmers that make sustainable food production possible, warranting milk quality and animal health. Its solutions are used by millions of dairy farmers around the globe every day. DeLaval was founded more than 130 years ago in Sweden, when the visionary Gustaf de Laval patented the cream separator. Today, DeLaval has 4,500 employees and operates in more than 100 markets. DeLaval, alongside Tetra Pak and Sidel, is part of the Tetra Laval Group. See more at www. delavalcorporate.com. DeLaval robotic milking systems are transforming the face of dairy farming across Ireland and further afield. They are now responsible for delivering 38 per cent of Ireland’s milk pool each year. That’s more than 380,000 cows on almost 6,500 farms on the island being milked by DeLaval technology with the company having very ambitious plans for growth in the pipeline as the face of Irish dairying undergoes major change.
FOR MORE ON HOW DELAVAL IS LEADING THE WAY IN THE IRISH AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION VISIT WWW.DELAVAL.COM 64 EAR TO THE GROUND
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Promoting health & reproduction throughout the entire life cycle of the herd
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for
ACORNS IS A NEW INITIATIVE TO ASSIST FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. AS THE PROGRAMME BEGINS, VALERIE JORDAN TALKS TO SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND FINDS OUT ABOUT THE DIVERSE RANGE OF BUSINESSES INVOLVED.
The recently launched ACORNS initiative came about as a result of the report of CEDRA, which recommended a fund be developed to support business potential in rural Ireland. The programme aims to address the skills, enterprise and capability gaps of female entrepreneurs living in rural areas. Director Paula Fitzsimons says: “I believe that significant untapped entrepreneurial potential exists among women in rural Ireland. I am convinced that we can harness that potential for the good of the individuals concerned, their local communities and the wider economy.” ACORNS is based on a belief that entrepreneurs learn best from each other – round table sessions are facilitated not by academics or consultants but by experienced female entrepreneurs. The lead entrepreneurs, including Deirdre McGlone of Harvey’s Point, Anne Cusack of Critical Healthcare and Anne Reilly of Paycheck Plus, volunteer their time to assist the participants to achieve their business goals. “My hope is that the participants will gain in confidence and knowledge over the course of the programme; that the new businesses not yet trading will be established on firm foundations positioned for growth; and that those already trading will be strengthened and as a result increase their sales and employment,” says Fitzsimons. There are 48 women taking part in the pilot programme, spanning a diverse range of businesses and levels of establishment. From beehives to jarred tuna and farm safety, Ear to the Ground takes a look at some of ACORNS’ inaugural business ventures.
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Celtic Escargots Catherine Cocollos is married to a Frenchman, Richie, and developed a taste for snails when she lived in Nice. Last May, after some extensive research they brought 300,000 baby snails from France to a halfacre site beside their Galway home. It’s not just about Catherine’s personal taste though. The global market for edible snails is 300,000 tonnes, valued at €1 billion. The French and Italian markets alone amount to €300 million. It’s a growing market, at about 4.5 per cent per annum. There’s also a global and a French shortage of snails. Catherine’s crop is just about ready to be harvested
FROM: Co Galway INDUSTRY: Snail Farming HERE SINCE: 2015 OBJECTIVE: Making use of the snail
when we speak. “We fed them all summer and now they’re ready for picking. We’ll purge them and put them into hibernation and they can then be transported anywhere at five degrees,” she says. While most of Catherine’s crop will be going back to France she reveals there is a myriad of uses for the animal. “We’re working with a consultant who’s taking some of them for use in the cosmetics industry. They’ve a massive use in the beauty industry – way more than you might realise. He’s created a tool to extract the slime from the snail without killing it. It’s got great properties for healing
the skin and contains lots of collagen. “Snail eggs can be used to make caviar – there’s a business in the UK just doing that. The snail is such a beautiful animal. Nothing is wasted, everything can be used.” Catherine’s first challenge was to keep the snails alive. Now that she’s achieved that she needs to grow Celtic Escargots as a business. There is a growing interest in snail farming in Ireland (recently a dedicated convention was held by Organic Trust on snail farming) and she wants to explore the idea of setting up a nursery to produce the baby snails here.
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ACORNS
“THE SNAIL IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL. NOTHING IS WASTED, EVERYTHING CAN BE USED.”
CATHERINE SAYS:
ABOVE: Catherine and Richie Cocollos of Celtic Escargots BELOW: Celtic Escargots snails
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ACORNS
“IT’S SUCH A DIFFERENT TASTE AND DIFFERENT TEXTURE TO TINNED TUNA IT’S LIKE COMPARING MINCED MEAT AND SIRLOIN STEAK.”
CIARA SAYS:
Hiveshare bees at Brookfield Farm
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Ciara Shine is ACORN’s youngest recruit. The 23-year old recently graduated from university and joined the burgeoning family business selling jarred Irish-caught albacore tuna. It’s the first time this albacore tuna is being sold commercially in Ireland, but the Shines have been privy to it for years. “We were on holidays in the Basque country as kids and we were visiting a fishbuyer friend whose mother gave us this albacore tuna that she did in olive oil in glass jars. We tried it as kids and that’s what tuna was to us – tuna from
tins just wasn’t the same,” says Ciara. The Shines were so fond of this tuna that their friend would send jars of it to Donegal if there was a Killybegs boat in his town. Eventually the Shines decided it was time to bring this product to market in Ireland. They found out that there is a restricted quota of albacore tuna caught off the west coast of Ireland for a short season – which was being sent to Spain until then – and started sourcing it from the Irish boats. It’s responsibly caught, too. Dolphin ‘pingers’ are fitted to nets to
FROM: Co Donegal INDUSTRY: Fisheries HERE SINCE: 2015 OBJECTIVE: Bringing Irish caught albacore tuna to market
keep curious dolphins a safe distance away, while smaller vessels use poles and lures to catch the fish. The Killybegs natives then travelled to the Basque country to learn about the hand-filleting and preservation of the tuna in salt and olive oil. “There’s nothing else in there,” confirms Ciara. “The jars have about a four-year shelf life because of the natural way it’s preserved. “Our line is ‘once tasted you’ll be hooked’. It’s such a different taste and different texture to tinned tuna – it’s like comparing minced
meat and sirloin steak. We’re also calling it Ireland’s best-kept secret. The albacore tuna has been fished off Ireland for years but no one had even heard of it.” The product hit shelves just last April and in September Ciara was selected for the ACORNS initiative. “I never expected I’d get so much from even one session. The energy of everyone supporting everyone else is incredible and I’m so excited to meet other people in business and make contacts and connections.” www. shinesseafood.ie
PHOTO: ANNA FRINS
Shines Irish Caught Tuna
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ACORNS
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Hiveshare Ailbhe Gerrard is certainly enterprising. A former project manager, she studied sustainable development and organic farming and has now been farming at Brookfield in Tipperary for a number of years, developing skills from forestry to tillage; she sells lamb direct and cold-presses
her own rapeseed. More recently she got into honey and beekeeping, and came up with the notion of Hiveshare, to foster community support for bees and local honey. “Last year I saw a competition in the Irish Times for a stand at the RDS Craft Show and I entered my concept of Hiveshare.
FROM: Co Tipperary INDUSTRY: Honey producer HERE SINCE: 2014 OBJECTIVE: Fostering community support for bees and local honey I won and then I had about five weeks to run around and put everything together,” reveals Ailbhe. She describes it as “the sweetest gift”; Hiveshare is like sponsoring an apiary. The share comes in a handmade gift box with a Hiveshare cert, a taste of honey and a beeswax gift, like a candle or balm.
You can invest in an eighth of a hive or an entire queen beehive. Share-owners get updates and pictures of the apiary and what’s happening on the farm. After the harvest they’re invited to the ‘honey celebration’ at Brookfield to collect their share of honey. Ailbhe also wants to bring the story of
Irish honey to the fore. “94 per cent of the honey eaten in Ireland is imported, but there are lots of advantages to eating home-grown honey. It helps with allergies and hay fever, and because the country is so small local honey is anywhere in Ireland. Raw honey is particularly good as it isn’t heat-treated. Our honey is coldfiltered. All imported honey is heat-treated which damages the natural enzymes so it doesn’t have the
same health benefits.” Ailbhe’s honey and beeswax products are for sale on her website and stocked in Killruddery House and Shannon Duty Free. “I’m in online sales, I’m stocked in a few shops and I’ve Hiveshare. I’ve three strands and I want to ensure they develop and commercialise properly. The main thing about ACORNS is I feel that someone has my back in developing my business.” www.brookfield.farm
AILBHE SAYS:
“OUR HONEY IS COLDFILTERED. ALL IMPORTED HONEY IS HEATTREATED WHICH DAMAGES THE NATURAL ENZYMES SO IT DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME HEALTH BENEFITS.”
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SUSTAINABLE USE DIRECTIVE
WHAT IS IT? The SUD is a new EU directive governing all aspects of pesticide use. It is being implemented in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture to include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, seed dressings and certain rodenticides. WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE? The overall aims of the SUD are to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment, and to promote the use of integrated pest management (IPM) and of alternative approaches or techniques to pesticides. WHO WILL THE SUD AFFECT? The SUD will affect the following: • Pesticide advisors • Pesticide distributors (merchants) • Professional users of pesticides (farmers, sprayer operators, spraying companies) • Inspectors of sprayer equipment WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL USER OF PESTICIDES? • A professional user is any person who uses pesticides in the course of their professional activities, including operators, technicians, employers and self-employed people, both in the farming and other
•
sectors. Farmers must be registered with the Department of Agriculture. Amateur use pesticides (e.g. home garden products) are not covered by the SUD.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DOES A FARMER NEED TO BE REGISTERED? A farmer must have completed an approved pesticide course. Holland Safety delivers the QQI/FETAC 5N0731 handheld pesticide courses. For more details contact info@hsec.ie or phone 01 401 9600. WHAT ARE THE SANCTIONS UNDER THE SUD? The SUD will be inspected as part of cross compliance. Breaches may be subject to a penalty of €250 but in future that may be a percentage of Single Farm Payments. WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU KNOW? • According to Teagasc, boom sprayers (greater than 3m wide) must be tested by November 26th 2016. • Farmers must keep records of all sprays applied.
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For further information visit www.pcs. agriculture.gov.ie/sud EAR TO THE GROUND 71
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FEATURE
Esther on the farm in Co Waterford
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? I grew up on a 70-acre suckler farm in Rathgormack near Carrick-on-Suir in Co Waterford. I was always out dosing, herding, and bringing in the hay. That’s the beauty of a smaller farm operation, there’s always something that needs to be done.
HOW DID YOU END UP FARMING IN NEW ZEALAND? I had always wanted to go there. After I received my diploma in dairy farming along with my farm business management license, I decided I wanted to head off to New Zealand to work and travel. I spent the first year working on a family farm with about 700 cattle and the second on a farm in the south of New Zealand near Christchurch, with 1,400 cattle.
HOW DID IT COMPARE WITH WORKING ON FARMS IN IRELAND? The scale was the biggest difference, I was part of a team of eight. There was a farm manager, second-in-charge, herd managers and assistants. In Ireland, farmers work on their own a lot so working as part of a team was new to
Making it big in dairy ESTHER WALSH’S LOVE OF DAIRY FARMING CAME FROM HELPING HER LATE FATHER, MICHAEL, WHILE GROWING UP ON THE FAMILY FARM. TODAY, THROUGH HARD GRAFT, FORWARD PLANNING AND HER OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE, SHE RUNS A SUCCESSFUL 800 COW OPERATION IN LISMORE. EAR TO THE GROUND CAUGHT UP WITH THE WATERFORD NATIVE TO FIND OUT MORE.
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FEATURE ESTHER SAYS:
“FARMING IS BECOMING MORE ABOUT BUSINESS AND FARMERS NEED TO ADJUST THEIR THINKING AND RUN THEIR FARMS LIKE BUSINESSES. PROFITS WILL FOLLOW FROM THERE.” HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON ADMINISTRATION WORK? I’m trying to get to the stage where I’m 60 per cent at the desk and 40 per cent on the farm, I’d like to be able to take a step back from the day-to-day running of the farm and spend more time developing the farm. On larger scale farms more time needs to be put into the management of people than the management of cows. Some people say if you don’t want to manage people then you should get out of large scale farming.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED AS A FEMALE FARMER?
me. Dealing with so many people was a different side to farming that I hadn’t seen before New Zealand. Climate, scale, and land type are the big differences between farming in Ireland and New Zealand. It’s easier to look after 1,000 cows in New Zealand than it would be to look after 100 cows here. The climate and the land type make a huge difference. In New Zealand you can have your cows out all year round. They never have to be inside in a shed, and because of this the workload is halved. During the winter in Ireland, we have to feed cows silage, they are kept in cubicles and slurry needs to be maintained. Also, large scale farmers in New Zealand have created a system and that is what I am trying to do in Lismore farm; to create a single system, where anyone can walk on to the farm and fit into their role because the system works well and isn’t complicated. Everyone in the team should have their own roles and responsibilities. If people have roles
and responsibilities, you can make them accountable. In New Zealand, farming is seen as a business not a farm. Farms need to be managed like a business but that’s a challenge in itself too; most people like farming because they like the outdoors and being with animals and don’t want to be sitting at a desk.
SINCE YOU STARTED WORKING AT LISMORE FARMS TEN YEARS AGO WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MAIN CHALLENGES? There’s been an increase of 600 cows in the last ten years. The cows and the grass are not the hard part anymore. The biggest challenge is labour and staff, having people in different roles, employing a good team and trying to run the farm as smoothly as possible. There should also be a value put on the amount of time farmers spend going through the books and planning ahead. That’s the challenge, trying to change the mindset of people to run farms like a business.
Being a woman in a male dominated career, to a certain extent you’re going to have to prove yourself a little more than if you were a man. I’m not saying that is what everyone is thinking but at times I have felt that I needed to prove myself even more because I was a female. You find that you have to win people over or prove that you are able for the job before you’re fully trusted in your role. There have been certain jobs where they would pose questions like, ‘would she be able to drive that tractor?’ I definitely feel like you’re watched a bit more as a female. If I was a male, it probably wouldn’t be questioned whether or not I could drive a tractor.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING DAIRY FARMERS IN IRELAND TODAY? It’s about trying to change the mindset of farmers, encouraging farmers to spend more time planning. Farming is becoming more about business and farmers need to adjust their thinking and run their farms like businesses. Profits will follow from there. Staff will be another challenge going forward, if farms do increase in size and our milk output increases 50 per cent by 2020, we will need good quality people in place. Esther Walsh was in conversation with Rachel Murray
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PEOPLE
Moving On MIGRANT WORKERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE IRISH AGRI SECTOR. EAR TO THE GROUND MET LATVIAN STAFF AT REILLY’S MUSHROOMS IN WALDERSTOWN, CO WESTMEATH, JUST SOME OF THE FACES BEHIND THE FOOD ECONOMY. Although invisible to most people, the presence of migrant farm workers in rural communities throughout Ireland is undisputed. Many arrived here in the 2000s when EU enlargement coupled with an economy growing at a staggering pace made the country an attractive location to work. They came from Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and beyond, and began to fill the jobs that many Irish people deemed unfavourable. Gerry Reilly of Reilly Mushrooms in Co Westmeath is one farmer who knows how valuable these workers have been. His 50-strong staff comes from Latvia and he says it’s thanks to workers like these that mushroom farms in Ireland have managed to survive. His company, which grows and supplies mushrooms to the Irish and UK markets, had to change tack during the Celtic Tiger years when it came to recruiting workers. “We had an all-Irish workforce for about 15 years,” he explains. “While they were excellent, they moved on to better things. So we reached a situation where we were running out of workers. Back then, there was 1,000 mushroom farms, now there’s only 93. A lot of businesses just gave up. For us, getting workers in from eastern Europe, who are very willing to do the work – the kind of work that the Irish did in America, in the UK, and elsewhere – made a huge difference.” There is a lack of any reliable statistics on the number of migrant workers employed in the agri sector here, due in part to the seasonal nature
of some of the work, but Reilly estimates that there is somewhere in the region of 2,500 eastern Europeans now working in the mushroom business alone. And it was the mushroom sector itself that came under heavy criticism in the past when a number of businesses were found to be exploiting migrant workers. But things have improved vastly in recent years and there is much tighter regulation in place. Reilly says his business receives frequent visits from the likes of Sainsburys, Safeway and Tesco who carry out a comprehensive audit. “The sector had a bad name early on but nowadays it’s well regulated. We’ve all had visits from the National Employment Rights Authority and you’ll find that everyone in mushrooms now gets their full holiday pay, gets paid the proper rates, they get bank holidays, everything is above board. Years ago it was different, it was seen as cheap labour but nowadays it’s not. We have guys here working for us that are earning more than lorry drivers coming in. We’ve moved on, these jobs are not seen as cheap labour, they’re seen as necessary labour.” Reilly says migrant workers are part of a natural global cycle in which many end up moving on to better things. “The English stopped doing it years ago, the Irish went over and did it, it’s a natural evolution and a lot of Irish people will not go back to it. It’s happening with the eastern Europeans now, as people from Bulgaria and Romania start to take these jobs instead.” Gerry, Mary and Kevin Reilly
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PEOPLE
Ingus Berzinš
Ingus, who is son of Ineta, has been working at Reilly Mushrooms for three years now. Unlike many of his colleagues who came to Ireland directly from Latvia, Ingus spent some time living in Holland and Scandinavia before moving here. It was while living in Finland
that he received a call from his mother telling him there was a job available in Ireland. It was a welcome offer for Ingus who, at the time, had only been able to find seasonal work. Ingus brought with him plenty of experience having previously worked on his cousin’s
farm in Latvia, where he drove a tractor and carried out various other tasks. As for the job, Ingus says it’s not so bad. “At the start it wasn’t easy but now it’s good.” At present, Ingus is happy living in Ireland but says he wouldn’t rule out returning to Latvia some day.
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2 PAUL GORMAN
Raisa Protasenko Raisa could be described as a veteran of the mushroom industry in Ireland having worked at Reilly’s for 14 years. Her sister was also employed by the company for four years but has since retired. Back in Latvia, Raisa worked in plastering until, like Ineta, she heard about the job in Ireland through her friends and decided to apply. Having come here with very little, Raisa is now content living
Ineta Berzina Ineta has been working at Reilly Mushrooms for five years now and is one year in her role as supervisor. She displays her authority as she rounds up some of the other workers for us to speak to. Back home in Latvia, Ineta baked cakes for a living but applied for the job in Ireland
in Co Westmeath and has no plans to return to her native country. In her spare time, Raisa enjoys travelling around Ireland and recently paid a visit to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. She clearly takes health and safety at Reilly Mushrooms very serious and was adamant that our reporter complied with regulation and wore a hair net at all times while in the mushroom tunnels.
after hearing about it through friends. Her son Ingus is now employed by the company too. Despite working with mushrooms for five years now, she says she still enjoys consuming them. And her thoughts on living in Ireland? “It’s good here, I really enjoy it.”
Sanita Bruvere Sanita has been living in Ireland for close to one year now. Acting as translator for Ear to the Ground during our visit, she has a love of languages and previously lived and studied in Denmark for three years. Sanita heard about the position at Reilly Mushrooms through a jobs agency in Latvia and now her stepmother has joined her at the company. Her plan is to work and save money so she can continue her education in the future.
Sanita says that so far she hasn’t managed to truly embrace Irish culture because she is surrounded by so many Latvians, but she does enjoy the nightlife along with the shopping. As for the mushrooms, Sanita says the ones grown in her workplace are quite different to those she was used to back in Latvia. “In our country they are very small. I came here and I was very surprised at how these small mushrooms can grow so big!”
INIHICIAM DES EXCEARCHIC TEM AUT INCIM RATIAT VENT, COREPTAM CORRUM FUGIA DOLORESSIM ASPERUM AS ET ASPE RNAME VOQUIATEM IDICIUAPITION NEM ULPA NAME HERE SAYS:
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Maksims has been living and working in Ireland for over three years. Like Ingus, it was his mother who came here first and helped him secure the job at Reilly Mushrooms.
Maksims enjoys working with lots of other Latvians but says he has no plans to return to his country of birth as the work there is very low paid. His wife and children
along with his mother are now living here so he asks, “why would I want to return?” His children are at school and growing up with perfect English while keeping their
Latvian language. So how does Maksims find Irish people? “50 per cent are nice and friendly but 50 per cent are crazy!”
PAUL GORMAN
Maksims Balusovs
ABOUT REILLY MUSHROOMS Reilly Mushrooms Ltd is a family business, established in 1988 by Gerry and Mary Reilly. It has been supplying fresh mushrooms to the Irish and export markets for the past 27 years. It currently produces 50,000kg of mushrooms per week and employs over 50 staff. It began life with three tunnels but has since expanded operations to 16 full sized mushroom tunnels.
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INDUSTRY
Aerial view of the driving academy BELOW: Mary Keohane, Founder, Bantry Driving Academy
The Drive to
Diversify FOLLOWING A LIFECHANGING EVENT, CO CORK FARMER MARY KEOHANE DECIDED TO DIVERSIFY HER LAND AND START A NEW BUSINESS. FIVE YEARS ON AND SHE’S CLEARLY IN THE DRIVING SEAT, WRITES RACHEL MURRAY. When we consider the opportunities available to farmers for generating supplementary income we often think about businesses within sectors such as tourism, renewable energy or arts and crafts to name but a few. One venture that is least likely to come to mind is a driving academy, but that’s precisely what beef farmer Mary Keohane set out to establish on part of her 100-acre farm in Bantry, Co Cork. The motivation behind the move to diversify came as a result of the sudden death of Mary’s husband and the need to provide for her four young children. But the idea itself was born when, after witnessing her daughter’s overly cautious
abouts, yellow boxes and exiting and entering lines to provide a real-life driving experience, cost €300,000 to build, half of which came from the West Cork Development Partnership and its farm conversion scheme. Funds from the programme are granted to farm families who set up and develop businesses that can help make their overall farm enterprises more viable. The scheme stipulates that the new business is not agricultural in nature, but can involve adding value to farm produce, for example food or energy production. “The scheme was marvellous because I had the field but no money,” says Mary. “Not only did I get financial support but also mentoring and advice on marketing and business. I knew nothing about what I was doing other than the fact that I had a real passion for it, and I thought how fantastic it would be if I could save even one life.” Although the driving school is aimed at giving young people the security and safety of learning how to drive off the road, it also works with older people who had given up hope of ever learning to drive, working in partnership with organisations like Co-Action and the National Learning Network. More recently, the Bantry driving school has implemented a cycling programme, the world’s only combined driving and cycling training course. Once a beef farmer with 100 acres and around 30 cattle to manage, most of Mary’s time is now dedicated to her driving academy while she continues to farm on a part-time basis. She’ll remain busy for the forseeable future as would-be drivers get behind the wheel for the first time in a rather unlikely location. To discover more about the services provided at Mary’s driving school visit www.bantrydrivingacademy.ie. For further details on the farm diversification programme go to www.wcdp.ie/projectfunding/farm-diversification.
driving habits on the road, she realised there was no proper facility in the area where young people could learn the practical skills to drive. “I sent my children to playschool to prepare them for school, national school for secondary school, and college for work. I thought, ‘why is there nowhere I can send them to learn how to drive?’” recalls Mary. She soon trained to be a driving instructor and researched how best to teach young people how to drive. In 2010 she rose to the challenge and converted three acres of her land into a state-of-the-art driving academy. Mary’s school, which includes round-
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More Money for Your Pocket John Donoghue, Chief Executive, IFAC Accountants, outlines how you can make 2016 a low tax year. The secret to making 2016 a low tax year is to treat income tax the same as an ordinary farm expense – there is an element of choice in how much a farmer will spend on repairs, land reclamation, fencing etc. Farmers should approach income tax in the same way. SHOCK OF A HIGH BILL A common reaction of all tax payers to higher than expected tax bills is “had I known the tax bill was going to be that high, I would have...” However at that point the tax year end has passed and the majority of tax saving mechanisms involve spending money outside the farm gate e.g. pensions, EIIS, etc. The cornerstone of smart effective tax planning is to control and shape your taxable profit without having to spend money outside the farm gate by knowing how much your tax bill will be before your accounts year end. CONTROL AND SHAPE YOUR TAX BILL The secret is to take action three months before your accounts year end. A farmer with a 31st December accounts year end should after 30th September:
John Donoghue, Chief Executive, IFAC Accountants
n Quantify the actual expenses and farm income for the nine months up to 30th September. n Project income and expenses for the remaining three months of the year. n Adjust the figures for actual opening stocks and projected closing stocks, debtors and creditors. n Quantify the projected profit and projected tax bill. This gives the estimated profit for the full year if no planning was to take place. The planning takes place at this point by taking such decisions as: a) If, due to losses or low income, a farmer is not likely to absorb his personal income tax credits, could profits be increased in the current year? n Postpone expenditure to next year e.g. repairs, fertilisers, land upkeep etc. n Postpone capital expenditure to the following year. b) For farmers with a taxable income, would any of the following commercial decisions convert income which would otherwise be taxable at the top income tax rate (40 per cent) or standard rate
(20 per cent) to a lower rate or zero? n Bring forward expenditure e.g. repairs, fertiliser, land upkeep etc. n If commercially advisable, defer sales until after the year end. n Bring forward expenditure on capital work to the current year. c) What level of stock at the year-end will maximise entitlement to either the 25 per cent, 50 per cent or 100 per cent stock relief. n Would it be wasted in 2016 and better utilised in 2017? FARM TAX PROJECTOR In 1974, the founding fathers of IFAC Accountants, a wholly owned and controlled farmer co-op, introduced a mobile bookkeeping service which operates successfully to this day. As part of the normal IFAC service, mobile bookkeepers call to the farm during the year to record the business transactions on computer. Because accounts information is available on an up to date basis the full year picture can be projected quickly and accurately during the final quarter of the accounts year, thereby enabling a farmer to plan and shape their 2016 income tax bill.
THE CORNERSTONE OF SMART EFFECTIVE TAX PLANNING IS TO CONTROL AND SHAPE YOUR TAXABLE PROFIT WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND MONEY OUTSIDE THE FARM GATE BY KNOWING HOW MUCH YOUR TAX BILL WILL BE BEFORE YOUR ACCOUNTS YEAR END. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT US TODAY AND WE’LL ARRANGE A FREE CONSULTATION T: 1800 334422 • E: WWW.IFAC.IE 84 EAR TO THE GROUND
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CATTLE THEFT
Cattle Theft
Taking Stock THE THEFT OF VALUABLE LIVESTOCK HAS BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN RECENT TIMES. CONOR FORREST GAUGES THE MOOD ON THE GROUND.
The issue of theft in rural communities across Ireland, particularly in relation to livestock, has become increasingly prevalent over the last year. One farmer, speaking to the Irish Independent at this year’s Ploughing Championships, described rural Ireland as akin to the wild west. In September, over €8,000 worth of farm equipment was stolen in the Cloughjordan eco-village in Co Tipperary. The following month, four steers worth over €7,000 were stolen from an elderly couple’s farm in Co Louth, while later in October, eight cattle worth around €12,000 were stolen from a different location in the county. With the theft of cattle also comes fears of further illegal activity, including illegal slaughtering, and the use of false tags. “It hasn’t been a problem as I recall up until the last few years, particularly in the last 12-18 months,” says Matthew McGreehan, Louth IFA county chairman. “There have been a number of thefts, and attempted thefts as well – evidence that cattle are being fed by someone other than the owners to coax them into a trailer, coming a week or two in advance to get them quietened down and used to the route.” For those affected by the actions of these criminals, the consequences can be huge. For starters, farmers who’ve had animals stolen have to cope with the financial loss. But then there’s the psychological cost – people feeling unsafe in their own homes and townlands. All of this adds up to a potentially explosive situation. “The financial loss is one thing, and it’s huge. There’s a poor enough margin in cattle – what you’re getting now when you sell an animal to the factory has far less buying power than 30 years ago,” McGreehan says. “The psychological effects are [also] huge, with the stress and everything else that can be brought on. I met all of the farmers who had their cattle stolen but even for those who
hadn’t, the fear of it happening and the stress is there. That’s one fear we have in the IFA, and for myself, that farmers will take the gun out and maybe come across the gang some day, and somebody will get hurt. There’s no doubt about that.” Many have laid the blame for increased rural crime at the door of An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice – highlighting issues such as rural station closures and less guards on the street. Speaking in September at a meeting of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Deputy General Secretary John Jacob said: “We are now witnessing the human impact of Garda station closures and seven years of austerity raising its head... Increased crime is the result of those decisions at Government level. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures released this summer show that there were 420 crimes a month reported on farms throughout the country in the first half of 2014.” Some efforts are being made, however.
A new Garda motorway patrol unit has been announced, with the express intent of disrupting crime in both urban and rural areas, while there has also been increased co-operation between the agencies north and south of the border. “Clearly there’s some linkage to border activity,” says IFA National Treasurer Jer Bergin. “The PSNI, the Gardaí, their colleagues and the farmers’ union on the other side of the border, we’re all working together to figure out how quickly we can get evidence that convicts the people that are responsible.” Nor is the IFA taking these events lying down. Bergin mentions meeting with the Guards and the Department on a regular basis, while the IFA has also offered a reward of €10,000. “We’ve got together with Crimestoppers to offer a €10,000 reward for information in confidence that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the people involved in this activity,” he says. Add to that the development of a text alert system that is currently in the process of being rolled out across the country and it’s clear that steps, no matter how small, are being taken to fight back against this crime wave. Apart from the efforts of the Gardaí, the IFA and various other parties, farmers themselves can take measures to at least slow down these thieves, if not stop them entirely. While locks and chains are no longer a real deterrent, a good padlock and a thick chain could at least buy a farmer time to react. Going beyond the simple measures, many different security devices, while not cheap, are available on the market, including strong motionsensor lights, devices that can provide an alert in the event of a gate being opened, and many others besides. For Jer Bergin, prevention is key – better to prevent a crime from ever taking place than to be chasing the culprits after the fact. “We’re pushing for a more visible Garda presence in rural Ireland. The other issue is response time, that if there is an incident that the Gardaí can respond quickly.” Bergin also makes reference to the recent court case in Clonmel, where a Dublin gang were convicted of a raid on a rural home in Tipperary. Between them, the seven men had 315 previous convictions. “That really angered people, that those people could be out there for so long with so many convictions. So clearly there’s a job to be done in terms of consecutive sentencing, getting these people off the roads much quicker and for a lot longer. That’s a job for the politicians, and needs to be done straight away.” EAR TO THE GROUND 85
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FEATURE
aiding ambition
LESS THAN A YEAR IN HIS ROLE AS MACRA PRESIDENT, SEÁN FINAN SEES ACCESS TO LAND, FINANCE AND EDUCATION AS CRITICAL TO YOUNG FARMERS WITH BIG AMBITIONS. HE SPOKE TO IAN MALENEY ABOUT HOW HIS ORGANISATION PLANS TO HELP.
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FEATURE
In April of this year, Seán Finan, a young farmer from Ballinlough, Co Roscommon, was elected as Macra na Feirme’s 35th president for a two-year term. Finan joined Macra in 2007, when he and a group of friends set up a new branch of the club in Castlerea. Having just returned from college with a degree in civil engineering, Finan had set about getting his Green Cert and started to work on the family’s dry stock farm. He soon became heavily involved in Macra at a county and regional level, and quickly climbed the organisational ladder. He won the FBD Roscommon Young Farmer of the Year award in 2009, and in 2013 became NorthWest Vice President of Macra. After a campaign that saw him out every day and night of the week, he was elected national president. “I attended nearly every national event that was on,” he says. “I chatted to members and as a result, I understood what their issues were. That really informed me, and it’s really stood to me in the role because I could hit the ground running when I was elected.” Speaking to Finan, there are a couple of key issues that he returns to time and time again; access to land, access to finance and access to education. Finan says that young farmers in particular face huge challenges gaining access to land, often having to rely on inheritance or unsuitable, inefficient conacre arrangements. Macra’s Land Mobility campaign is encouraging farming partnerships and long-term leasing that is allowing young farmers to get established, and giving older farmers the opportunity to have their land farmed productively. Finan says their efforts led the Government to introduce incentives for leasing in last year’s budget, which has resulted in a huge increase in long-term lease arrangements this year. “Young people, by their nature, are ambitious,” says Finan. “They want to develop businesses, they’re energetic, they have an energy. Sometimes when farmers inherit land, they mightn’t have the same level of energy and enthusiasm. Our service is trying to capitalise on those incentives that are there, to encourage more leasing of land where young farm-
ers can get involved and lease land but also partnerships and shared-farming arrangements where a young farmer could get involved with an older farmer. The older farmer still retains possession of his land because that’s a big thing for farmers, that they still have ownership, but at the same time it gives young farmers the tools with which they can develop a business.” In his inauguration speech, Finan mentioned an ambition to encourage a better gender balance in farming, and among farming representatives. Finan
tells me that Macra is leading the way on this front, with more women than men on their National Executive. He’s keen to stress the importance of the “very progressive female farmers” who are helping steer the organisation, but admits there is a long way to go yet. “What we can do is start off and encourage more female participation in our own organisation,” he says. “We can recognise that there are a lot of women out there who might be involved with the family farm, but they mightn’t necessarily be owners of the farm. We can acknowl-
“YOUNG PEOPLE, BY THEIR NATURE, ARE AMBITIOUS. THEY WANT TO DEVELOP BUSINESSES, THEY’RE ENERGETIC, THEY HAVE AN ENERGY.”
SEAN SAYS:
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FEATURE
“MACRA IS A GREAT ORGANISATION TO DEVELOP YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS... TWITTER, FACEBOOK, SOCIAL MEDIA IS HUGE BUT IT DOESN’T ENCOURAGE THE SKILLS THAT YOU GET BY BEING IN AN ORGANISATION LIKE OURS.”
SEAN SAYS:
edge that they do huge work as well, and that they are every bit as important for the future of the sector and the industry. I think we can lead by example in that, as an organisation.” Outside of farming, Macra maintains a strong social calendar of events and competitions, from quizzes and debates to the Blue Jean Country Queen competition in Athboy, Co Meath. Finan himself was a national “Impromptu Debating” champion with his club in 2013, and he says these kinds of events have been impor-
tant to him on a personal level, and can be a great way for young rural people, so often isolated and marginalised, to come together, make friends and develop important life skills. “I was a quiet enough individual when I got involved,” he says. “The competition helped me with my debating skills and being able to talk. Macra is a great organisation to develop your people skills, the skills that you need right throughout your life. Twitter, Facebook, social media is huge but it doesn’t en-
courage the skills that you get by being involved in an organisation like ours. It’s only when people reach their late 20s or 30s that they realise the importance of these skills.” Finally, does he have any plans for when his time in office is over? “I’m doing an average of three and a half thousand miles a month,” he says, laughing. “I’m on the road. I’m out 18 hours a day. The weekends are choc-abloc with activities you have to attend, national finals of competitions, various things. I don’t have the time to think much beyond what’s happening here and now. Maybe what’s happening next week. That’s the focus for me up until May 2017.”
Skillnets Finan highlights the importance of education to the Macra ethos. The organisation’s first secretary, Stephen Cullinane, was a rural science teacher, and his hope was to educate young farmers at a time when there was no real formal education. While things have improved since, a farmer’s formal education still often stops at agricultural college. With technical and administrative
advancements happening at an ever-more rapid pace, young farmers were feeling the need to be up-skilled, to have their talent and focus refreshed. At the start of 2015, Macra initiated a ‘Training Needs Analysis’, asking young farmers what they felt they wanted from training and education. The results identified three key areas: the business, technical and personal sides of rural life.
Based on the analysis, Macra have secured funding from Skillnets to roll out a training programme for farmers called the Farm Cert. Finan compares it to the continual professional development any lawyer, engineer or accountant would pursue throughout their careers. Applicants are asked to complete four modules in each of the three areas, and when they finish all twelve, they get Macra’s Farm Cert.
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Pictured Denis & Maura O’Connor & family, Cashel, Co. Tipperarry 237645_1C_IFAC_AMA_ETTG.indd 1
07/12/2015 13:31
FLYING FARMER
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FLYING FARMER
Cows Can Fly
IRISHAIRPICS.COM
IRISHAIRPICS.COM
IAN MALENEY SPOKE TO GERRY HUMPHREYS ABOUT FLYING THE FLAG FOR FARMERS IN IRISH SKIES.
Gerry Humphreys is not your typical farmer. Before he inherited the family farm just outside Cappamore, Co Limerick around the turn of the millennium, he spent 20 years as a Harrier jet pilot in the RAF. Humphreys’ father, who grew up in the village of Cappamore, had also been a pilot in the British Airforce during the second World War, flying legendary planes like Spitfires and Tempests over north Africa before he turned 21. Humphreys followed in his father’s footsteps, first getting a degree in aeronautical engineering from Queen’s University in Belfast, before joining the RAF straight after. He worked as a ground attack pilot during the Cold War, as well as flying reconnaissance missions in hostile areas. With 20 years of service under his belt, Humphreys had the option of leaving with a pension. He and his wife had three young kids, and with his father recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decided the time was right to return to Cappamore. “My kids were just about to start school, and I thought, it’s a no brainer really,” he says. “I’ll come home, look after the mother, kids will go to the same school as I did, and change life to a different gear.” He admits, however, that he’s never quite slowed to the usual farming speed. When not looking after the cattle on his dry stock farm, he flies out from his own airstrip and takes to the skies in a small, self-built plane. It’s a long way from a fighter jet, but perhaps no less distinctive: it’s painted black and white, like a Friesian cow way up in the clouds. “I’m into beef, I’m not into friesians!”
he says, laughing. “I couldn’t decide what colour to paint the plane and there was sort of a family competition and the kids all came up with different ideas. Harry, my son, wanted backwards flames, somebody else wanted pink with bows and bells and stuff. I was flying along one day and I had a sort of an epiphany really. Over Irish countryside, which is probably the most beautiful in the world, a herd of friesian cows would stand out from a long, long way. The penny dropped - that’s what I need.” As well as flying in air shows and doing commercial flights, Humphreys works as a tutor for up-and-coming pilots - including his son, Harry. “That’s tremendous joy for me,” says Humphreys. “We’ve flown a lot together and although sometimes things can get fraught if you’re related, we do actually do a lot of flying together, sometimes in formation, and we’ve built up a great rapport over the years. Hopefully by Christmas he will be finished his training and will be out there looking for a job.” Humphreys says his father never talked much about his time in the RAF, saying he’d seen the grass on the other side of the hill and was more than content as a farmer. As he’s gotten older, Humphreys is also beginning to see the attraction of the quiet life. “I’m not looking for new thrills!” he laughs. “I got a new bull the other day and that was a thrill. To see him out there and make sure he doesn’t wander off to the neighbours, to make sure he’s working properly, that’s thrilling enough for me.”
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LAW
TAXATION OF THE AGRI SECTOR
Impact of Budget 2016
AISLING MEEHAN LOOKS AT THE TAX MEASURES INTRODUCED IN BUDGET 2016 THAT WILL AFFECT THE AGRI INDUSTRY AND SOME OF THE RELIEFS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THAT CAN LEAD TO FARM TRANSFERS BEING PASSED DOWN TAXFREE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
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The report following the Agri-Taxation Review was published as part of Budget 2015. The review focused on specific challenges in the agri sector such as land mobility, succession and encouraging and attracting young farmers and new entrants to farming. Budget 2016 introduced further measures to achieve those objectives, the most notable being the introduction of a €25,000 tax credit for succession farm partnerships. Making available €25,000 in tax credits for succession farm partnerships could be described as a succession planning model that encourages older farmers to form partnerships with young trained farmers and to transfer ownership of the farm, within 10 years, to the younger farmer. Each partner in the partnership will be entitled to a tax credit of up to €5,000 per year divided between the partners in accordance with the profit sharing ratio specified in the partnership agreement. This tax credit is available for five years from the date the partnership is registered unless the successor has reached 40 years of age, in which case the tax credit is payable only for so long as the successor is less than 40 years.
Partnership members n At least one partner must have been farming on at least three hectares of land for at least two years immediately before the formation of the partnership (the ‘farmer’). n Of the others, each partner must have an agri qualification (i.e. the green cert or its equivalent) and be entitled to at least 20 per cent of the profits of the partnership and shall not have reached 40 years of age before registration (the successor). n Obtain approval from the Minister for the business plan of the registered farm partnership before making an application for registration. n The farmer must enter an agreement with the successor to transfer at least 80% of the farm assets to the successor within 10 years of the commencement of the partnership which transfer can begin after year 3.
Terms of What is ... agreement THE TERMS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT SHALL INCLUDE
AISLING SAYS:
“THE FARM PARTNERSHIP MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS, EACH OF WHOM SHALL BE A NATURAL PERSON I.E. NOT A COMPANY”
It is proposed that a register of succession farm partnerships will be established by the Department of Agriculture similar to the current register for farm partnerships. In order to be registered and avail of the tax credits, the partnership must comply with the following conditions: The farm partnership must have at least two members, each of whom shall be a natural person (i.e. not a company)
n The farm assets of the partnership on the day the application is made for registration. n Any conditions to which the transfer or sale will be subject. n The year in which the proposed transfer may take place. n Any other terms agreed between the farmer and successor such as the conduct of the farming trade or creation of any rights of residence in dwellings on the land. If at least 80 per cent of the farm assets are not transferred within the 10-year deadline, there will be a clawback of the tax credits claimed. The relief is subject to state aid rules and thus will come into operation once the commencement order has been passed.
AT LEAST ONE PARTNER
TERMS OF ENTERING A LEASE For those landowners who have been letting land on a conacre basis (short-term letting), they have until December 31st 2016 in order to enter into a long-term lease (minimum of five years). Otherwise they may not be entitled to claim CGT Retirement Relief when they transfer/sell the land to someone other than a ‘child’ or ‘favourite niece or nephew’. The landowner can lease out the land for up to 25 years and still qualify to claim CGT Retirement Relief, provided they
MUST HAVE BEEN FARMING ON AT LEAST THREE HECTARES OF LAND
FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS
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LAW
owned and farmed the land for 10 years prior to the first lease and each lease is for a minimum of five years. Provided the value of the farm being transferred does not exceed €750,000 (or €500,000 where the person transferring the farm is 66 years of age or over), no CGT will be payable on the transfer. Marginal relief may apply where the sales proceeds exceed the €750,000/€500,000 threshold. An aspect highlighted in the Agri Tax Report was a lack of awareness by farmers of the generous tax reliefs available to the farming sector. While the taxation system can appear complex, with careful planning, the reliefs currently available see the majority of farm transfers passed down tax-free to the next generation.
“THE LANDOWNER CAN LEASE OUT THE LAND FOR UP TO 25 YEARS AND STILL QUALIFY TO CLAIM CGT RETIREMENT RELIEF, PROVIDED THEY OWNED AND FARMED THE LAND FOR 10 YEARS PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEASE AND EACH LEASE IS FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.”
Benefits OTHER BENEFITS OF REGISTERED FARM PARTNERSHIPS
100%
STOCK RELIEF
25% TOP UP
AISLING SAYS:
80k
MODERNISATION GRANT
2,500 COLLABORATIVE GRANT
Consanguinity Relief If a blood relative being gifted a farm does not qualify for Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty exemption, they may be entitled to avail of another relief called Consanguinity Relief, which will reduce the rate of stamp
duty on land from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. This relief is especially important where the person being gifted the farm is 35 years of age or over. If the person transferring the farm, e.g. the parent is 66 years of age or over,
they must ensure that the transfer occurs before 1 January 2016, otherwise the relief will not apply. If the relief does not apply, stamp duty at 2 per cent will be payable on the market value of the land transferred.
n TAXATION Access to 100 per cent stock relief on income tax for young trained farmers for 4 years; Enhanced 50 per cent stock relief for other partners; Maximising low rate of tax through the sharing of profits n YOUNG FARMER SCHEME AND NA TIONAL 25 per cent top-up of national average Basic Payment Scheme payment; Access to new entitlements or top-up on existing entitlements from the National Reserve n TARGETED AGRICULTURAL MODERNI SATION SCHEME GRANT Doubling of investment ceiling (€80,000 vs €160,000) n GREEN CARBON LOW EMISSIONS SCHEME/AREAS OF NATURAL CON STRAINTS PAYMENT Two applications where partners have been previously separate farmers n COLLABORATIVE FARMING GRANT 50 per cent grant for the vouched (vat exclusive) cost for each of the legal, advisory and financial services secured in the drawing up of the Farm Partnership Agreement, up to a maximum payment of €2,500
AISLING MEEHAN is a solicitor, chartered tax adviser and qualified farmer specialising in agricultural law and taxation. Email aisling@ agriculturalsolicitors.ie DISCLAIMER This article is intended as a general guide only and professional advice should be sought in all cases. This paper was compiled on the basis of information available on October 22nd 2015. Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this article, the author and/or Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitors does not accept responsibility for errors or omissions howsoever arising.
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ADVERTISING IHFA 50th Anniversary National Open Day held on the Hannan family farm, Lisnalty, Crecora, Co. Limerick.
IHFA’s Golden Jubilee Milestone
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association is celebrating 50 years in operation.
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, a momentous achievement for its members and Irish dairy farmers. Founded in 1965 as the Irish Friesian Breeders Association (IFBA), the establishment of a Breed Society in Ireland was a seminal landmark in the development of the Black & White breed over the decades. The dominance and success of the Holstein Friesian breed on Irish dairy farms today is the ultimate tribute to those pioneering breeders. In attaining that goal, they managed to preserve the genetic variation suitable to the various dairy farming systems as practiced throughout the country, from total grazing systems to some supplementation while maximizing output from grazed grass. IHFA is licensed by the Department to
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CONTACT FLOGAS ON 1 800 320 342 FREEPHONE, GASFLOGAS.IE OR VISIT WWW.FLOGAS.IE 98 EAR TO THE GROUND
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DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET
Remembering Cowtown
IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME THAT DUBLIN WAS HOME TO A CATTLE MARKET ONCE DESCRIBED AS “THE BIGGEST AND BEST” IN EUROPE. CONOR FORREST TAKES A LOOK BACK AT AN IMPRESSIVE AGRICULTURAL FIXTURE, WHICH RAN IN THE CAPITAL FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
DECEMBER 9TH 1952 Livestock in the sales ring, Christmas fat stock show at Dublin Cattle Market, Prussia Street
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DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET
T hese
days, the once proud Dublin Cattle Market is little more than a distant memory. Where it once took pride of place around Stoneybatter’s Prussia Street, the only evidence of its existence today is a small commemorative stone on the small green beside Hanlon’s Pub on the North Circular Road, with Aughrim Street’s sports hall having long since replaced the original site of the paddock. You have to rewind more than 150 years to find the first official day of trad-
ing – that being Thursday November 26th 1863. The address was No 51/54 Prussia Street, bordered by Prussia Street, Aughrim Street and North Circular Road, an area that would garner an appropriate nickname – Cowtown. In his all-encompassing book entitled The Rise and Demise of the Dublin Cattle Market, historian Liam Clare describes how in those early years, “cattle were typically walked to the market from a radius of 20-30 miles, or were delivered by train from further afield.” Midnight was the magic hour when the market’s gates opened, changing to 3am in 1926. Salesmasters would begin their work at 5am, and the selling would continue until around 10am or later in the morning. Though its official name was the Dublin Cattle Market, it wasn’t just cattle that were sold there, nor did they only come from Dublin. Clare notes that cattle came from Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Westmeath and Offaly and, sometimes, from Tipperary and North Cork. The first five counties also provided a steady supply of sheep, as did neighbouring Wicklow. Included among the purchasers at the market were cattle exporters, British buyers, as well as local butchers. One of the
latter was Gerard O’Kelly. “I worked for my Dad in his [butcher] shop. I started in 1942 and I worked for 50 years,” he explains. “Daniel O’Kelly was above the door – that was my Dad’s name. I went straight from school into the shop. I imagine that every [week] since I arrived I went to the market. I think it was on a Thursday in those days and it finished up on a Wednesday.” For the O’Kelly family, the market days were long enough – though they lived in Mount Merrion, their butcher shop was located in Dolphin’s Barn. A typical market day involved rising at half four or five in the morning, then travelling on foot down Booterstown Avenue to catch the tram to O’Connell Street. From there it was another tram ride to the North Circular Road, stopping outside the market. “He then did his business in the market, bought the cattle and sheep or whatever he wanted, and then he would go back up to the shop,” says Gerard. “He could be back there for half eight or nine o’clock, open up and do a full day’s work there. It was very hard going I must say. He certainly earned his money.” Though the market was by all accounts
APRIL 25TH 1962 Salesman Richard Kenny watches a bargain being struck between Abbey Thompson and George Walker
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DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET
APRIL 25TH 1962 An early morning scene at the Dublin Cattle Market
APRIL 25TH 1962 Michael Conlon, a mixed farmer from Navan, Co Meath, at the Dublin Cattle Market
DECEMBER 10TH 1957 Boy at Christmas fat stock show at Dublin Cattle Market,
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE IRISH PHOTO ARCHIVE
DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET
APRIL 25TH 1962 Watching the bidding at one of the sales rings at the Dublin Cattle Market
a fairly lethargic experience, the process itself was relatively simple. Farmers handed over their animals to the market’s salesmasters, and left them to it, returning later to discover how much their livestock had fetched. Clare writes that fat cattle usually found their way into the hands of butchers (heifers) and factories or buyers from across the Irish Sea (bullocks). Fat sheep were “sold mainly to local victuallers but also to provincial butchers. Some breeding ewes were sold seasonally. Cows were bought by Dublin dairymen, who would resell them a year later as poor quality fat cattle.” Selling, however, wasn’t generally by weight but by eye or by hand, a process which could be confusing for someone new to the whole experience, as Gerard found out for himself one day, having been entrusted with the purchase of fresh meat for his father’s butcher shop. “We bought them by hand. I don’t know where my Dad learned to buy them by hand because we were in the heart of Dublin, my Dad was a Liberties boy from Patrick Street. So [we] wouldn’t have had any farming history. I think it was hit and miss at the start,” he recalls. “I remember the first two cattle I bought, I purchased them for £45
WELCOME TO COWTOWN In February 2014, the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, Oisín Quinn, unveiled a ‘welcome stone’ on the small green beside Hanlon’s Pub on the North Circular Road. The granite welcome stone commemorates the fact that the Dublin Cattle Market stood on the site for over 100 years. The stone project is a joint effort between the Council and local residents and the inscription reads ‘welcome to Hanlon’s Corner - Location of Dublin’s Cattle Market’. each, two heifers. It weighed out – dead weight – 720lbs each. The carcass part of it, having had them slaughtered, and then the hide taken off them...I found out the actual thing was about one and fourpence ha’penny a pound. It was full of fat. I bought them too big and too fat and that was the end of that. I learned very quickly after that.” Though the market’s success continued well into the 20th century, as the 1950s came and went, the end drew closer. Liam Clare traces the market’s decline to October 1963, when the books showed a deficit of £2,836 – before, deficits had been limited to £1,000 at most. From
here, this figure continued to grow, reaching £39,000 in 1972. Finances weren’t the sole issue, however. Blame has been placed at the door of the rise of the cattle marts, a decline in fat cattle and sheep exports, the rise of meat factories around the country, disruption from TB testing as well as a change in the habits of the meat trade – “new supermarkets were buying from wholesale butchers, while local butchers, instead of purchasing their own needs in the market, were also switching to the wholesalers who could supply them with the particular cuts which their customers favoured.” “It went on for five years I’d say at least, they didn’t close it down immediately,” says Gerard. “They were always saying that they were going to close it up, but it went on and on, there were lots of meetings.” Despite resistance from the salesmasters, in July 1971 Dublin Corporation announced that the market would cease to exist from October 1st. An injunction was obtained by the salesmasters, followed by an attempt to keep the gates open via the courts, however, “the last sales, totalling 325 animals, was held on Wednesday May 9th 1973.” Cowtown had closed for business.
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World demand for agri equipment is rising, up by 6.7% on last year. In Western Europe we have smaller fields & narrower roads & this influences machinery manufacturer’s configurations. We have two distinct demands – high sophistication and manoeuvrability – and we are seeing two different trends in these categories. Higher horse power engines have been introduced. In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s most road crop tractors ran with 100 horsepower – 350-480 today and today. Niche tractors are also becoming the norm, like the 8-wheeled DEUTZ FAHR Agro XXL range which come in 600H/P formats; multi-purpose tractors for field work, towing and mowing where traditionally different machines where used for each. Manufacturers are also building more and more advanced machinery. Along with these advancements, oil companies have also been making advancements in lubricants to meet the demands of these new machines. The quality of the oil now has a major effect on your machine’s performance and durability. Indeed over the last number of years we have seen a number of
tractors suffer from the wrong quality of lubricant, causing serious damage to engine parts. In some cases this has been the cause of machinery igniting and being ruined due to the build-up of lacer on bearings causing the crank shaft to push the pistons through the side of the block, tearing the fuel lines. These advancements in engine manufacturing, along with the performance requirements by emission standards following the course of the HGV market to meet the latest Tier standard, means that SUTO (Super Universal Tractor Oils) and UTTO (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil) lubricants are becoming a thing of the past. Now, machinery owners need to be using separate dedicated engine and transmission oils that are up to standard and hold approval by the manufacturers in order to ensure the best performance of the machinery and to avoid risking their warranties by using lower quality lubricants. As the largest oil company in Europe, TOTAL are one of the leaders in these advancements in lubricants. TOTAL laboratories work alongside some of the main machinery manufacturers in
developing the lubricants along with the engines used in the machinery, so you can be assured that using TOTAL’s fully approved lubricants will ensure the best performance for your machinery – TOTAL’s TRACTAGRI engine oil range and DYNATRANS transmission range hold full approval from manufacturers. TOTAL’s distribution partner for Ireland is Finol Oils Ltd in Dublin and they have the full range of agri lubricants available to ensure you are using the right oil in your machinery. Finol provide a free online app at www. whichoil.ie, where you can look up your make and model to find the right lubricants and coolants. Finol also carry the full range of TOTAL fuel economy lubricants which have been proven to reduce fuel usage in machinery by increasing output per litre.
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FUTURE FARM
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FUTURE FARM
THE SHAPE OF
farms to come
2016’S FLAGSHIP EXHIBITION AT SCIENCE GALLERY LOOKS AT THE FUTURE OF FARMING. RESEARCHER ZACK DENFELD TELLS EAR TO THE GROUND ABOUT THE COMPLEX FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MANY CHANGES IT WILL BRING.
TOP LEFT: Zack Denfeld and Catherine Kramer who co-founded the Center for Genomic Gastronomy in 2010 Photo courtesy of Center for Genomic Gastronomy LEFT: Brainstorming sessions in the Idea Translation Lab at Trinity College Dublin
Exhibitions at Science Gallery Dublin take on scientific issues, offer ideas, opinions and thrash out solutions. The farm is next up. Future Farm has been a while in progress, following on from the success of Science Gallery’s Edibles exhibition in 2012. Edibles looked at food, from the perspective of the eater, probing how our actions as eaters shape what is sown, grown, harvested and consumed. “After hosting Edibles we found that people cared deeply about food and by extension farming. We want to take on the farm as the site of production,” says Zack Denfeld, a researcher at Science Gallery and co-founder of the Center for Genomic Gastronomy, an artist-led think tank that examines the biotechnologies and biodiversity of human food systems. Zack also coordinates the Idea Translation Lab at Trinity College Dublin. It attracts students from all over the university and allows them to study outside their discipline. The future of farming is a key theme of the programme and the final projects offer a ‘unique
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FUTURE FARM
ZACK SAYS:
“AFTER HOSTING EDIBLES WE FOUND THAT PEOPLE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT FOOD AND BY EXTENSION, FARMING. WE WANT TO TAKE ON THE FARM AS THE SITE OF PRODUCTION.”
insight into what Ireland’s future farming landscape might look like from the very students who could shape it’. If sufficiently developed, these student projects and propositions may appear in the Future Farm exhibition. This year Zack will be exposing the students to a range of initiatives, such as MIT Media Lab’s City Farm, an initiative to explore the production of affordable and high quality food in the heart of future cities; Culinary Breeding Network, a creative partnership between plant breeders and chefs; and he’s hoping to bring over Carl DiSalvo, a professor at Georgia Tech, who helps alternative farmers think about robotics for small-scale agriculture. So what does the future look like, according to Future Farm? “What we want to show with the show is it’s not either-or, it’s both-and. It’s not either we have high-tech precision agri-
culture with automation, drones and robots or we have happy organic local farms with people doing back-breaking labour. We have a range of futures; the options are complex and overlapping. We’re not going to be predicting exactly where we’ll be in ten, 20 or so years – we’ll be presenting a variety of possible futures.” The future of meat and the topic of protein will be considered, insect farming explored and the use of robotics for both large and small farms explained. Breeding will be a theme, from preserving our agricultural biodiversity to creating different varieties through crossbreeding, transgenesis and radiation. Though the content is still to be finalised Zack reveals there will be some fantastical elements displayed. “With agriculture, scientists have their techniques, activists have ideas about what they prefer and industry has its own goals. What we want to do is bring these
perspectives together and mix them into something that’s strange enough that you can’t just see it and believe it: ‘organic GMOs, is that possible?’ You’ll have to spend some time with this. ‘Robots for permaculture? Vertical farms in the countryside?’ These are real things that undermine people’s assumptions. We want to give people that double-take and get away from the idea that farming just needs to be profitable.” Future Farm opens March 11th, running until June 5th 2016.
About ... THE IDEA TRANSLATION LAB The Idea Translation Lab is a 12-week course running as part of Trinity College’s broad curriculum offering. Taking place in the Science Gallery, the programme equips students with skills beyond their discipline boundaries to take creative project ideas and interrogate, applying both design and entrepreneurial skills to produce projects with real world outcomes. We look forward to seeing what they have to offer in Future Farm.
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TECHNOLOGY
agri apps
AS TECHNOLOGY INCREASINGLY BECOMES PART OF FARMING LIFE, EAR TO THE GROUND LOOKS AT 12 HANDY APPS WORTH CHECKING. HARVEST LOSS CALCULATOR
Allowing farmers to estimate their current and future loss of crops is the core function of this app. Once all the data is inputted the app will generate how much loss the farmer has sustained per acre. The app also enables users to calculate the cost of the losses incurred.
SIRRUS
Sirrus was created with the agri professional in mind. It will allow you to create field boundaries, soil sample, scout your crops, record field opperations and check present weather conditions and cumulative rainfall in order to predict future conditions for crops. Sirrus will also record scouting data and allow you to share your information with other users.
TRACTORPAL
Don’t worry about trying to remember the last time your machinery had an oil change. Let TractorPal remember for you. While you put all of your energy into farming, TractorPal will keep track of all your inventory. Along with providing you with the service history of your machine, it will remind you when it needs servicing and store your records until you need them.
Helping your farm stay connected 110 EAR TO THE GROUND
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TECHNOLOGY
MET ÉIREANN
Keep ahead of the weather with the Met Éireann app. It provides a weather report specific to your county along with a national forecast for the following three days. Other features include satellite imagery, coastal reports, radar animation and weather warnings.
IFARM
Supported by Bord Bia, this app is invaluable for any farmer who wants to keep an eye on cost. It will allow you to keep up to date with market prices and commentary on cattle, dairy, sheep, pigs, grain and potatoes. You will also receive push notifications when new data has become available.
VERT
If constant calculations are taking up the bulk of your day then allow Vert to do the math for you. Its simple design means you can navigate the app easily. With the ability to convert weights and volumes efficiently, this app will be endlessly useful in a farming environment.
HERDWATCH
Save valuable time by allowing Herdwatch to register your new calf in 30 seconds. Along with this impressive feature, the app is useful for full breeding cycle management and fast weight recording.
FARM AT HAND
This app won’t just allow you to get your ducks in a row but also cattle, crops and more. Farm At Hand is mainly utilised as a organisational device. It will track, schedule and store all activity on your farm to ensure everything is running on time. The app will even provide you with current weather conditions and the ability to access or share your information at all times.
MOOMONITOR+
The MooMonitor+ creates a connection between a selected cow collar and your device. It will alert a farmer when the selected animal is ill or in heat so he can act quickly and efficiently. This app promises healthier livestock because of its ability to immediately inform a farmer about possible health risks to his animals.
PRO DAIRY EVENT
Catalogue all important data about your cow with this organisational app. With alerts that range from milking to veterinary visits, the maintenance of your animal will never slip your mind. You can enter data offline in case there’s poor reception on the farm.
BASF WEED ID
No time to scour the internet in search of a specific plant identification? No worries! This app was made to be an easy reference guide for 140 different species of plants and weeds. The first step in combating any problem is to know what you’re dealing with. After the BASF Weed ID has identified your weed, you can save your crops.
DONEDEAL
Find some great bargains on DoneDeal. This app facilitates Irish farmers in the buying and selling of machinery all over the country. Their selection of tractors extends from vintage to modern. Keep your eyes peeled on the app because the best deals are made within minutes of items being posted.
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ADVERTISING
Taking Tech to the Farm Ear to the Ground speaks to Vodafone’s Enterprise Director Anne Sheehan about new technological developments for the farming sector. Q: Are farmers embracing technology and seeing the positive impact it can have on the sector? A: Farmers are starting to see the incredible benefits that can be delivered to the sector in terms of higher yields, better productivity and a greater marriage between traditional farming methods and cutting-edge technology. For farmers, a smartphone simply connected to the internet can deliver business critical information. For example, agricultural information services accessible on the farm via a smartphone can provide early warning of weather events, information on the best times to harvest and advice on crop techniques to enhance yields. Social media tools are also allowing farmers to stay in touch with each other, facilitating the exchange of information, advice and social interaction. From a business point of view, the ability to gather information about the prices other farmers are getting for their products has real value. Specialist apps are now available, from seeing the live price of grain in London to learning more about safety on the farm. Q: Does the agricultural sector and rural customers represent an important client base for Vodafone? A: Yes, these communities are hugely important to us. Agri-engineering firm Keenan, based in Carlow, is benefiting from the latest in the cloud and IoT to drive efficiencies in production for farmers. Keenan is a working example of how connectivity will allow the Irish agri sector to sell their products and services to a global marketplace.
Anne Sheehan, Director of Enterprise at Vodafone Ireland
Keenan Systems combine manufacturing, science and technology to maximise milk and beef production for thousands of farmers worldwide. They use Vodafone SIM cards and network connectivity to ensure precision feeding. This increases feed efficiency by 10 per cent and increases milk yields by almost 2kg per cow per day. Because of Keenan, 10,000 farmers in 25 countries are producing more and better quality milk and beef from less feed. Keenan is a great example of an Irish company, selling globally and improving productivity. Q: You recently signed a a10m deal with IFA. What can members expect to gain from this? A: IFA members can benefit from discounted tariffs and will also have access to a full suite of competitively priced handsets including the iPhone 6, the Samsung S6 as well as durable handsets like the Samsung XCover3, which can be
used in challenging environments and can withstand everyday elements such as dust, shock, water and falls. Q: In a broader sense, how is Vodafone supporting connectivity across Ireland? A: Vodafone is committed to providing connectivity for farmers across our mobile network. We are investing over €550 million and are now bringing 4G to 95 per cent of the population. Our joint venture with ESB, SIRO will deliver Ireland’s first 100 per cent fibre broadband, with speeds of up to 1GB to 51 regional towns nationwide, and this will dramatically change the face of connectivity in Ireland. We also welcome the Government’s decision to proceed with the National Broadband Plan, which will ultimately connect rural areas across Ireland. Finally, farming communities will benefit from rural connectivity which will have a hugely positive impact on efficiency in farms while also bringing general lifestyle improvements.
VODAFONE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CONNECTIVITY FOR FARMERS ACROSS OUR MOBILE NETWORK. WE ARE INVESTING OVER €550 MILLION AND ARE NOW BRINGING 4G TO 95 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION. OUR JOINT VENTURE WITH ESB, SIRO WILL DELIVER IRELAND’S FIRST 100 PER CENT FIBRE BROADBAND, WITH SPEEDS OF UP TO 1GB, TO 51 REGIONAL TOWNS NATIONWIDE, AND THIS WILL DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE FACE OF CONNECTIVITY IN IRELAND. FOR MORE ON WHAT VODAFONE CAN DO FOR YOUR FARM BUSINESS VISIT WWW.VODAFONE.IE/BUSINESS 112 EAR TO THE GROUND
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ADVERTISING
Smarter Farming Keenan and Intel have linked up to bring instant support to farmers. On September 16th 2015 Intel, the great technology company, made food and agriculture the centrepiece of its keynote address at the World Internet of Things Congress in Barcelona. Gerard Keenan was asked to join Intel’s Jonathan Ballon on stage to announce an alliance between Keenan InTouch and Intel. We are now working together to bring solutions to farming by developing new IoT technologies, increasing the processing capabilities of our smart devices and providing additional research to bring simple to use solutions on farm. See how the technology works in this short video ‘Keenan and Intel are making agriculture smarter’ – available online at https://youtu.be/T3gODsVjCeA. InTouch is a live review and support service located
in Kilkenny which has a team of dedicated animal nutritionists on hand for support. Their job is to ensure that the animals get exactly what they need every day. Our system simply guides you step by step to deliver a consistent ration every day, which drives the performance of your herd. We offer peace of mind – if the performance or feeding regime is out of
line then this automatically triggers a call to action ticket. In the first nine months of 2015, the InTouch center has handled over 15,000 calls. Over 10,000 of these have been proactive outbound calls. The technology picks up the anomalies in the information prompting our dedicated team of nutritionists to contact you directly with an instant solution.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON INTOUCH, PHONE 059 910 1320, EMAIL CONTACTINTOUCHAGRI.COM OR VISIT WWW.KEENANSYSTEM.COM
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BROADBAND
Levelling the Playing Field BOLSTERING RURAL IRELAND’S CONNECTION TO THE WORLD REMAINS IMPERATIVE FOR FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
When it comes to broadband provision, there’s no doubt that rural Ireland has, to some extent, been left behind, resulting in what has been described as the digital divide. Rural communities are often left to rely on far slower speeds, delivered by wireless providers, or on broadband dongles which can be expensive and without significant usage limits. Working from home generally isn’t an option, school research can be a pain, and rural businesses are left without a decent (if any) connection to the outside world. This is the issue which the National Broadband Plan, spearheaded by Minis-
ter for Communications, Alex White, plans to tackle. Under the plan, over 750,000 addresses, 1.8 million people and 63,000 small businesses stand to gain from the provision of high speed broadband. The construction of the network is set to begin in 2016, and should be completed by 2020. However, the Government has said that 85 per cent of Irish premises will be covered by 2018. Any operator which bids for the plan will have to meet certain requirements – minimum download speeds of 30Mbps, minimum upload speeds of 6Mbps and availability of 99.95 per cent. A significant financial commitment has already been made – a Government allocation of €275m, and a further €75m of EU funding. “A rural user’s experience of using the internet will be entirely revolutionised with a decent fibre connection. An agri-business entrepreneur will use his high-speed link to develop export opportunities abroad, while having a simultaneous Skype call with his bank manager! Meanwhile his daughter is doing her homework using an online module while his mother is being remotely treated by her specialist telemedicine carers from the clinic in the nearest big town. This picture is not pie-in-the-sky – it is achievable,” European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan told the Going Local 2015 event in the National Digital Centre, Dublin. Bolstering rural Ireland’s connection to the world – on the same level as our urban centres – could be priceless. Ireland’s digital economy is predicted to grow to around €21 billion by 2020. At present, less than one in four small Irish businesses are up and running online. As a result, at least in part, up to 70 per cent of Irish consumers’ spend goes abroad. “I believe that Ireland will go to the top of the world table in terms of the quality and the speed of broadband that is available throughout Ireland,” Carolan Lennon, MD, open eir, told InBUSINESS magazine. “We could be in a situation where we are a leader, and I think that would be fantastic for us as a country. This could be a real gamechanger for Ireland, it would be great to think that broadband availability wouldn’t stop people from living or working or studying wherever they want to. I think that would be a fantastic achievement if we can pull it off.”
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ADVERTISING
Breaching the Digital Divide Dave McDonald, MD of Nova Broadband, explains how his company is bringing high speed broadband to rural Ireland. Broadband in rural Ireland has suffered from a digital divide between rural and urban users, with many of the larger broadband providers focusing more on their urban customers. One of the companies currently working hard to bridge this gap is Nova Broadband. Nova has built its own line-of-sight fixed wireless broadband network, deploying transmitters and masts throughout Ireland’s rural regions, with speeds of up to 20Mb. “It does create a real disadvantage for rural people, and that’s what we’re trying to address by rolling out our network to more and more of rural Ireland,” says managing director Dave McDonald. “We’re up and running 11 years now, and had done most of our business in Cork up until recently. The service was very well received and so we had a look at the country as a whole.” This resulted in the development of their Galaxy project, a a250,000 investment and expansion into rural areas in Tipperary, Kilkenny, Laois and Limerick. “We’re bringing high speed broadband into these areas for the first time,” he adds. McDonald also makes reference to the National Broadband Plan, developed by the Government with the aim of bridging
Dave McDonald, MD, Nova Broadband]
the digital divide, but remains cautious as to whether it will be as successful as promised, or delivered as quickly. “In itself I think that it will be a good thing for rural Ireland. But I think that it will probably take a lot longer to roll out than
envisaged – building broadband networks into rural areas is a difficult thing to do,” he explains. “As far as we would fit into the whole thing, we’re providing a real solution that is available now, not in five or ten years time. But if the NBP is rolled out then we would see ourselves becoming a provider over that platform as well as our own network.” For those rural dwellers looking on in envy, don’t worry – you too could avail of these speeds in the near future. Nova is always looking for new areas to roll out to, and are constantly building new networks. “If people give us expressions of interest, we’re always very keen to talk to them,” says McDonald. Nova has also continued to place an increased emphasis on serving rural Irish businesses in recent years, recognising that there is a rich economy in rural areas. “We’re very keen to talk to rural businesses who are having issues with connectivity – we can often save businesses quite a lot on what they’re paying at the moment,” he says. Moving forward, the future appears quite strong for Nova Broadband, which is rated the #1 ISP on www.ratemyisp.ie, and the company has plans to continue to grow and expand their reach on a national basis. “That’s exactly what we’re working towards. We’re finding that when we go into each area, people use and love the service,” McDonald adds. “We want to bring it to more and more of rural Ireland, and nationwide is definitely where we’re going.”
WE’RE UP AND RUNNING 11 YEARS NOW, AND HAD DONE MOST OF OUR BUSINESS IN CORK UP UNTIL RECENTLY. THE SERVICE WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED AND SO WE HAD A LOOK AT THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE. THIS RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR GALAXY PROJECT, A €250,000 INVESTMENT AND EXPANSION INTO RURAL AREAS IN TIPPERARY, KILKENNY, LAOIS AND LIMERICK. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PHONE 0818 22 92 33, EMAIL INFONOVABROADBAND.IE OR VISIT WWW.NOVABROADBAND.IE EAR TO THE GROUND 117
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ADVERTISING
Members of Munterconnaught committee with pupils from Knocktemple National School
Transforming Rural Ireland eir has put significant time and resources into preparing and developing its strategy for rural Ireland and recently outlined an ambitious vision to provide broadband speeds of up to 1,000 Mb/s. open eir, the network division of eir, is committed to delivering high speed broadband throughout Ireland and they already provide a high speed fibre network to over 1,300,000 homes and businesses. This is the most extensive Next Generating Access (NGA) network in the country and by the end of 2020 open eir will enable 1.9 million homes with high speed fibre broadband. Our high speed fibre network will extend right out to communities and villages with populations of 800 people or more and we operate an open access network, available to all operators. Presently we have 15 service providers connected, giving the Irish consumer plenty of choice. Ireland has one of the most broadly dispersed populations in Europe, so
reaching every home and business, no matter where, creates both commercial and technological challenges – challenges open eir is already well equipped to address. The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) initiaitive aims to ensure everyone in Ireland has access to high speed broadband of at least 30Mb per second by providing the service in areas where private commercial organisations are unable to. The NBP aims to deliver reliable high speed broadband through a combination of public and commercial investment. Minsiter for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources Alex White outlined his ambition for construction to commence during 2016 with a target to complete the rollout by 2020.
As the largest telecommunications company in Ireland, we have put significant resources and time into preparing and developing our strategy and we have outlined an ambitious vision for rural Ireland; to provide broadband speeds of up to 1,000 Mb/s. Recently, open eir, our network division, ran a trial in Belcarra, Co Mayo, to demonstrate how Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology that provides an end-to-end fibre connection can benefit rural Ireland. The pilot involved the build out of super-fast fibre optics using FTTH. FTTH means that the high-speed fibre cables go directly in to the homes and businesses on the trial route. This included over 100 homes, two national schools, and the local cattle mart at Balla. The positive effects have already
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ADVERTISING been felt by local residents. Farmers are using the service to stream live feeds from cameras that are situated in calving sheds. A number of entrepreneurs are not only operating online companies from their own homes, but are growing their businesses, while families are keeping in touch with sons, daughters and siblings abroad, getting to welcome their grandchildren into the world no matter where they are living. TRIAL SITES The intention was always to do more than one trial and with that in mind, open eir decided that rather than choosing the next trial site they would give communities in the National Broadband Intervention Footprint an opportunity to pitch why their community should be the next trial site. In June 2015, the open eir fibre competition was launched to find the next trial location for FTTH. The company asked applicants to creatively outline why their community should be the next location to receive broadband speeds of 1,000Mb/s. The prize:
€250,000 investement in high speed fibre broadband within their community. In total 36 entries were received; from islands to remote villages across the entire country, with every corner of Ireland represented. The judges were overwhelmed and impressed with the quality of all the entries, the creativity shown by so many communities and most importantly, the community engagement and spirit that was so evident in each entry received. It was difficult to choose one winner, but on November 26th in Knocktemple National School, open eir announced Munterconnaught, Co Cavan as the winning community – a community that believes high speed broadband is the key to their future. Munterconnaught’s entry included a survey conducted by local residents which stated that 91 per cent of the community would use high speed broadband if available and 63 per cent would work from home occasionally. The entry was supported by a strong community spirit and commitment from the local GAA club, the Heritage Society,
Foróige, Knocktemple National School, Parents’ Association, St Oliver PP Parents’ Association, the Ramor Inn Golf Society and other organisations. Munterconnaught submitted 20 detailed case studies focusing on the current challenges without high speed broadband and highlighted the existing social, educational, medical and employment needs, as well as innovative plans for further social inclusion and business development plans for the area. open eir is delighted that Munterconnaught is the winner. Detailed planning work will commence in earnest in the new year. We are confident that Munterconnaught will reap the same benefits that Belcarra now enjoy and we are looking forward to sharing their high speed broadband stories. As Peadar Gill, community committee lead, commented after hearing the news that Munterconnaught was the competition winner, “It’s the communications equivalent of the M3 – a technological advance that will improve the lives of everyone in the parish.”
LR: Members of Munterconnaught committee celebrate their win; Carolan Lennon, Wholesale Managing Director, open eir
“IRELAND HAS ONE OF THE MOST BROADLY DISPERSED POPULATIONS IN EUROPE, SO REACHING EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS, NO MATTER WHERE, CREATES BOTH COMMERCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES CHALLENGES OPEN EIR IS ALREADY WELL EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS.” TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FIBRE ROLLOUT THROUGHOUT IRELAND CHECK OUT WWW.FIBREROLLOUT.IE
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ADVERTISING FEATURE Michael Doyle, Head of Agri Business for Zurich Insurance.
The Farm Insurer with a Growing Reputation
Z
urich is one of Ireland’s leading insurers, with a wide range of products and services across home, private motor, travel, business, SME and, more recently, agri. It employs over 400 people across its locations in Dublin and in Wexford, where its agri team is based. Zurich has a strong, long held presence in the Irish insurance market and brings the financial strength of one of the largest global insurance companies to the local market. Having already insured farmers worldwide for over 30 years, the company has sustainably grown its share of the Irish market through its reputation for delivering excellent value, quality protection and personal service to farmers across the country. This reputation is very important to Zurich.
IMPORTANCE OF REPUTATION Michael Doyle, who himself comes from a strong farming background, says: “We were delighted to hear the news earlier this year that Zurich was confirmed as the
highest ranked insurer in Ireland in a survey for reputation measurement.” The study is considered the gold standard for reputation measurement and involved almost 5,000 members of the general public across Ireland. Over the past few years, the reputation of the financial services sector has been under the spotlight. Issues like the very public collapse of insurer Setanta last year, which left a reported 75,000 motorists with no cover and uncertainty around new or existing claims, meant consumers questioning the stability of the industry and second-guessing the decisions they were making about who to place their trust in when buying cover for the things that matter to them. Insurance plays a critical role in any economy and it’s important to ensure that consumers, whether personal lines customers with their homes, cars or other forms of cover, or business owners like farmers with the myriad, more complex coverages they need, are confident in their provider and have the
IN JUST THREE SHORT YEARS IN THE AGRI MARKET, ZURICH INSURANCE IS DELIVERING A STATE OF THE ART RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICE TO ITS BROKERS AND FARM CUSTOMERS. WE TALK TO MICHAEL DOYLE, HEAD OF AGRI BUSINESS, TO DISCUSS WHY THE COMPANY IS SEEN AS A GENUINE ALTERNATIVE IN THE AGRI INSURANCE MARKET.
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
“THE ZURICH APP TAKES PAPERWORK OUT OF THE PROCESS AND MEANS A FARMER CAN NOW GET A QUOTE ON SITE AND RECEIVE COVER WITHIN 30 MINUTES.” peace of mind they deserve to get on with their day to day lives or business activities.” Just as insurance is important to the farming sector, farming is important to the insurance sector too. Agriculture in Ireland accounts for around 150,000 jobs on 139,000 farms and delivers €24 billion to the overall economy every year. At present the sector represents about 10 per cent of the insurance industry’s work: a quarter of a billion euro or so.
LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY Zurich’s reputation in the agri sector has been further enhanced with the launch of its new farm insurance app. “Insurance is all about protecting what customers’ value and providing an excellent, effortless service. Our product is fantastic and the price competitive, so we achieved a great footing in a short space of time, but we
were convinced there was a better way for brokers and underwriters to meet the insurance and risk management needs of farmers,” says Doyle. The rural nature of the farming sector means that brokers and insurers were travelling long distances to meet their customers. They would survey the property, have a look at the farmer’s current pricing structure, take down the details, return to their office and submit the forms before being able to offer a quote. This was a cumbersome industry process for insurers, brokers and farm customers. The Zurich app takes paperwork out of the process and means a farmer can now get a quote on site and receive cover within 30 minutes. Using a tablet, the broker or underwriter is now able to take down a farmer’s details electronically. No more paper forms. The farmer’s signature can
also be captured along with a visual record of the site. Using the camera that is a standard feature on tablets, photographs can be captured of outbuildings and sent in with the quote application. This information helps the underwriter better assess the risks and provide a more accurate, as well as timely, quote. It’s also very important if there is a claim to have a visual record of a building to easily assess how much it has been damaged. The Zurich app makes it easier for farmers to buy insurance, saves them time and allows them to make an informed decision in the presence of an underwriter or broker, and means the cover can be in place at the end of the appointment with the farmer’s policy printed within an hour. Just one meeting delivering peace of mind. Zurich has already seen a significant increase in farm business since the app was launched. According to Doyle, “It has been so successful that we have already recouped the development costs in additional business. We saw the opportunity to build something revolutionary in the market and it was
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Anna May McHugh, Managing Director of the National Ploughing Association, speaks at the prestigious Farmer of the Year Awards sponsored by Zurich Insurance, having received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Paddy Malynn, Sparrow Insurances, Michael Doyle, Head of Agri Business for Zurich Insurance, Eddie Punch, General Secretary, ICSA and Liz Byrne, Sparrow Insurances at the National Ploughing Championships, Co. Laois; Michael Doyle, Head of Agri Business for Zurich Insurance, Pat McCormack, Deputy President, ICMSA, Lorcan McCabe, Chairperson, ICMSA and Denis McCarthy, Campion Insurances at this year’s National Ploughing Championships in Laois. ABOVE FROM LEFT: Liam Moynihan from O’Leary Insurances with Pauline Power and Shona Saville of Zurich Insurance at the broker launch of Zurich’s Farm app. The app allows farmers get a farm insurance quote and go on cover at the farm with insurance papers printed within an hour of cover; John O’Connor, Chief Financial Officer for Zurich Insurance presents Noel McCall with the ‘Overall Farmer of the Year’ award at the 2015 Farmer of the Year Awards sponsored by Zurich Insurance. Noel was also awarded ‘Dairy Farmer of the Year’ on the night.
tremendously successful from the moment we launched. It saves time for us and our brokers, but most importantly it saves time for our farm customers.”
GRASSROOTS SUPPORT As well as working with brokers and farm organisations like the ICSA and the ICMSA, Zurich has continued to strengthen its support for major agricultural events both local and national, like its sponsorship of the North Eastern Holstein Friesian Club and the 2015 Pedigree Belgian Blue Championships. It also continued its major sponsorship of the annual Farmer of the Year Awards in partnership with the Farming Independent. The awards, established two years ago, recognise the best farmers throughout the country and reward excellence in all areas of farming across eight separate categories including Dairy, Equestrian, and Alternative Farmer of the Year, as well as the new Farm Safety Award, developed to recognise farmers who strive to apply the highest safety standards to their farming practices. In addition, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to
Anna May McHugh, managing director of the National Ploughing Association, in recognition of her tireless work to promote all that’s best in farming and rural Ireland. This year’s Dairy Farmer of The Year and Grand Prix winner, Noel McCall from Blainroe Co Wicklow, is a shining example of how a passion for dairy farming can result in a hugely successful career. Not from a farming background, through leasing Noel built up a single farm payment and took over a dairy farm from a retiring dairy farmer. With no land of his own, and no off-farm income, he had to rely solely on his technical skills, financial awareness and a sheer love of dairy farming to succeed. In an era when the average age of farmers is heading for 60, and land mobility and scale are constantly cited as major road-blocks for the progression of the industry, he proved that farming is not a closed shop and one where opportunity beckons: characteristics echoed in Zurich’s philosophy when it comes to farm insurance. Doyle says: “The awards recognise excellence and best practice across the industry and there was an exceptionally high standard in the entries received this year. We were particularly keen to see a new award for 2015 that recognises the important area of farm safety.” Doyle confirmed that farmers – like any other business people – are operating in an increasingly complex and pressurised world and, as a result, are becoming more interested in the risk management and insurance propositions available to them, noting that “Our investment in state of the art technology is helping us meet the needs of farmers so they can access quality cover and risk management services more efficiently and get great value for money.
No other company in farming insurance has anything like it.”
MANAGING RISK Farms are a place of work and by their nature can be extremely dangerous. But there are some straightforward steps farmers can take to manage risk on their farms and ensure a safer environment. Doyle advises farmers to ensure their buildings are in good condition whether they are occupied or not, for example, and to conduct an inspection of trees and boundary fences which may be vulnerable to storm damage, particularly those adjacent to access and public roads. “Carry out necessary cutting and pruning, and dead or rotting trees should be felled,” he says. Actions like this demonstrate that a farmer has a willingness to reduce their risk exposure and are doing the utmost to protect their premises. When things do go wrong, the Zurich Claims Promise is delivered by the company’s dedicated team based locally in Wexford, allowing for effective decision making on repairs, replacements and cash settlements. “Getting our customers back in business as quickly as possible is vital and our claims service provides practical and invaluable support to do just that,” says Doyle. Looking to the future, Doyle is confident that Zurich’s investment in technology will not only continue to save farmers time and effort but will also significantly help them manage their risk into the future. “Agriculture continues at the forefront of the economy and while the different sectors have their own challenges there remains a great positivity around the industry.” Zurich is delighted to share this positivity and looks to the future with confidence.
“USING A TABLET, THE BROKER OR UNDERWRITER IS NOW ABLE TO TAKE DOWN A FARMER’S DETAILS ELECTRONICALLY. NO MORE PAPER FORMS.” EAR TO THE GROUND 123
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ADVERTISING
Save time – get online www.agfood.ie is the dedicated website for the online services of the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine. A wide range of services are available to help farmers cut down on paperwork. Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Greening, Forestry Premium, Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) and many more can all be applied for online, with fewer errors occurring on these applications leading to earlier payments compared to paper forms. The inbuilt validations in the new BPS and greening schemes prevent you from making simple mistakes with system warnings alerting you to certain errors, such as an over claim. This results in a reduced error rate
and speeds up processing time. Farmers with an obligation for greening under crop diversification or Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) can have complex calculations carried out for them by the system to ensure compliance. You can draw and measure your land parcels to accurately claim your payments, and exclude ineligible areas. ANIMAL MOVEMENTS You can also sign up to use the Bovine Electronic Herd Register option instead
of the ‘blue book’, and also apply for and print compliance certificates for farm to farm movements. Notifying animal movements or registering calf births online are also handy time-saving features. PAYMENTS Viewing payments online is also possible through the Financial SelfService option, where you can also generate and print formal annual farmer statements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION LO-CALL 0761 064 424 OR EMAIL AGFOOD@AGRICULTURE.GOV.IE
We’re online... are you? Now farmers can eliminate so much paperwork simply by clicking on www.agfood.ie • Apply for Scheme payments • Register your calf births • Record Animal Events • View and maintain your herd profile • Help-assisted form filling • Update your contact details (mobile/e-mail/eircode) • Securely view your financial statements • Works with farm management software For more information go to www.agfood.ie or call Online Services Helpdesk at 1890 252 118
www.agriculture.gov.ie @agriculture_ie
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COMPETITION
A COPY OF NEVEN MAGUIRE’S NEW BOOK
Neven Maguire’s new book, The Nation’s Favourite Healthy Food! has been shortlisted for an Irish Book Award and we have five copies of this fantastic recipe book to give away! The Nation’s Favourite Healthy Food brings Neven’s fresh approach to food and cooking with 100 new, light, contemporary recipes – each of them a healthy choice. In addition to the familiar sections on beef, chicken, fish, desserts and snacks, you will find healthy alternatives to takeaways, inspirational ideas for carb-free lunches, omega 3 rich suppers and nutrient-packed vegetable juices. You will also find recipes for sugar-free, dairy-free and wheat-free dining that don’t compromise on flavour. Speaking about the benefits of the book and his own healthy journey, Neven says: “Whether you have an intolerance or you simply want to find recipes that will help you look and feel better, join me in a modern way of eating and let’s all feel better together in 2016.”
CHRISTMAS FOODIE HEAVEN FROM NEVEN The MacNean Gift Card from awardwinning chef Neven Maguire is the perfect Christmas gift for food lovers or for someone very special this Christmas. This gift card can be used across MacNean House & Restaurant, the Neven Maguire Cookery School, the new Neven Maguire Hamper, as well as Neven’s books and DVD collection.
TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING ONE OF FIVE COPIES OF NEVEN MAGUIRE’S NEW BOOK THE NATION’S FAVOURITE HEALTHY FOOD, SIMPLY EMAIL ETTGCOMPETITIONS ASHVILLEMEDIAGROUP.COM WITH YOUR NAME, CONTACT DETAILS AND ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: NEVEN MAGUIRE HAILS FROM WHICH BORDER COUNTY: A CO CAVAN
B CO LOUTH
C CO MONAGHAN
The MacNean Gift Card and the new Neven Maguire Hamper are available from www.nevenmaguire.com.
Closing Date: January 31st 2016. Competition not open to employees of Ashville Media Group or Neven Maguire. No cash or gift card will be awarded in lieu of prize. Winner will be selected at random. Competition entrants must be resident on the island of Ireland. One entry per person. Usual terms and conditions apply.
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Innovation Partner for the Agriculture and Food Sector Teagasc researchers partner with the industry to drive innovation in the agriculture and food sector. The Teagasc advisory network assists farmers to combine environmentally sensitive technical innovation with prudent business management, and Teagasc education courses equip future farmers to become lifelong innovators.
Sustainable Agriculture
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Maintaining Clean Water
Grass based Livestock Systems
New Technologies
Breeding New Potato Varieties
Satellite Mapping for Precision Farming
Sexing semen for Animal Breeding
Technology for the Food Sector
High Quality Gluten Free Breads
Phage Therapy for Controlling MRSA
New Product Development
www.teagasc.ie
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ADVERTISING
MTL: The Innovation Centre at Moorepark Moorepark Technology Limited continues to provide an outlet for development and growth within the Irish food industry. Moorepark Technology Limited, the combined brainchild of Teagasc and the national dairy industries, developed to meet growing R&D needs and to facilitate technology transfer from the Teagasc food research programme, is known to be a unique national asset for the food development sector. Officially launched in September 1993, during the past 22 years MTL has had outstanding success in facilitating companies in the development of novel or improved processes, ingredients and food products. In fact it currently operates as an R&D base for 125 national and international companies, and six of the top global infant formula companies have used MTL in the last five years! Owing to the success of the pilot plant, MTL has recently undergone a review process and have emerged with a new strategy for development and growth, secured with a 10 million investment, evidence of the shareholders’ commitment and desire to position MTL as a futuristic pilot plant. Teagasc have committed 6.3 million and the industry shareholders 3.7 million, and the investment will see the modernisation of the plant in terms of both technology and infrastructure. A budget for priority equipment
purchasing has been set aside to meet technology demands. Current priorities include UHT processing and filling, post dehydration technologies and packaging equipment. Facilities at the pilot plant include a range of operating units from wet processing to cheese technologies. New thermal processing units, a next generation technology unit, formulation science and technology unit, post dehydration and packaging facilities and a plug and play operating unit (for demonstration and evaluation of latest dairy processing equipment) will be added in the next three years. The combination of suite and operating units enable small and medium size companies, in addition to large and often international companies to engage in product, process, ingredient, food and beverage development. MTL now also has a wide range of capabilities in general food and food ingredient development including infant formula, nutritional beverages and bio-processing. The timing of this investment coincides well with the current expansion in the dairy sector. The enhanced offerings of MTL will enable a broad range of food companies. MTL is arranged in a modular structure of self-contained processing areas. This guarantees single client access and total confidentiality. MTL intends to be the
key enabler for piloting innovation in the value chain of clients, particularly in the context of industry expansion arising from the elimination of milk quotas in the dairy industry. This is being achieved through operational excellence, and will be enhanced via the current capital investment, and the expansion in services for existing and new customer companies. In addition to the outstanding pilot plant facilities, MTL also offers services which include; contract research and development, pre-commercial manufacture and technical assistance to all sectors in the food development arena. MTL also offers advice and support to customers and is in the unique position of having access to Teagasc’s food scientists, on the same campus. MTL is on track to adopt a market driven service development plan, to better meet its customer company needs. It will also align systems and processes with commercial needs in order to allow for greater flexibility and 24 hour operation. As a result of the considerable investment, and the new hours of operation, it is anticipated that turnover will increase by 160 per cent over the next ten years. MTL is a great place to do business and is readily accessible from the M8 motorway (exit 14).
“MTL HAS HAD OUTSTANDING SUCCESS IN FACILITATING COMPANIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL OR IMPROVED PROCESSES, INGREDIENTS AND FOOD PRODUCTS.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MOOREPARK.IE EAR TO THE GROUND 127
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Racehorse Ownership
From those mornings on the training gallops, to the thrill and excitement of the raceday. Racehorse ownership is like nothing else …experience it for yourself!
Contact Aidan in Irish Thoroughbred Marketing for free and independent advice on how to take your first steps in racehorse ownership or find out more at
www.itm.ie/owning Aidan McGarry: T: +353 45 443000 E: amcgarry@itm.ie
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HOBBIES
TINKERING AND BUILDING
Using the skills acquired on the farm, most versatile farmers can turn their hand to tinkering. A farmer’s introductory knowledge of engineering can be valuable even after he’s left the field. The skills learned from everyday repair of machinery or tools could be the first step into dissecting a device and seeing just how it works. Many farmers seek a hobby where they can still be productive. Tinkering and building allows people to unwind and work at a comfortable pace. Yet, they can still create something of value that others can use. This can apply to tinkering, carpentry or any kind of craft that involves creating something useful.
WRITING OR JOURNALING
Long days of peace and isolation in the fields can afford a farmer time to think. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that many farmers enjoy putting their thoughts on paper. After a long day’s work has taken its effect on the body, sitting down to a comfortable chair and expelling one’s thoughts can be a welcome relief. The farming community has produced some famous names in literature.
Hobby Farm
FARMING CAN BE AN ALL CONSUMING WAY OF LIFE, OFFERING LITTLE TIME FOR OUTSIDE INTERESTS. EAR TO THE GROUND LOOKS AT SOME CONVENIENT PASTIMES THAT MIGHT SUIT THE WEARY FARMER LOOKING TO UNWIND. EAR TO THE GROUND 129
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HOBBIES
focus. Many social societies and hotels now hold weekly dance nights in villages and towns across the country. Not only is it a good way to stay fit, but nights like these spent socialising can help stave off the isolation that’s commonly associated with rural life. If you’re hesitant because your dancing skills leave a lot to be desired, fear not, at these events it’s often the role of the regular participants to instruct and teach the newcomers.
PAINTING
E.B White, the author of classic children’s book, Charlotte’s Web, found the inspiration for his webbed farmyard character in a real life counterpart who lived in his barn. Many Irish farmers have begun contributing to online publications or even started a blog, sharing their expertise with farming professionals.
BALLROOM DANCING
Allow your feet to foxtrot and waltz into the past by picking up an old skill. Ballroom dancing has become hugely popular in recent years thanks to the success of shows like Strictly Come Dancing. The pastime has been linked to improving balance, motion and flexibility, while mentally, it enhances memory, alertness and
Twitching ... BIRDWATCHING Birdwatching is a convenient and inexpensive pastime that ties in with many farmers’ love of nature and animals. Ornithological enthusiasts flock to Ireland each year to witness the autumn migration of some of our most stunning creatures, so people here are well positioned to take up this hobby. If you’re looking for a peaceful break alone with your thoughts, birdwatching can be done in solitude; just you, your binoculars and flying friends. If you’re up for meeting people with similar interests, you can team up with other birdwatchers to discover new and fascinating species of bird. There are birdwatching tours running regularly throughout the country to help the novice get started.
The landscapes of Ireland have long served as artistic inspiration for people visiting or inhabiting this green isle. Who could better interpret the beauty of Ireland’s scenery than the farmers who spend their days working that very land? Painting and sketching is a creative task that can serve as a gentle distraction from the everyday frustrations that come with a demanding job. With this hobby you won’t have to travel too far to find inspiration from an idyllic landscape. Rural areas attract many professional artists throughout the year, and they’re known to hold workshops for would be painters. This year, for instance, tourism officials in Achill, Co Mayo organised a two and four day workshop with artist Padraig McCaul. So keep your artistic eyes peeled for similar opportunities.
TRADING IN FARM MACHINERY
For a lot of farmers, great personal reward can come from buying and selling farm machinery. The idea of finding, researching and striking a good deal for a piece of equipment is highly attractive to those in agriculture. Whether it’s online or through local traders, this activity can be handy if you’re looking to part with equipment that’s no longer useful to you or you want to upgrade some machinery at less expense. And equipment doesn’t need to be for operational use. Many farmers find an interest in trading vintage tractors or tools. While they can’t be put to practical use on the farm, people tend to share their purchases with the wider community at local fairs, parades or even vintage shows. Websites like DoneDeal are a great source of information for farmers looking to get involved.
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ADVERTISING
A Thoroughbred investment In Ireland, and nowhere more so than in rural Ireland, finding a link between a friend or family member and a thoroughbred racehorse is not the most taxing of tasks! Thoroughbred racing may be known as the sport of kings, but with over 3,700 registered owners spread across the length and breadth of the country that old cliché is just that. Sole owners, syndicates or taking a share in a racing club all offer various options and caters for all budgets. A syndicate allows 5-20 people to be involved whereas a club can allow for an unlimited membership, ensuring that any costs are greatly reduced. Once that is decided upon, the trainer needs to be selected, then naming the horse, and of course the tough decision of what racing colours to be selected! So what is the attraction? What attracts people from all walks of life, including the farming and agricultural communities, to get involved? Ask current racehorse owners and they will tell you it is not just a day at the races... it’s a lifestyle.
From those early mornings on the gallops with the trainer gaining a unique insight into what goes into preparing an equine athlete to the build up to the actual race itself, it’s all consuming and best of all it is a great social outlet. A day at the races as a racegoer is a fun experience, but as a racehorse owner, bringing friends and family for such a day is even better again. That’s before the race has even started… it’s a unique experience on every level. Granted there are well known names involved in Irish racing, including sporting stars like rugby legend Ronan O’Gara or golfer Lee Westwood, but the attraction of racing has always been the dream of success with time and time again stories of lesser known owners succeeding at the highest level. Farmers, builders, doctors or gardaí, name the profession and they will be involved. The aptly named Flyers Syndicate are the perfect example of what can be achieved as they own the now 10 time winning mare Cailin Annamh. The syndicate, who hail from counties
Monaghan, Cavan and Wexford, have enjoyed a tremendous time with this mare, which most recently won at Grade 2 level at Gowran Park and now has earnings in excess of €150,000. On the flat, Gordon Lord Byron is an even more remarkable story considering he was purchased as a foal for just €2,000 and has now earned over €2.2 million, and has brought his lucky owners to Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai along the way! That’s the dream!
IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING’S RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP MANAGER, AIDAN MCGARRY, OFFERS FREE AND INDEPENDENT ADVICE TO THOSE LOOKING TO FIND OUT MORE OR GET INVOLVED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.ITM.IE/OWNING OR SIMPLY CALL AIDAN ON +353 45 443000. EAR TO THE GROUND 131
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ADVERTISING
Maximising Performance Precise nutrition and management is key to ensuring you get the best from your livestock. Beef finishers recognise that in order to maximise animal performance during the finishing period, animals need to adapt to their new environment and diets quickly. Cattle coming home from marts, or coming from pasture indoors for finishing, are subject to stress factors such as weaning, mixing with new groups, new surroundings and changes in their diet. If these factors are not managed correctly animals will not reach their full potential, resulting in a longer finishing period and higher feed costs. The main challenges during this period are bovine respiratory disease (BRD), lameness and stomach upsets. To reduce these issues emphasis needs to be placed on nutrition and management during the arrival period to improve performance. HOW CAN NUTRITION IMPROVE PERFORMANCE? Nutrition management on arrival is an important factor in maintaining animal health. Beef finishers should consult with their nutritionist and put a specific nutritional programme in place tailored
for new cattle arriving on farm. Each farm is different and therefore the length of time animals spend on this arrival or adaptation diet will differ between farms. It can generally last between 20-30 days until animals are on the full finishing diet. The adaptation diet should focus on: n Including small amounts of the feeds used during the finishing period to allow the rumen bacteria time to adjust. n Ensuring the feeds are fresh and free of moulds which upset rumen function. n Using a mineral package which contains a high level of vitamins, BIOPLEX® organic trace minerals from Alltech® and new technologies such as ACTIGEN® from Alltech to improve immune response and ensure cattle settle onto a new diet quickly. n The use of the live yeast culture YEASACC® from Alltech improves the rumen environment by increasing rumen pH and ensuring that the rumen bacteria work efficiently. Research from Teagasc Grange has shown that the inclusion of YEA-SACC in beef finishing diets can improve performance by 10 per cent.
HOW CAN MANAGEMENT AFFECT PERFORMANCE? To minimise stress with purchased animals, keep them separate to the main group until they have settled into their new surroundings. Housing this group in an area with straw bedding and good ventilation can reduce stress and improve air quality. A supply of fresh clean water is vital and there should be at least one drinker for every 10 animals. A vaccination and animal health programme with a veterinary practitioner is also essential. Working with your nutritionist and veterinarian on a suitable plan for your farm means your cattle will be in better health, adapt to their new diet and build up to the final finishing diet quicker. The technical team at Alltech can offer nutritional support and advice on your diet as well as other issues you may be experiencing. By utilising this technical advice and incorporating some of the latest, scientifically proven technologies from Alltech, beef finishers can expect to maximise performance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ALLTECH TODAY ON: 1850 44 22 44 OR EMAIL IRELANDALLTECH.COM 132 EAR TO THE GROUND
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COMPETITION
n Wi
A CHIA BIA HAMPER PACKED WITH GOODIES
CHIA BIA ‘NEW YEAR NEW YOU’ COMPETITION! Celebrating the launch of their Omega 3 Chia Oil, Europe’s first sustainable, vegan and plant based source of Omega 3, Chia Bia are offering one lucky Ear to the Ground reader a chance to win a Chia Bia hamper including a month’s supply of Chia Oil capsules, the Cooking with Chia for Dummies book along with lots of other nutritious Chia treats! Kickstart a healthy 2016 with these nutrient packed, no fishy taste capsules. Chia Oil is made by cold pressing chia seeds and encapsulating the oil in a vegan-friendly, easy to swallow capsule. As Ireland’s leading supplier of chia seeds, Waterford based company Chia Bia are committed to pioneering ways in which Chia and its by-products can be brought to the consumer. Chia Seeds are a nutrient powerhouse, they are the highest known plant-based source of Omega 3 in the world, high in fibre, antioxidants and protein. Providing a convenient, natural source of important nutrients when added to yogurt, cereal, salad, smoothies and more, these subtle tasting seeds are filled with health benefits such as reducing cholesterol and aiding healthy digestion.
TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN A CHIA BIA HAMPER PACKED FULL OF CHIA BIA GOODIES, SIMPLY EMAIL ETTGCOMPETITIONSASHVILLEMEDIAGROUP.COM WITH YOUR NAME, CONTACT DETAILS AND ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHAT PRODUCT DID CHIA BIA RECENTLY LAUNCH? A CHIA OIL
B CHIA SEEDS
For more information visit www.chiabia.com, join our online community @chiabiaseed or call +353 (0)51 393685.
Closing Date: January 31st 2016. Competition not open to employees of Ashville Media Group or Chia Bia. No cash or gift card will be awarded in lieu of prize. Winner will be selected at random. Competition entrants must be resident on the island of Ireland. One entry per person. Usual terms and conditions apply.
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INDUSTRY
JAMES SAYS:
“WE’D ALMOST LOST THIS KNOWLEDGE, IT’S A CULINARY EXPLOSION NOW BUT IT’S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. DANIEL O’CONNELL ATE SLEABHAC, WHAT WE KNOW AS NORI”
John Fitzgerald foraging for seaweed on the Kerry coast. OPPOSITE: Seaweed drying.
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The Crop of the Sea JOHN FITZGERALD’S SEAWEED TOURS SHOW VISITORS HOW TO FORAGE FOR OUR NATIVE SEA VEG. THEY ALSO EXPLORE THE HISTORIC USES OF THE FOOD AND CULMINATE IN A VERITABLE SEAWEED FEAST. EAR TO THE GROUND’S VALERIE JORDAN SIGNS UP. EAR TO THE GROUND 135
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S INDUSTRY
Super low tides make for good gathering and a late Indian summer means great drying weather for John Fitzgerald, the man behind Atlantic Irish Seaweed Tours. He’s just back from a busy day’s foraging on the pristine coastline of Derrynane on the Ring of Kerry, when we speak. A self-described “grazer”, John’s science background and love of the sea led him to become interested in seaweeds, their history, health benefits and various uses. His tour business came about after different groups began to approach him when he was harvesting, looking to find out more about the sea’s natural crop. “‘Forage, find, feast’ is our slogan,” explains John. “Our tours show people
how to forage for seaweed. But it’s one thing foraging it, and another thing to recognise it and to know how to sustainably harvest it; different seaweeds flourish at different times of year. We show people how to dry them, store them and then how to cook with them.” Foraging has become something of a movement of late. The good news is Ireland is home to more than 600 varieties of seaweeds; the best bit is that none of them is poisonous. “Which you couldn’t say about mushrooms,” laughs John, “you’d want to study the hell out of mushrooms.” Seaweed is a safe forage John assures me: if you harvest it fresh you can’t really get it wrong. He’s on the cusp of a wave with seaweed, too. Seaweed is exploding as the latest food to be acclaimed ‘super’. It’s rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, antioxidants and active compounds. It’s high in fibre and virtually fat-free. “We’d almost lost this knowledge,” says John. “It’s a culinary explosion now but it’s been around for a long time. Daniel O’Connell ate sleabhac, what we know as nori, at lent when
fish were scarce and you couldn’t eat meat, because it’s 37 per cent protein. The monks on Skellig would have eaten dillisk every day – it would have been their health store. Because of their salt content seaweeds are easier to store than land produce. Once you get them dried to about eight per cent moisture they’re stable, which explains why the Vikings took dillisk on their voyages.” Some seaweeds have even more unique health-related functions: “Bladderwrack, for example, one of our most common seaweeds contains a substance called fucoidan – it binds to a harmful bacterium in the gut that is one of the biggest causes of ulcers in the western world. If we include this in our diet it eliminates it from the gut.” As well as learning about seaweed and foraging for it, the seaweed tours showcase the product in a range of dishes. While cooking in New York, John’s wife, Kerryann, became interested in Asian cooking and in particular its use of seaweed. She brought the interest home with her and has been experimenting with our native seaveg for more than a decade. A tour is topped off with one of her seaweed feasts: there’s wild sea brittle candy with nuts and dillisk, garlic pesto with sea grass, pea hummus with sea lettuce, kimchi with kelp – all washed down with a glass of sparkling elderflower or sugar kelp champagne. And does it taste delicious! For more information on seaweed tours visit www.atlanticirishseaweed.com
know it ... SEAWEED TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO
IRISH MOSS A common red seaweed found on both sides of the Altantic Ocean, Irish Moss is often used as a thickener and stabiliser in milk products, such as ice-cream and processed foods.
DULSE Dulse is a sea plant/ sea vegetable and is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It contains all the trace elements needed by humans and has high levels of protein and iron.
KOMBU High in calcium and magnesium, this seaweed is highly recommended to keep the bones in good form. The high iodine content makes it a great ingredient for helping a slimming diet.
NORI A type of dried seaweed that is commonly used in Japanese and Korean cuisine, nori is typically available in thin sheets that are cut or torn into smaller pieces.
PICKLEWEED Pickleweed grows in the low to middle tide zone in the marsh, which means that it gets covered up by water some of the time depending on the tide.
ARAME Arame seaweed is a brownish-black and stringy looking plant often used in traditional Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Indonesian cooking.
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INDUSTRY CLOCKWISE: The tours show how to forage, recognise, store and cook with seaweeds; John Fitzgerald foraging for seaweed on the Kerry coast; John’s wife Kerryann’s seaweed feast
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try it ... KERRYANN SHARES TWO HOME RECIPES USING OUR NATIVE SEA VEG. SEA BRITTLE WITH DILLISK AND SEA LETTUCE FLAKES Seaweed is not just for savoury fare, it also adds a boost to some sweet dishes. Dillisk is rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium. It can also be used as a tasty salt substitute, which compliments this sweet candy perfectly.
Perilla* and Nasturtium Pesto with sea grass or sea lettuce
PERILLA* AND NASTURTIUM PESTO WITH SEA GRASS OR SEA LETTUCE In this recipe I have used sea lettuce, which we have gathered, washed, dried and milled to a powder. It is very high in protein, calcium, iron and a great source of vitamin C.
1 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of water 1 cup of mixed seeds, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds 1 heaped tsp of dillisk flakes 1 heaped tsp of sea lettuce flakes 1/2 tsp of chopped rosemary (optional) Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a heavy saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Wash down any sugar crystals from side of pan, with a pastry brush
dipped in cold water, until syrup registers 240°F (soft-ball stage) on thermometer, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in seeds with a wooden spoon, then continue stirring until syrup crystallises, 3 to 4 minutes. Return to the heat and allow the sugar to melt completely. When the temperature reaches 300°F on the thermometer (hard crack) it is ready. Carefully pour extremely hot caramel mixture onto greaseproof paper (24” x 12”) and carefully cover with another sheet. Immediately roll out (between sheets of parchment) as thinly as possible with a rolling pin, pressing firmly. Before it starts to cool peel back the top sheet and sprinkle on the seaweeds and herb. Replace the sheet and roll again. Remove the top greaseproof and cool brittle completely, then peel paper from bottom. Break brittle into pieces once cool.
Sea Brittle with Dillisk and Sea Lettuce Flakes
2 cups of chopped perilla and nasturtium leaves 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 level tbs of ground sea lettuce 2 tbs of ground almonds 1 tsp of sherry vinegar Pinch of salt and pepper Nugget of parmesan, grated Tip your ingredients into a blender and add the oil bit by bit. The pesto should last 4/5 days in the fridge. Freezing it is also an option, which is great when there is a glut of herbs. Just omit the parmesan, you can add that once it has thawed.*Perilla is an Asian aromatic herb from the mint family and has a subtle taste of basil and anise. We have been growing the perilla/shiso plant now for a few years. It seems happy with our climate but really thrives in the poly tunnel. The perilla leaves can be substituted by any other herbaceous plants you may have such as fennel, marjoram, sorrel or even nettle. 138 EAR TO THE GROUND
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NO NEED TO PLOUGH A LONELY FURROW LET US HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS Do you have an innovative Agri business idea with the potential to create jobs and succeed in global markets? Contact us today to see how we can help.
www.enterprise-ireland.com/startup Your pet could be lost without it. Your pet could be lost without it. Your pet could be lost without it.
G IN I H C O R IC N O W A NEW L
Your pet could be lost without it.
d from 31st March 2016 In the Republic of Irelan ed. all dogs to be microchipp it will be compulsory for
As a dog owner there are 3 things you need to know about the new legislation
If you are buying, selling or transferring ownership there are 3 more things you need to know about the new legislation
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Your dog MUST be microchipped and registered on a government approved database such as Fido by 31st March 2016.
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You must have a certificate from a government approved database such as Fido to prove that your dog is microchipped and registered on the database.
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3
You must keep your contact details up to date. Any changes of ownership or of contact details such as changes in address or phone number must be notified to the database.
3
From 1st September 2015 all pups must be microchipped and registered with a government approved database such as Fido by the time they reach 12 weeks of age or before they are moved from their birth home. It is illegal to buy or take ownership of a pup that is not microchipped and registered on a government approved database such as Fido and that does not have a certificate from the database to prove this. You must inform a government approved database when you buy, sell, take ownership or transfer ownership of a dog. For more information: fido.ie
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Aisling Meehan BA & ACC, AITI, FETAC (AGRI)
Office :: Rathlahine Farm, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. Telephone :: 061 368 412 Mobile :: 085 738 6615 Web :: www.agriculturalsolicitors.ie
SOLICITOR, TAX CONSULTANT AND QUALIFIED FARMER Specialising in Agricultural Law and Tax Advice to include:
• Farm Transfers covering legal and tax aspects • Succession Planning incorporating Tax Planning • Department of Agriculture and EU schemes • Partnerships, Share Milking, Share Farming, Contract Rearing, Cow Leasing • Farming Companies • Planning and Environmental Law • Land Law to include Rights of Way and Adverse Possession Claims
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ACCOMMODATION
&the EAR TO THE GROUND LOOKS AT SOME OF THE CONTEMPORARY, QUIRKY AND INNOVATIVE ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS IN IRELAND THAT ARE NOW RECOGNISED UNDER A NEW WELCOME STANDARD. Last June, Fáilte Ireland launched a new ‘welcome standard’ targeting innovative, quirky or unusual tourist accommodation businesses which do not fit into its existing approval frameworks. These accommodations include glamping, pods and log cabins among other innovative tourism operators. The new standard has been introduced in recognition of significant changes in both consumer tastes and the range of accommodation types now available. It aims
to bring more tourism operators into tourism’s approved family as complimentary additions to existing traditional tourism accommodation such as hotels and B&Bs. Referring to the new welcome standard approved businesses, John Mulcahy, Head of Hospitality said: “There is a high number of innovative tourist accommodation emerging in response to visitor demand and we are thrilled by the range. It confirms our view that this is a new dynamic form of tourist accommodation and that
the visitor really enjoys the experiences now on offer from these businesses.” Operators which are judged to have attained the welcome standard are allowed to display the standard’s logo on their property and marketing material. The new standard is targeted at atypical tourist accommodation businesses who do not fit into existing Fáilte Ireland approval frameworks and already over 137 operators have signed up. Here’s a look at some of them. EAR TO THE GROUND 141
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ACCOMMODATION
Clonganny House
Clonganny House Caravantasia
Kates Place
Clover Cabin
Caravantasia
Caravantasia is a fun new glamping (glamorous camping) site in Tipperary. Located on a 23 acre farm in a quiet spot at the bottom of a valley, it comes with impressive views of the Galtee mountains. The campsite has six vintage caravans from the ’60s and ’70s that have been renovated into cosy little places to stay. WWW.CARAVANTASIA.COM
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Clover Cabin
Clover Cabin is a luxurious, Scandinavian styled, self-catering log cabin available to rent in Gowran, Co Kilkenny set in a beautiful, peaceful, three acre woodland garden. WWW.CLOVERCABIN.IE
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Clonganny House
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Caravantasia
Kate’s Place
Kate’s Place is a B&B located in Doolin, Co Clare which is focused on making its guests feel at home, showing them where to go and informing them about the wonderful local area and its rich cultural heritage. WWW.KATESPLACEDOOLIN.COM
Clonganny House is a luxury B&B nestled in the heart of the beach area of north Co Wexford. Exclusively for adults, Clonganny offers stylish accommodation and delicious food. The romantic ensuite rooms are located in converted stable and coach house buildings and opens out to a delightful walled garden. WWW.CLONGANNY.COM
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ACCOMMODATION
Rock Farm
Osborne’s Storehouse
Rock Farm
The Inn To The West
Pod Umna Village
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Rock Farm
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Osborne’s Storehouse
Rock Farm Slane is an organic farm located on the Slane Castle estate offering glamping and eco guesthouse accommodation as well as outdoor activities. The farm hosts couples, families, solo adventure seekers and large groups where they can experience a stay in luxury yurts, cosy shepherd huts or natural strawbale guesthouse accommodation. WWW.ROCKFARMSLANE.IE
Osborne’s Storehouse is located in the village of Rathanna, Co Carlow. The newly converted Storehouse facility can sleep up to 12 people and the adjoining Osborne’s Bar provides the ideal base to get to know the locals. The building dates back to the mid 1800s with the bar retaining its original Victorian interior. WWW.STOREHOUSERATHANNA.IE
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Pod Umna Village
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The Inn To The West
Pod Umna Village is a glamping site located in the town of Portumna in southeast Galway where guests can stay in pods rather than tents. In this unique pod village, there are no poles or tent pegs, no damp or draughts. Simply all the fun of camping, without the hardship. WWW.PODUMNAVILLAGE.IE
The Inn to the West offers the perfect base for a Connemara adventure. Whether you want to cycle, hike, sail or just drive your way around some of Ireland’s most spectacular landscape, the Clifden-based Inn to the West offers spacious rooms, an open fire and tasty breakfast that will leave you feeling spoiled rotten. WWW.THEINNTOTHEWEST.COM EAR TO THE GROUND 143
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
Organic Producers Boost Ireland’s Global Food Profile Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, tells Ear to the Ground about government initiatives to support organic food producers.
Q
will provide further outlets for farmers to sell their produce. Food Wise 2025 also has a specific recommendation regarding direct to consumer selling, namely, to introduce a new support programme for direct to consumer producers aimed at enabling producers to extend their local and regional business reach and resulting in a pipeline for new entrants to the Artisan Food Market at Bloom. Routes to market were a key topic for discussion at the recent Organic Industry Day in October, which was funded by my Department. I understand that online, retail, food markets and other channels were all highlighted at the event.
IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT POLICY CAN BENEFIT ORGANIC PRODUCERS? ‘Green Tenders – An Action Plan on Green Public Procurement’, was launched in 2012 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, together with former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and now EU Commissioner, Phil Hogan. This action plan commits the public sector to playing an exemplary sustainability role through its procurement activities. It places due emphasis on local sourcing and sustainability, which are both positives from an organic perspective. Green Public Procurement (GPP) can be a useful channel for raising environmental awareness and may influence the marketplace for the general public and the private sector. For example, serving organic food in a public canteen or through a hospital catering service is likely to increase awareness among users and providers of the service. GPP may also encourage private sector organisations to include green organic criteria when procuring food products and services for their own organisations. GPP may therefore result in an increase in demand for organic products and lower operational costs for producers. Experience in other Member States has shown that the availability of public procurement opportunities gives confidence to medium to large scale conventional operators to convert in full or in part to organic production. Public procurement schemes have boosted organic consumption in other EU countries. Consequently, I believe that this new green public procurement plan will offer more domestic opportunities for organic producers in the years ahead.
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THERE ARE LOTS OF INNOVATIVE SMALL SCALE PRODUCERS IN IRELAND. HOW CAN WE IMPROVE ROUTES TO MARKET FOR FARMERS LOOKING TO ADD VALUE TO FOOD? Understanding the market landscape and how to undertake direct selling for the first time is the first step for many farmers looking at new routes to market. Under the 2015 Organic Marketing Plan, funded by my Department, Bord Bia has introduced a new entry level of business mentoring to meet the demand of new entrants to the sector who are looking for advice and guidance on how to add value to their existing business. There is currently a strong emphasis on direct to consumer selling within the food industry. Approximately 150 food markets operate in Ireland on a weekly, monthly and seasonal basis, many of which support local farmers and growers. The recent announcement of a CEDRA fund to support communitybased local food and artisan markets
Q
IRELAND IS GAINING A REPUTATION AS A PREMIER FOOD DESTINATION. HOW CAN SMALL FAMILY FARMS BENEFIT FROM THIS GROWING REPUTATION? Creating compelling and differentiated brands that celebrate the farm heritage and quality of the products will provide local and national restaurants, cafés and shops with an exciting point of difference as they seek to build on Ireland’s emerging food reputation. Understanding your point of difference and building a sustainable business are core elements of the Food Academy programme. Developed by Bord Bia, SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Offices, this comprehensive introduction to building a food business is a very important starting point for any new or recent entrants to the sector. Working together with other food, drink and horticulture businesses in your local area and supporting each other helps to build the richness and variety of the local food landscape and creates a destination for visitors. In recent times, many farmers have opened up to farm tours where visitors can see anything from cheese making to apple
“IN RECENT TIMES, MANY FARMERS HAVE OPENED UP TO FARM TOURS...COUPLED WITH OTHER FARM INITIATIVES LIKE ‘PICK YOUR OWN’, AND EVEN ONFARM TEA ROOMS AND HERITAGE TOURS, THESE INNOVATIONS HAVE ATTRACTED AND KEPT VISITORS WITHIN A LOCAL AREA TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL ECONOMY.” 144 EAR TO THE GROUND
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pressing to yogurt making in progress. Coupled with other farm initiatives like ‘pick your own’, and even on-farm tea rooms and heritage tours, these innovations have attracted and kept visitors within a local area to benefit the local economy.
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SMALL FOOD PRODUCERS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY IRISH CONSUMERS. WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BUY MORE IRISH FARM HOUSE PRODUCTS? Bord Bia’s 2013 Periscope report shows that buying local is important to seven out of 10 Irish adults when they are shopping for food. Nearly 80 per cent of adults also believe that local production results in higher quality food products. The foundations
are therefore in place for Irish food and drink companies to encourage consumers to trial and purchase local products. Having a vision for the sector, such as Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025, makes clear the Government priorities in this area. Supporting the development of food markets, and engaging with retailers such as SuperValu on the Food Academy Programme and Tesco on the Taste Buds programme, are all ways in which Bord Bia works to bring as many farmhouse and artisan products to consumers on a daily basis. Finally, on the organic sector specifically, awards such as the bi-annual National Organic Awards are a very important activity to promote the taste and quality of a wide range of organic products and allow winners to reach new consumers on the back of their award success.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.GREENPUBLICPROCUREMENT.IE EAR TO THE GROUND 145
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NATURE
Juvenile swallow begging
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NATURE
Aerial view of the driving academy BELOW: Mary Keohane, Founder, Bantry Driving Academy
THE MADNESS OF
eric dempsey BIRDWATCHER ERIC DEMPSEY’S MEMOIR OFFERS A FASCINATING AND UNORTHODOX VIEW OF OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO OBSESSIVELY STUDY THEM. HE TALKS TO RURAIDH CONLON O’REILLY. The age of 54 is pretty early to be publishing an autobiography, but one gets the impression that nothing will ever stop the determined and energetic Eric Dempsey. From the late 1970s he has been at the centre of birdwatching in Ireland, running information services, publishing several guidebooks and explaining the skies to all comers. But his latest work is very different to anything he’s done before. Don’t Die In The Autumn – its title a tongue-incheek warning to relatives that he’s not to be disturbed during the best birdwatching months – takes us from Dempsey’s northside Dublin upbringing into a full-on obsession with birdwatching, travels around the world and even the lowpoints of illness, disappointment at missing rare birds and disenchantment as politics crept onto the close-knit scene. In fact, he didn’t set out to
write a memoir at all: the idea he submitted was for an image-driven book with stories attached to each bird – but instead publishers Gill & Macmillan asked him for what turned out to be an autobiography. They asked for 70,000 words in three months. He wrote 150,000
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NATURE Swallow
words. “And if they’d given me another three months I’d have written 350,000 words!” he laughs. “It was just a wonderful experience to be able to sit down and just write creatively about my experiences in life.” The trickiest bit was to strike a balance and cater for hardcore bird fanatics without alienating the layperson. Mission accomplished. He’s overwhelmed by the response. Dempsey writes that he first became aware of birds while in his kitchen, when his mother lifted him up to see a family of house sparrows out the window. He’s clear about why birds have meant so much to him since then. “Birds are so accessible. How many badgers have you seen? How many hedgehogs have you seen? How many foxes do you see? You really have to work hard to see them. Whereas you walk out and there’s birds everywhere. “You look in your back garden and
put up nut feeders in the wintertime and the birds that are in your back garden... many of them – if you understood their language – would be speaking in Swedish and Finnish and Russian dialects. Swallows go off to Africa and come back. It’s the movement of birds, the migration of birds, that captured my imagination from a very early age. And it still captures my imagination.” That imagination was channelled into the subculture of ‘twitching’, perhaps the most unexpected part of the book to the outsider, whereby enthusiasts would scramble all across the country to see a bird that’s been reported by someone else, thus gaining a ‘tick’ (as in ticking a box). By the end of the ‘80s Dempsey had achieved 300 Irish ticks. However, as the hobby grew Dempsey’s efforts to modernise the flow of information weren’t universally popular and he felt resentment
starter kit ... ESSENTIALS “Even buying a cheap pair of binoculars is a good start. It’s always a good idea to have a good field guide so that you can identify the birds you’re seeing. But you don’t even need that. If you put up bird feeders and things in your back garden you can have birds feeding outside your kitchen window. You can have an amazing variety of birds in your back garden.” And for a good field guide, look no further than The Pocket Guide to the Common Birds of Ireland by Eric Dempsey and Michael O’Clery.
Eric Dempsey’s Don’t Die in Autumn is published by Gill & Macmillan and is available in all good bookshops priced at €15.99.
from fellow birdwatchers. “The old system had been in place since the founding of ornithology in Ireland back in the 1800s, and I had the audacity as a young Dublin git who had no scientific qualifications, and I was in there stirring it up and dragging the scene from the old 1950s into the 1990s and the 2000s... I think with the advent of tweeting, the internet and text messaging, people accept that that is the way it is. “Within Irish birding I think things have settled. I think there is a little bit more camaraderie. But when people are competing with each other there will always be a sharpness. I just found that sharpness to be distasteful and I found it to be negative.” He’s glad he chose to step away. “The subtitle of the book is The Magic And The Madness of a Life for the Birds. In many ways that competitive element of chasing rare birds is the slight madness. I started off with the magic when I was a kid, then went through the madness, and I’ve returned to the magic again. I still have this childish sense of wonder with the world. I’m still looking out and going: ‘Jesus, that’s incredible.’” So what next? Dempsey’s as busy as ever, and as usual he spends his time sharing his knowledge. “Ultimately I would love to spread the word to a much wider audience through the likes of TV,” he says. With the publication of a fascinating memoir at a young age, he’s already spread the word that little bit further. For more information see www.birdsireland.com.
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NATURE
Skellig Wars
FILMING THE LATEST STAR WARS SEQUEL ON SKELLIG MICHAEL RESULTED IN A HEATED DEBATE OVER WHAT REALLY COMES FIRST, TOURISM OR CONSERVATION? JANE QUINN REPORTS.
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FEATURE
pinions have been divided about the filming of Star Wars on Skellig Michael, which took place on the UNESCO World Heritage site last September. On one side, conservation groups believed filming would threaten wildlife on the island, while others, assured of its apparent safety outlined in a report by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, saw filming of the acclaimed franchise as nothing more than a lucrative opportunity for Irish tourism. Plans for Lucasfilm (Star Wars’ production company) to shoot on the island were put in place back in April. However, it was when filming became known to the public that Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys began receiving complaints from wildlife conservation groups and members of the public concerned about the potential damage human presence could have on the monastic site as well as the protected bird population residing there. Since filming took place, a report carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service found that no damage was caused during production apart from two “minor incidents” involving a crew member catching their jacket on the edge of a stone and a small amount of water-based paint being spilled on rocks. The ques-
tion of whether we can ever obtain a clear picture of what impact Star Wars has had on Skellig Michael remains disputed. Dr Stephen Newton from BirdWatch Ireland recently told the Irish Times that damage caused to eggs or nests could not be fully accounted for as filming took place during breeding season. Pádraic Fogarty, Chairman of the Irish Wildlife Trust, says one of the major problems with Star Wars on Skellig Michael is how it was planned in a surreptitious manner. “Not only are the islands famous for their UNESCO designation, they’re also under the European Habitat’s Directive and designated for bird colonies,” he says. “They are under a legislation stating that any activity that is going to disturb them needs to be properly assessed and is prohibited to go ahead if it’s going to have a negative impact. The problems that were encountered were that the assessment was done very secretively. You’re supposed to look for the opinions of other interested parties. That wasn’t done.” So how does Fogarty believe filming could have affected wildlife? He says disturbance of nesting and disorientation could have been major factors. “Birds on the island, such as shearwaters and storm petrels, according to BirdWatch Ireland, nest well into September and October. They’re nocturnal, they don’t like artificial light, so you can imagine if there were spotlights and floodlights being used that this would have been a problem for them. Even in breeding season in that part of Kerry people are urged not to leave lights on in their garden because they can attract the birds and disorientate them.” Despite assurance that filming had no effect on the birds’ welfare, the Irish Wildlife Trust believes protected areas are unsuitable for such activity, no matter what the gain. “We believe that Skellig Michael is not suitable for Star Wars,” says Fogarty. “This is a UNESCO site, it has every conservation designation going and is
supposed to be one of our most precious areas. There are some things that are just not suitable. Is filming for Star Wars by Walt Disney compatible with the spirit of the area? I doubt it very much. This is the kind of boundary that is crossed when you do something like Star Wars on the Skelligs.” The saga will surely continue, but conservation of protected sites and species is an important issue that should remain at the heart of tourism sector discussion, and for events such as Star Wars on Skellig Michael, all stakeholders should be in a position to bring their concerns to the table in advance of production. “The value wildlife brings to our lives; sustaining our food and our water and our air are important,” declares Fogarty. “But at the end of the day it’s the spiritual and cultural value that wildlife brings to our lives that is so intrinsic to our wellbeing. They are values that cannot be monetised. I think you have to place the proper value on conservation, and we don’t see that at Government level. When you see what’s happened at the Skelligs, everything is for sale, everything can be monetised and everything can be translated into short-term gain. It’s just not a sustainable attitude.” Fogarty urges people to visit the Skellig Islands and see for themselves the value that lies in its natural beauty. “It’s a fantastic place. We always urge people to take every opportunity to go out and connect with nature and wildlife, it is an amazing thing we have.”
“THIS IS A UNESCO SITE, IT HAS EVERY CONSERVATION DESIGNATION GOING AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS AREAS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT SUITABLE. IS FILMING FOR STAR WARS BY WALT DISNEY COMPATIBLE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE AREA? I DOUBT IT VERY MUCH. THIS IS THE KIND OF BOUNDARY THAT IS CROSSED WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE STAR WARS ON THE SKELLIGS.”
PÁDRAIC SAYS:
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HERITAGE
National Museum of Country Life
Old Story
New Life THE MUSEUM OF COUNTRY LIFE TELLS A UNIQUE STORY AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CO MAYO COMMUNITY, AS NATIONAL MUSEUM DIRECTOR RAGHNALL Ó FLOINN TELLS RURAIDH CONLON O’REILLY.
Think of the National Museum and perhaps bog bodies, Celtic gold, 1916, school tours and Leinster House spring to mind. But the Kildare Street museum is just one part of the picture. A few kilometres outside Castlebar in Co Mayo is one of the National Museum’s four branches, the only one outside of the capital. It tells the story of agriculture, the countryside and the people who lived and worked there – things so important in Irish history, but so often overlooked. “The Museum of Country Life opened in 2001, but the collection on which it’s based goes back, really, to the early 20th century,” explains National Museum director Raghnall Ó Floinn. “The National Museum was founded in 1877, but there was no real collecting of folk material – that is material used by the ordinary people of Ireland, particularly in the countryside – really until the 1930s, when the foundation of the Folklore Commission stimulated an interest in rural life and traditions.” Folklife was considered a branch of archaeology or antiquities. Progress was slow, but in 1949 Dr A.T. Lucas was given the remit to collect folklife material. “At that stage
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HERITAGE
Part of the exhibition on display at the museum
in the ‘50s and ‘60s it was when life in rural Ireland was changing very rapidly: the mechanisation of agriculture, the extension of things like rural electrification, so a lot of the old traditions were dying out,” says Ó Floinn. The timing was crucial: important items were being replaced and thrown out, and the people who made them and had worked with them
were in old age. The material was mainly kept in lessthan-ideal storage for many years, out of the public eye. But during the development of Collins Barracks in the 1990s, plans to display the folklife material there took a u-turn: Mayo County Council had offered a country house, Turlough Park House. The Museum of Country Life has
So ... WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM FROM THE COLLECTION? “I’m an archaeologist by training, and for me it’s the penal crosses: these are wooden crosses about 30cm high. They were produced in the 18th and very early 19th century; they were carved for people who went on pilgrimage to Lough Derg. They’re very simple; they’re folk-art in the sense that it’s a very simple carved figure of the crucified Christ on one side with the instruments of Christ’s passion, and they might have the date on the back... Like a lot of objects there’s a history behind these that we’ll never know.”
been a great success ever since, according to Ó Floinn. With a growing annual attendance of around 100,000 visitors per annum, and an annual festival, it’s now well established. The museum plays an important role in the local and regional economy – much, he admits, to his surprise. “To be quite frank, from my point of view when the Museum of Country Life was set up in Castlebar that was one of my concerns, as to the sustainability in the long-term. The catchment area was quite large.” The tour buses, Wild Atlantic Way cars and Great Western Greenway bicycles, not to mention local support, have proved people wrong. A series of temporary exhibitions keeps things fresh for people to visit regularly: the latest is on migrant women, a topical subject. “It actually opened the day the EU was discussing the refugee crisis,” he says. But what’s so interesting about country life in the first place? “I think it’s part of a wider window into Irish culture which ties in with the language, it ties in with folklore, it ties in with traditions, it ties in with craft,” says Ó Floinn. People come to the Museum of Country Life for a variety of reasons. “There’s an element of nostalgia there for people, but it’s also around how people actually lived. They were hard times for a lot of people, and in the beginning we talk about the danger of over-romanticising life in the past, particularly in rural Ireland.” Sustainability, and the recent revival of interest in crafts, give things a contemporary resonance. As for the future, Ó Floinn is pondering questions of how the museum handles social history, and how it systematically chooses what items it collects without filling up scores of warehouses. But more immediately, perhaps the museum is fortunate to remain open: these have been lean years for the funding of any cultural project. “It has been a struggle,” he admits, but things are improving: at one point in the last two years they hit “rock bottom in terms of being certain as to whether we could keep the doors open, literally.” There had been a suggestion that admission charges might have to be introduced, something Ó Floinn resists on principle. Given more resources, he’d like to expand the Turlough Park House site and open up more space for temporary and travelling exhibitions. Even so, after decades of backstory and a menacing recession, the Museum of Country Life survives against the odds – an important outpost with a valuable role.
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ART
Horse drawn DUBLIN ARTIST PATRICK CAHILL REFLECTS ON A BYGONE DUBLIN AND IN PARTICULAR THE SMITHFIELD HORSE FAIR, THE UNIQUE EVENT THAT INSPIRED SOME OF HIS MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS. In the 1980s, artist Patrick Cahill came upon the Smithfield Horse Fair. A graphic artist by trade and subsequently a fulltime painter, he used to get up early on Sunday mornings when the city’s streets were silent to sketch, uninterrupted. It was one such morning when one of the ‘jarveys’ at St Stephen’s Green became his subject. “I came across a fella with a pony and trap outside Stephen’s Green and I started drawing him. I didn’t know then but the Dublin City Corporation used to give licences to these horse-drawn tourist carriages and he thought I was someone from the social welfare watching; he came over to me and said, ‘what’re you doing? Are you from the social welfare?’ I told him I was an artist and interested in painting him and his horse, and he ended up telling me about the fair at Smithfield where he’d gotten the horse.” A born-and-bred Dubliner Patrick had never heard of the fair and imagines most hadn’t, unless they had business there. Curious, he went along. “It was barely a fair. There were only a small handful of people, about three horseboxes and two farriers. I was very interested in the farriers,” he recalls. “Smithfield was derelict then but it was very picturesque; for me it was a great source of inspiration for painting.” Smithfield, just north of Dublin’s centre, was laid out in the mid-17th century as a marketplace primarily for cattle and hay and occasionally horses; the square was lined with inner-city
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ART
Patrick Cahill in his Kildare studio
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ART
PATRICK SAYS:
“SMITHFIELD WAS DERELICT THEN BUT IT WAS VERY PICTURESQUE; FOR ME IT WAS A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR PAINTING.”
‘farm yards’ housing livestock. The horse fair, as such, dates from the early 1960s. “There were families around that area and they actually bred horses for Guinness and CIE and they had beautiful horses. There were some malnourished horses too of course. But it was totally unique at one point – it was the only horse fair held in a capital city in Europe.” In the 1990s the renowned photog-
rapher Perry Ogden documented the horse fair for his exhibition ‘Pony Kids in Smithfield’, which was opened by then President Mary Robinson. Later RTÉ featured the fair and the city’s ‘urban cowboys’. Patrick says eventually there were as many photographers and spectators attending the fair as horses and traders. “I used to go down sketching and drawing but when it took off the young fellas
would be standing in your face saying ‘Do me! Do me!’ and grabbing the brushes out of your hands and running off with them. They were the biggest characters I’d have met down there.” Authorities and animal rights groups campaigned for years to end the fair over health and safety concerns. After a shooting in 2011, a by-law was passed limiting the number of fairs to two a year. The biannual event also now faces tighter restriction and regulation. Patrick has been once to the fair in its new guise, but it’s not the scene he painted in the 80s. The surrounding landscape is also irrevocably altered – Smithfield is arguably one of the capital’s most prominent examples of gentrification, or urban renewal. Patrick still paints scenes of his native Dublin, but also travels regularly to paint and cites Paris and Prague as two cities that have greatly inspired him. “Around Dublin and all along the quays in the ‘80s there were a lot of derelict buildings. They were crumbling and falling down. It was in a pretty bad state but it was interesting to paint,” Patrick reflects. “And I thought Smithfield Horse fair was the most colourful part of Dublin at the time.” Patrick Cahill was in conversation with Valerie Jordan
About ... PATRICK CAHILL Patrick Cahill is most noted for his urbanscapes, in particular his depictions of the Smithfield Horse Fair, but he is also a talented figure painter. He has exhibited regularly in the RHA, the Oireachtas, the exhibitions of the DPSC and WCSI and also shows annually at the Wexford Opera Festival. He was recently elected to the Copley Society of Art in Boston, the oldest non-profit art association in the United States. He is currently preparing for an exhibition of his work in Boston next year. www.patrickcahillart.com 156 EAR TO THE GROUND
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BOOKS
Shelf life
THE IRISH PARADOX, BY SEÁN MONCRIEFF Gill & MacMillan, €16.99
As he contemplates the history and mindset that has culminated in our sense of self, Seán Moncrieff attempts to self-diagnose all the idiosyncrasies that make the Irish so stubbornly Irish. He departs on this journey with one question circling his mind: What does it mean to be from the green isle? In The Irish Paradox, Moncrieff explores contrasting aspects of Irish nature from our conflicting devotion for religion and opposing hatred of the Catholic Church to the select form of discrimination he himself felt when he relocated back to Ireland with “strange accents and mannerisms.” The child of a Scottish father and an Irish-born mother, he straddles the line between outsider and native that allows him insight into Irish nature with the added benefit of objectivity. In his search to answer the core question of the book, he expresses himself through anecdotes and personal experiences. His thoughts are emotionally evocative and he seems to have a talent for hitting the nail on the head. He writes in a style that lacks caution or hesitation. This is evident by how he revels at stamping about in the muddier parts of Irish culture that most writers would shy from. The Irish Paradox is without a doubt and all encompassing examination of Ireland, Irish society and the Irishman.
THE TRACTOR BOOK Dorling Kindersley, €28.99 The Tractor Book traces the evolution of this ever-changing piece of machinery and can be considered the definitive guide to tractors. Beginning with the early 1900s, the book delves into a history of the pioneer vehicles that spanned a varied and fascinating selection of agricultural motors. Each section is accompanied by high quality graphics that alone are worth the browse. Though, not just visually stunning, each chapter offers a wealth of knowledge that will provide even the most informed tractor aficionado with moments of welcomed surprise. With an even focus on both vintage and high tech motors, there’s a style of vehicle for anyone with an interest in this field.
SPORT
CULTURE
FARMING
BUSINESS
UNTIL VICTORY ALWAYS BY JIM MCGUINNESS
IRISH THATCH BY EMMA BYRNE
AROUND THE FARM GATE EDITED BY PJ CUNNINNGHAM
THE MAXIMALIST BY MATT COOPER
Gill & MacMillan, €21.99
The O’Brien Press, €24.99
Ballpoint Press, €14.99
Gill & MacMillan, €24.99
Jim McGuinness’ triumphant reinvention of the Donegal football team as one of the most formidable teams in GAA was nothing short of strategic genius. In Until Victory Always he maps out his unpredictable style of play and the commitment it takes to rise to the status of sports legend.
The thatched roof is synonymous with rural life in Ireland. In this book, Emma Byrne explores why an emblem of an iconic culture is in such decline. The graphic designer and artist visited locations across the country to research and document this historic custom.
Around the Farm Gate is a treasure trove of Irish stories written by 50 ordinary people who lived through and grew up in the rural Ireland of the 50s, 60s, 70s and later. The book is a collection of true stories from rural Ireland by individual authors recalling their time growing up in and around farm gates.
In this landmark Tony O’Reilly biography, Matt Cooper draws on an abundance of new material, including interviews with many of O’Reilly’s closest family, friends, associates and rivals, to uncover the man behind the myth. The Maximalist documents in unflinching detail the meteoric rise and slow unravelling of an Irish icon. EAR TO THE GROUND 159
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FOOD
STREET FOOD DELIVERS INSTANT GRATIFICATION IN A RIOT OF SWEET, SALTY, SMOKY FLAVOURS AND FUN. GET THE PREP DONE, THEN HEAD OUT FOR A BRACING WINTER WALK AND YOU’LL BE WELCOMED BACK BY A FESTIVAL OF FABULOUS FOOD.
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FOOD
pictured overleaf TURKISH PIDE 300g 00 grade flour 100ml cold water 3tbs warm water 7g instant yeast 1 tsp caster sugar 2 tsp salt 2 tbsp olive oil FILLING 300g minced lamb 1 onion chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped 2 cloves garlic chopped 2 tsp cumin ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp black pepper 1tbs olive oil 1tsp sugar 1tsp salt
Place the flour on a work surface, sprinkle over the salt and make a well in the centre. Mix the yeast and sugar together, add 3 tbs of lukewarm water and allow the mix to activate for 3-4 minutes. Add the olive oil to the yeast mix and pour a little into the well in the flour. Begin mixing together with your hand adding the cold water a little at a time. The dough should be soft and sticky. Knead the dough for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into an oiled bowl and cover with a tea towel. Leave in a warm area of the kitchen for 30 minutes until risen. When the dough has doubled in size, remove it from the bowl and knead again. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, forming each into a rugby ball shape. Flour the work surface and roll each piece out as thinly as possible to form a flat oval. Roll the edges in to form a slightly thicker edge. Slide the prides onto a floured baking tray and add the filling, keeping it inside the edge (see below). Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden and crisp. FOR THE FILLING Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and fry until translucent, then add the lamb and continue to fry, stirring frequently for 3 minutes. Add the garlic, spices, sugar, salt and cook for a further 3 minutes before adding the tomatoes. Continue cooking until the tomatoes have softened and started to break down. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Makes 6 Other good options for toppings include — cooked spinach, feta and olives; tomato and cheese; cheese and spicy sausage; red onion, peppers and cheese; garlic and herb butter; plain brushed with olive oil.
TAIWANESE GUA BAO BURGER 1kg pork belly 100ml rice wine 150ml soy sauce 100ml hoisin sauce 50g brown sugar 2cm ginger peeled and grated 1 red chili chopped 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 tsp five-spice powder 6 sesame burger buns, best quality 1 bunch of coriander, chopped 1 jar pickled mustard greens 3 tbs roasted peanuts 2 tsp sugar
Combine the rice wine, soy, hoisin, brown sugar, ginger, chili garlic and five spice in a large shallow bowl. Place the pork belly in the mix and coat evenly with it. Leave to marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight if possible. Preheat the oven to 1500C. Place the meat and its marinade on a baking sheet in the oven. Cook for two to three hours, basting frequently with the marinade and juices, until meltingly tender. Blitz the peanuts and sugar to a powder in a food processor. Toast the buns, fill with some pickled mustard greens, a good slice of pork belly, dust with the peanut powder and garnish with the coriander. Makes 6
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FOOD
TURKISH TAVUK SIS CHICKEN KEBABS 3 chicken breasts 18 tiny onions or 3 large 18 sun-dried tomatoes in oil 6 tbsp natural yogurt 2 cloves of garlic, mashed or grated 3 tsp paprika 1 tsp salt 2 tbs olive oil 1 lemon TO SERVE Shredded iceberg lettuce Wraps or plain pide
Mix the yogurt, salt, juice of half of the lemon, garlic and paprika in a bowl. Put half the mix in a small bowl and reserve as a dip. Cut the remaining half of the lemon into wedges and set aside. Mix the remainder with 1 tbs of olive oil to use as the marinade. Chop each chicken breast into 6 evenly sized pieces and stir into the marinade. Leave for an hour or overnight in the fridge if you prefer. Peel the onions and if using the large onions cut each one into 6 wedges. Prepare 6 skewers and thread alternating pieces of chicken, onion and sundried tomato onto each. Heat the grill to its highest setting. Place the skewers onto a baking tray and place under the grill. Cook for 6-7 minutes on each side, turning once. Check the chicken is cooked through and serve the skewers with the dip, lemon wedges, shredded lettuce and wraps, flatbread or plain pide. Makes 6 EAR TO THE GROUND 163
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FOOD
AMERICAN LOBSTER ROLL 100ml white wine 25ml tarragon vinegar 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 sprigs of tarragon, chopped 150g butter 50ml cream 6 black peppercorns Salt 2 lemons 6 brioche buns 2 cooked lobsters 3tbs mayonnaise 2tsp Dijon mustard In a medium saucepan heat the white wine, vinegar, shallot, peppercorns until reduced by twothirds. Add the cream and reduce by half again. Whisk in half of the butter a little at a time until the sauce has emulsifies. Strain and add the tarragon. Taste the sauce and season with salt and a little lemon juice. Split the lobsters and remove the meat from the body and claws. Cut into bite sized pieces and add to the sauce to warm through. Mix the mayonnaise with the Dijon and a little lemon juice. Cut the remaining lemon into wedges and set aside. Split the brioche rolls, butter them and grill until golden brown. Fill each roll with some of the lobster and sauce, garnish with a little of the Dijon mayo and a pinch of the remaining tarragon. Serve with the lemon wedges. Makes 6
SWEDISH CINNAMON SWIRLS 320g sheet readymade puff pastry 60g golden caster sugar 60g butter, softened 30g sultanas 2 tsp cinnamon 1 egg 2 tbsp milk 1tbs plain flour
Preheat the oven to 1700C. Beat the butter, 50g of the sugar and the cinnamon together until completely combined. Dust your work surface with half the flour and lay the pastry on top. Spread the butter mix over the pastry. Sprinkle with the sultanas and then roll from the short side, like a swiss roll. Place in the fridge and chill for half an hour. When firm, remove from the fridge and slice into 12 even rounds. Dust a baking tray with flour and lay the pastries on it evenly spaced. Beat the egg and milk together and use to brush the surface of the pastries, sprinkle with the remaining sugar. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Makes 12
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Pantone 349
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SUPPORTING YOUR PRODUCTS
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FASHION
feeling
blue? BE PRETTY AS A PICTURE IN PETROL BLUE, THE COLOUR OF THE SEASON. MAKE BLUE YOUR NEW GO TO COLOUR AND BANISH BLACK FROM YOUR WINTER WARDROBE FOR GOOD.
Pied a Terre at House of Fraser
Suedette stud detail dress €80, Littlewoods
Burnout velour dress, €18.51, Littlewoods
more party looks page 168
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FASHION
Party Luxe MAKE THIS FESTIVE SEASON YOUR MOST FASHIONABLE ONE YET, WITH THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF PARTY WEAR FOR YOU AND YOURS. LEFT: Embellished drop earrings, €135, Ben- Amun at Brown Thomas BELOW: Green skater dress, €49.95, Zara
Feather Maxi Earrings in Gold, €179, Chupi
RIGHT: Black flare Coat, €290, Phase Eight BELOW: Wildflower wrap dress, €413, Diana Von Furstenberg at Brown Thomas
Camel flared wool coat, €1,795, Stella McCartney at Harvey Nichols
Black leather vintage boots, €150, Nine West at Arnotts Nude oversized clutch, €50, Wallis
Black leather pom pom gloves, €33, River Island
Emerald quartz ring, €219, Chupi
Black suede tie back ankle boots, €105, River Island
Gold zip-top clutch, €53, Accessorize
ABOVE Winter Rose print shoulder bag, €90, Fiorelli at Fabucci BELOW: Black kitten heel courts, €45, Marks & Spencer
ABOVE: Red sequinned dress, €3,295, Nina Ricci at Harvey Nichols BELOW: Nude court shoe, €125, Kurt Geiger at Brown Thomas
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Xmas Kit ROLL NECKS ARE BACK BUT IF IT’S AN EVENT YOU’RE GOING TO, CHOOSE CLASSIC BLACKTIE, OR KEEP IT RELAXED IN CHINOS AND JACKET LEFT: Beige roll neck, €140, Marks & Spencer BELOW: Navy coat, €89.95, Zara
Blue brinkworth garment dyed jacket, €530, Aquascutum BELOW: Long Sleeve White Shirt €10, Penneys
ABOVE: Twill bow tie, €65, Eton at Brown Thomas. LEFT: Black Tie, €50, Marks & Spencer
Black Suit , €1,800, Zegna Milano at Brown Thomas White contrast button poplin shirt, €25, River Island
Indigo straight leg jeans, €156, Paul Smith at Harvey Nichols
ABOVE: Jacquard wool scarf, €43, Marks & Spencer LEFT: Beige chino, €109, Tommy Hilfiger at Arnotts
Gold tone watch, €495, Uniform Wares at Harvey Nichols
Paisley-jacquard silk tie, €97, Eton at Harvey Nichols Black leather holdall, €230, Marks & Spencer
Acqua Di Parma Colonia Eau De Cologne Spray, €80, House of Fraser Brown leather boots, €205, Ted Baker at Arnotts
Navy leather chelsea boots, €79.95, Zara
Black starling plain oxford shoes, €250, Paul Smith at Brown Thomas
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MOTORING
larger than life
CONOR FORREST TOOK THE BRAND NEW MITSUBISHI L200 FOR A SPIN.
T
hings are quite often different in the flesh. A beautiful sunset. A shooting star. Being in a stadium watching Ireland beat France at the Rugby World Cup (though no more). And you can add the Mitsubishi L200 Doublecab to that list.
The first thing I noticed about the new L200 is that it’s a very large vehicle, particularly when you’re standing right in front of it. Secondly, you’ll quickly realise that it isn’t really designed for life on Dublin city’s streets, or any city really, for that matter. At 5.2m long and 1.8m wide, the new L200 is more at home on a country road in Kildare than a narrow street in Stoneybatter, though a turning circle of just 5.9m makes life a little easier, while the steering is surprisingly light and responsive for such a big beast. There are a number of changes from its predecessor, which has sold 1.3m units over nine years. Fuel consumption
has improved for one thing, as have CO2 emissions. The new aluminium engine weighs 30kg less, the first of its kind in a pick-up, and the bed length and width, as well as room in the cabin, have all been increased. Two versions of the new L200 are available at present – our test model featured the 5-speed automatic transmission, while a six speed manual version is also available. The former comes with paddle shifters and a sports mode, which allows you to manually shift up or down if you’re missing the manual method. Both are powered by a 2.4L turbo 181hp diesel engine,
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MOTORING
producing 430Nm torque, handy when carrying a hefty load. The interior won’t blow you away in terms of its styling, however it’s one of the most comfortable vehicles I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving – the front seats have been redesigned to support your shoulders, legs and torso, which you’ll notice on a long drive. It’s also quite spacious, thanks to a top of the class cabin length of just over 1.7m – five adults fitted quite easily into my test model, with minimal complaints, though the tallest passenger might be better off in the front passenger seat. It’s also quite practical, in terms of space both inside
The Stats MITSUBISHI L200 INTENSE AUTOMATIC ENGINE: 2.4L MIVEC 181hp 4WD FUEL ECONOMY: ~10L/100km or 28mpg average on test drive (manual versions should be more economical) PRICE: €36,450 - test model included several extras such as full box at €2,850, bedliner (€260), MMC tow bar and wiring harness (€305) and chrome pack. RIVALS: Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, VW Amorak EAR TO THE GROUND 171
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and out. The cargo bed, for example, is just over 1.5m in length, 1.47m wide, and 15mm deeper than the previous version. There’s not much inside for the motoring technology enthusiast either, but for everyday driving it’s plenty, and the standard equipment list is decent – including a touchscreen audio display, rearview camera, automatic wipers, hill start assist, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, lane departure warning (which can be turned off, thankfully), and a speed limit setting, perfect for those drivers who constantly find themselves unknowingly drifting into unlawful territory. There’s even Trailer Stability Assist, which works to increase stability when towing a trailer (towing capacity is up to 3,100kg) – if vehicle swaying is detected then engine power and braking force on each wheel is automatically controlled to stabilise both vehicle and trailer. This might come in useful on a windy day. As a tall vehicle (almost 1.8m in height and minimum road clearance of 205mm), the L200 isn’t the most comfortable on anything but the smoothest of roads – but it’s certainly solid, thanks to a rugged frame built for maximum stability and traction. Hit a particularly nasty bump or hole and you’ll know all about it, although once you reach the smooth main roads and motorways the noise fades and you can switch on the cruise control and enjoy the ride, thanks in part to an aerodynamically contoured body and a cabin which almost seems soundproofed. The tall seating position is something to remember, however, and you’ll have a great view of your surroundings – I discovered much about my neighbours during my week with the
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Behind the wheel THE L200 OFFERS A DRIVERCENTRIC CABIN 1 MULTIMEDIA CENTRE The L200 features a rear view camera and touchscreen display. 2 TRANSMISSION Our test model featured a nifty tiptronic transmission, complete with a manual shifter (up/down) and paddle shifters. 3 OFF ROAD The L200’s 4WD modes are easily activated via a dial beneath the gear lever. 4 STORAGE SPACE If you’ve got small pockets, don’t worry, as the L200 has various cubby holes and storage spaces throughout. 5 COMFY SEATS The redesigned seats offer great support and are perfect for long drives. 6 CENTRAL CONTROL Cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled via the steering wheel.
L200, accidentally of course! Off-road, however, is where the L200 really comes to life, and the difference between the two is almost surprising. Even in a sloping, bumpy field, or across rougher terrain than Ireland’s highways and byways offer, the L200 soaks up the lumps and bumps, leaving you wondering if you are actually travelling along green tarmac. This is, of course, aided by the various 4WD modes available to you via a dial located in front of the handbrake (which, incidentally, is an actual device rather than a button), with three options depending on whether you’re diving on rough tarmac roads, across muck, sand or snow, or facing a climb up a steep hill, or across a particularly arduous offroad trail. What also helps you traverse the terrain is the 200mm ground clearance, and the fact that the L200’s suspension features double wishbones, coil springs and a stabiliser bar in front, with above the axle leaf springs in the
back, all generating extra traction. Hill start assist makes climbing the slopes an easier prospect – preventing you from rolling backwards when you release the brake, by maintaining braking force for up to two seconds. Prices for the new doublecab L200 begin from €33,250 for the 2.4L Intense Manual, and €36,450 for the automatic version, both of which are available now. If you’re registered for VAT then you’ll have an annual tax bill of €333, €750 if not. As a result, while years ago the L200 proved to be a popular choice for families, this mightn’t be the case today. The new model also comes with a five year/150,000km warranty from Mitsubishi Ireland, which could come in handy somewhere along the line. While better options are available for those looking for a 4x4 daily commuter, the L200 is more than capable of tackling the rough and tumble nature of everyday rural life.
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LONGFORD PRECAST (Mulleady’s) LTD. Drumlish, Co. Longford Contact Damien on Mob: 086 822 9378 or Tel: 043 332 4128
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MOTORING
Welcome Back THE HYUNDAI IX35 IS NO MORE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO THE HYUNDAI TUCSON. Hyundai is one of a number of car companies that have come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years (much like Kia and Skoda), increasingly producing cars that are both great to drive and to look at. The company has great aspirations for its European model range – seeking to offer a mix of great design and plenty of technology. And the new Hyundai Tucson does a fairly decent job of rising to the challenge. Replacing the outgoing ix35, the revived Tucson (pronounced too-sawn, a brand name which was replaced in most markets by the ix35 several years ago) slots into Hyundai’s line-up beneath its elder brother, the Santa Fe. It’s a lot more aggressive looking than its predecessor, which almost appeared timid, aided by a sleek profile and a powerful stance on the road – fairly similar in shape to its rivals from Ford and Kia but just a cut above. Though it might look smaller, the interior is actually quite spacious and comfortable too. Built on an entirely new platform, space is optimised as much as possible, and it’s a cut above the rest in terms of material quality – think heated seats for starters, though at a cost, and leather upholstery, while the centre console is dominated by
an 8-inch display screen. There’s also plenty of boot space; 513L rising to 1,503L with the seats down. Technology buffs won’t be disappointed, with a host of features including a smart powered tailgate, keyless entry, smart park assist, lane assist, blind spot detection, speed limit reminders and more. Five trim levels will be on offer: Comfort, Comfort Plus, Executive, Premium and Premium Plus. Standard equipment is fairly straightforward – rear park assist, auto cruise, a tyre pressure monitor, leather steering wheel, luggage screen and more. On the road, the Tucson is agile and stable as a result of a combination of two systems – four wheel drive and advanced traction cornering control. It’s also quite comfortable, thanks in part to
a newly developed chassis with a focus on comfort. A few engine options are available, starting with the base 1.6L petrol available in 2WD and 6-speed manual transmission. The most popular engine will likely be the midrange 1.7L diesel option, which comes paired to a 6-speed manual 2WD transmission. And, if you’re heading off the beaten, a 2.0L CRDi diesel will also be available in 4WD in both the manual and automatic versions. Prices will begin from €25,245 for the base petrol model, and rise to €37,995 for the 2.0L 4WD automatic version. From what we’ve seen so far, the replacement for the ix35 is a serious contender, and should prove itself to be a worthy successor.
The Stats HYUNDAI TUCSON 1.7L CRDI COMFORT PLUS BHP: 114 0100KM/H: 13.7s TOP SPEED: 176km/h PRICE: €27,995
CO2: 119g/km RIVALS: Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage
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DOWN ON THE FARM
Down on the Farm
HAVING WON TEN ALLIRELAND MEDALS IN FOOTBALL AND SIX IN CAMOGIE FOR HER HOME COUNTY, IT’S HARD TO IMAGINE WHERE CORK’S BRIEGE CORKERY FINDS THE TIME TO FARM. EAR TO THE GROUND CAUGHT UP WITH HER TO FIND OUT MORE. I was brought up on a farm. My father milks about 70 cows and he has a bit of drystock. That was the start of it, but I always had an interest in farming. I went off and did my own thing for a while. I worked in stone masonry for four years and in a veterinary practice for another four years. Then, since we came home from Australia, my boyfriend started managing a farm in Crookstown. Last year he went into the share milking business and asked me did I want to get involved so that’s where I ended up. Now I’m like any farmer; Monday to Monday, mornings and evenings. But whenever you want time off or whenever there’s a match, you just throw it down on the roster. We’re very lucky that the owner of the farm, Michael Bateman, is very easy
to work with. I would say taking responsibility has been the biggest challenge I’ve faced. It’s the first time that I’ve ever had to take on real responsibility. When I was doing stone masonry and at the vet’s I was working under someone. When I’m here it’s my own money to be made. For me it’s the same as training; the harder you train, the better the results. In terms of challenges facing farmers, I’d say budgeting is one. The owner of the farm here taught us the importance of that. He encouarges anyone in farming to always budget and look ahead in order to achieve your goals. Good budgeting in farming is essential. My favourite thing about farm life is the animals. I actually love milking cows. The only part I don’t like about it is getting up early in the morning! I just love outdoor
work and driving the tractor. I admire my father. He went from being a very small farmer to a really good one and he never looked over the ditch at anyone else, he just did his own thing. He did everything himself and worked really hard. Years ago, I was probably in fourth or fifth year, my father asked me to put out the silage for the cows. So I filled up the big feeder and pulled it away down to the shed but I forgot to lift up the arms of the tractor, and I turned and broke the PTO. So I panicked! I took the PTO off the big feeder, I got up in the middle of the night and ran across a couple of fields and threw it into a barrel of hay. I never said a word to my father and for ages he was looking for the PTO and I said, “I don’t know where it is.” This will be the first he knows of it!
176 EAR TO THE GROUND
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RISPOVAL IBR ®
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