Agriculture

The Agriculture Working Group

The Agriculture Working group of IRD Duhallow is broad and diverse and includes members from agricultural advisory, farming organisations, local farmers, Macra na Feirme, Kanturk Mart Co-op and local co-operatives. The group meets quarterly to discuss current and relevant topics in agriculture and how farming families in Duhallow can be supported in both an economic and social context. The group focused specifically on the CAP strategic review in 2020 with a submission prepared and lodged with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The group were updated and provided support to the Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot Catchments EIP Project.

The Common Agricultural Policy Review

The new CAP aims to align agricultural with the principles of the European Union Green Deal. The EU Green Deal is a new strategy that is aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. A bio economy through the Green Deal will present opportunities for farm diversification and small scale family farms to survive in the current climate of intensification and unsustainability. The CAP from 2023 will focus on three dimensions ’ social sustainability, environmental sustainability and economic sustainability. Through social sustainability it will aim to support rural farming communities by facilitating and promoting the role of family owned small holdings play in wider society. The new CAP will be environmentally sustainable by encouraging green farming, low input farming, promoting & enhancing biodiversity and protecting natural resources. The aim will be to align food production with the protection of the environment. Economic sustainability and farm viability is at the core of the new CAP. This sustainability will be achieved by supporting farmers by implementing a fair system, coupling income support and environmental measures through conditionality and green infrastructure or ecosystem services payments. The provision of rural development support through community led groups like IRD Duhallow will be at the heart of the new CAP to ensure that environmental management on farms is economically sustainable for land holders in Duhallow.

Bee Keepers Association

This past year has been like no other as Covid-19 has dominated the world and impacted on clubs, communities and associations. The Duhallow Bee Keepers association was no exception from this as they had to cancel all of their public events such as systems of bee keeping and pest & disease Seamus and Mary Curtin tending to their control. This made it a long year for animals over brought many the winter period. challenges for the COVID farming some members as they were isolated community since March 2021. from other people which they could not talk to in person. The secretary Andrew Burke has never “ seen anything like this in his 43 years of bee keeping ” . He hopes that the coming year will be a better one as the vaccines are being rolled out and some members are already fully vaccinated, so their meetings up are getting closer to becoming reality.

Macra Na Feirme

Macra na Feirme is the national organisation for young farmers and rural youth, which has some extremely active clubs in the IRD Duhallow region. Members aged 17-35 take part in activities across any of six key areas: Agriculture, Community Involvement, Performing Arts, Public Speaking, Sports & Travel. While the usual inperson social events, competitions, and ag talks came to a halt due to the pandemic, many of these took place online in the last year. From debating to radio drama, from stock judging to speed dating, along with countless quizzes, courses and fundraisers. The regional Macra representative Board Member Sean Wallace hopes as the country re-opens, a number of socially distant in-person events will be taking place, such as poc fadas, hill walks and farm walks, so if you are looking to reboot your social life, contact your local club on social media, or visit www.macra.ie

Gas Networks Ireland Collaboration

An innovative collaboration with Gas Networks Ireland looking at the feasibility of an Anaerobic Digester Hub in the Duhallow region was also agreed for commencement in 2021. IRD Duhallow CLG proposed to conduct a feasibility study into the suitability of the Allow River Catchment Area for the construction and supply to thereafter of an Anaerobic Digester Hub. The aim was to develop a self-sustaining model that can be replicated to other sensitive catchments. The project will work with farmers to identify a suitable framework & logistics including the identification and support of an AD Hub. The project will explore the use of regenerating riparian biomass and organic waste as potential biomass for the AD. The project will work with GNI to determine a more suitable approach to sourcing, harvesting and prepping available material, the management of which is necessary for the long-term conservation of the SAC. A successful application was prepared and submitted to Gas Networks Ireland for a total of €25,000 along with a successful application through LEADER in November / December 2020. After a review of suitable renewable energy consultants XD Consultancy was selected to carry out the feasibility study with a proposed start date of April 2021 agreed.

Minister Joe O’Brien, William O’Connor and IRD Duhallow ’ s Michael Morrissey on William ’ s farm in Coolageela, Kanturk.

Farmers attending an information meeting at the James O'Keeffe Institute on the results based payment method. Renowned Castlemagner Bee Keeper Andy Bourke

Banteer ’ s Caroline O’Keeffe was elected as National Secretary of Macra na Feirme for 2021.